TRENT PARK TATTLETALES

Between 1942 and 1945 more than 10,000 German prisoners of war, including high ranking officers captured on the battlefield, were processed and interrogated in this North London mansion known as Trent Park. The Nazi officers were deliberately given access to various rooms in the mansion to openly meet and converse at mealtimes or at leisure.  How fortunate for them to enjoy the freedom of a grand house that was once owned by the eminent Sassoon family.  In fact, however, the easy environment was a British ruse intended for the high-ranking prisoners to engage in casual conversations potentially leading to the expression of critical comments about the military planning process or the evaluation of battles won or lost.  Increasing confidence by the prisoners within a casual setting could then lead to revealed intimacies about the German high command or the fate of Europe's Jews.  A British spy would yearn to be a fly on the wall during those talks.

Indeed, there were bugs of different types throughout the massive residence.  At least twelve of the common area rooms were rigged for eavesdropping by CSDIC, a branch of British intelligence.  Engineers had secreted microphones in walls, ceilings, hallways, even in toilets and in areas where small groups congregated.  Thus began the increasing gift of casually spoken intelligence rich with clues, admissions, and insights.  It led to a rarely afforded Allied eavesdrop directly into the officers minds and methods as they casually remarked about the weather, the war, battle strategies, or vengefully ratted on each other.  And over headsets nearby were instantly heard and recorded the same thoughts and reflections about battles lost or won, or the best intelligence of all, plans or expectations for the war's future.

Also seeded within the mansion's convivial assemblage were ranks of stool-pigeons and studied conversationalists tasked with gaining the confidence of the colonels and brigadiers. The easy atmosphere of talk and tattles produced acetate records in growing heaps, each word eagerly taken down by recording engineers, translated by fluent German-speaking interpreters, and typed by pools of stenographers, everyone sworn to secrecy under penalties within the draconian Official Secrets Act.  

If the chat lagged CSDIC had gentle but persuasive means to loosen tongues, including populating the groups with CSDIC agents posing as welfare officers trained to initiate conversations.  The kindly officers inquired about ways to get reassuring word to families or mused reflectively about a battle, with the intent of converting lazy conversation into intelligence. There was a war to be won and the issue of who would emerge victorious remained in doubt until midway in history's greatest conflict.  

Trent Park's harvest of intelligence added to masses of other secrets uncovered by thousands of agents posted in other unknown places including BLETCHLEY PARK where ULTRA broke the German ENIGMA cypher, or the WESTERN APPROACHES Command Centre in Liverpool.  Both were previously and exclusively revealed by the author in feature articles appearing in international publications.  Some are on this site and can be accessed by THE BUTTONS BELOW.   The Western Approaches Command Centre continues as the last remaining secret of World War Two with revelations and images exclusive to this web site. 

RETURN LATER in 2012 to enter the real and existing Trent Park through exclusive images, deep research, and factual reporting.  Trent Park and other features by the author reveal the actual locations where real history exists and where its lessons can be passed to a new generation. TRENT PARK TATTLETALES is another secret place ignored by all other historians specializing in World War Two and it will appear here first.

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INSIDE FRANK GEHRY'S BEDOUIN TENT

Jerome M. O'Connor, CTG

MEMBER: American Society of Journalists and Authors, American Historical Association

HONOREE:  United States Naval Institute Author of the Year

NIGHT OR DAY, OUTSIDE OR IN, A DYNAMIC STATEMENT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY BY THE WORLD'S LEADING ARCHITECT.

is exclusive feature will appear by spring 2011

ALSO OF INTEREST -  Internationally published features about unknown but vital wartime events, plus the U.S. Naval Institute Naval History Magazine "Author of the Year" feature - GRAY WOLVES DEN.  Learn how the masterful construction and U-Boat operation from five indestructible bunker bases in occupied France almost won the war for Germany.  Click UNDECLARED WAR to learn that the U.S. Navy - on orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt - repeatedly ignored the US Neutrality Act months before Pearl Harbor.  To save Britain from certain defeat, the Navy hoped that by provoking Nazi Germany, they would initiate high seas war.  This feature became a world sensation.    "Western Approaches"continues as the last remaining major secret of World War Two, and may be the only such location that made history, yet is virtually unknown to the public and to most historians...but not to the author.