Monopoly X

An amazing true story of World War II that reveals how British and American military intelligence successfully smuggled escape aids into German P.O.W. camps hidden inside Monopoly game boards, and also the game’s surprising role in espionage.

Monopoly X is the fascinating true story of what is arguably the most unusual and best-kept secret operation of World War II. The masterminds at England’s top-secret MI-9, and later America’s MIS-X, created a special version of the popular game, hiding tools, maps, and money within game boards—delivered by fictitious charities—to captured Allied servicemen held at gunpoint behind barbed wire in German prison camps. This ingenious and complex plot, dubbed “Monopoly X,” was never discovered by the Nazis and led to many successful Allied breakouts.

The creation and consequences of Monopoly X remained a deep secret through the war and for decades after, until now. For the first time, Phillip E. Orbanes tells the full story of the people behind this clandestine program—how it was devised, implemented, and used to great success. A tale of derring-do as compelling as the World War II classic, The Great Escape, Monopoly X is an amazing war story of Allied intelligence services, resistance forces in Europe, heroes and heroines, a notorious traitor, and the pivotal role a seemingly innocent board game played in secret codes and espionage.

Monopoly X includes a 16-page black-and-white photo insert.

This riveting true story reveals the hidden figures and ingenious methods behind one of the war’s greatest deceptions:

MI-9’s Clandestine Operation: The full story of how Britain’s secret intelligence service, and its American counterpart MIS-X, orchestrated one of the war’s most audacious programs. Escape Aids and Secret Codes: A detailed look at the silk maps, miniature compasses, and hidden currency smuggled to Allied POWs right under the noses of their captors. The Great Escape from Colditz: The true account of the first successful escape from the supposedly escape-proof Colditz castle, aided by a specially prepared Monopoly set. Spycraft and Betrayal: The shadowy world of escape lines, brave resistance fighters, and the devastating impact of a double agent known as “the Top Hat.”