Spies and Spy Rings in WWII Trivia Quiz

Answer: threatening to kill them

The British discovered that by threatening to kill captured German spies was the most effective method to turn them into double agents. This was done without torture and worked faster than persuasive argument.

Answer: code breaking

The primary mission of ULTRA during WWII was the decryption of Axis radio communication or, to put it simply, code breaking.

Answer: The date of Operation Barbarossa

Richard Sorge passed on the exact date of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa - 22 June 1941. (According to some sources the date he gave was actually 20 June 1941). Stalin chose to ignore this information, apparently claiming that it was disinformation.

In addition, Richard Sorge sent two messages in September 1941, informing the Soviet government that Japan was not intending, at that stage, to attack the Soviet Union. Stalin's entourage succeeded in persuading him to take the second message seriously. This allowed the Soviet government to move a large number of first rate troops from the Far East and Siberia westward to defend Moscow. Some believe that this was an absolutely key decision.

Answer: the Red Orchestra

'Die Rote Kapelle' was the Red Orchestra. The operators were called pianists, the transmitters were known as pianos, and the supervisors were the conductors.

The term was used loosely by German counter espionage for a number of Communist spy rings and resistance groups, which probably had no contact with one another. This 'Rote Kapelle' should not be confused with the resistance group in Germany established by Harro Schulze-Boysen and Arvid Harnack in Berlin, which also passed information to the Soviet Union.

Answer: Lucy

Roessler's code name was 'Lucy'. Operating out of Switzerland, the information this spy ring provided was incredibly accurate.

Answer: disinformation

By enclosing false information on a corpse that was discovered by Spanish intelligence who passed the information to the Germans, the Wehrmacht actually deployed vital forces away from Sicily prior to the invasion. This process is known in the intelligence community as disinformation.

Answer: the Abwehr

The German intelligence gathering services was known as the Abwehr. It was under the command of Admiral Canaris who was later imprisoned by the Gestapo after the failed 20 July 1944 attempt on Hitler's life.

Answer: CIA

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) became the CIA after WWII. Its mission after WWII was centered around intelligence operations against the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact.

Answer: the FBI

During WWII, the FBI was responsible for investigating and apprehending foreign intelligence agents operating on US soil. This is still one their missions today.

Answer: most Japanese Americans were loyal US citizens

Japanese spies operating in Hawaii especially around Pearl Harbor, discovered that most Japanese Americans were loyal citizens of the United States despite retaining Japanese customs.