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.
