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The Zimmermann Telegram

By: Barbara W. Tuchman
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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Summary

In the dark winter of 1917, as World War I was deadlocked, Britain knew that Europe could be saved only if the United States joined the war. But President Wilson remained unshakable in his neutrality. Then, with a single stroke, the tool to propel America into the war came into a quiet British office. One of countless messages intercepted by the crack team of British decoders, the Zimmermann telegram was a top-secret message from Berlin inviting Mexico to join Japan in an invasion of the United States. Mexico would recover her lost American territories while keeping the U.S. occupied on her side of the Atlantic.

How Britain managed to inform America of Germany's plan without revealing that the German codes had been broken makes for an incredible, true story of espionage, intrigue, and international politics, as only Barbara W. Tuchman could tell it.

©1958 Barbara W. Tuchman (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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Critic reviews

“A true, lucid thriller…. Mrs. Tuchman makes the most of it with a creative writer’s sense of drama and a scholar’s obeisance to the evidence.” ( New York Times)
“The tale has most of the ingredients of an Eric Ambler spy thriller.” ( Saturday Review)

What listeners say about The Zimmermann Telegram

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An interesting subject

Zimmerman unwittingly did Europe a favour and changed world history. His arrogance shone through this book.

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Plesantly surprised

This was not quite what I expected but I ended up really enjoying it. the start is a little weaker than the rest. it covers a lot about the perspective of the relations of the Germans, Americans and Mexicans which is a perspective I see much less off. It becomes the stories of the characters involved in Germanies attempt to start war with Mexico and America from both sides, supprisingly dramatic given that it's historically accurate.

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Brilliant story brilliantly performed

This book definitely shows that truth can be stranger than fiction. And the narrator does an amazing job with an amazingly witty and entertaining text. Definitely history at its best and narration at its best as well!

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terrific

Excellent telling of a fascinating story, learned a lot in a most enjoyable way. Cheers.

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