Thomas Boghardt Books

Spies of the Kaiser examines the scope and objectives of German covert operations in Great Britain before and during the First World War. It assesses the effect of German espionage on Anglo-German relations and discusses the extent to which the fear of German espionage in the United Kingdom shaped the British intelligence community in the early Twentieth-century. The study is based on original archival material, including hitherto unexploited German records and recently declassified British documents.

Set against the backdrop of World War I's deadlock, the narrative explores the pivotal moment when British intelligence intercepted a secret German telegram proposing an alliance with Mexico. This offer promised support for Mexico to reclaim territories lost to the U.S. in exchange for an attack on American soil. The subsequent leak to the press stirred public opinion and contributed to the U.S. entering the war. Drawing from extensive government records, the book challenges conventional perspectives on the telegram's origins and significance.