World Turned Upside Down: U.S. Naval Intelligence and the Early Cold War Struggle for Germany (review)

Marvin Durning's World Turned Upside Down: US Naval Intelligence and the Early Cold War Struggle for Germany promises more than it delivers. Rather than a comprehensive examination of U.S. Naval Intelligence efforts in Cold War Germany, this memoir provides only glimpses of the larger Cold War and intelligence landscape.

Durning’s book recounts his twelve month tour in the Office of the Commander Naval Forces Germany Munich during 1955 and 1956. His primary duties involved liaison with the Navy section of the nascent West German “Gehlen” intelligence organization and editing intelligence reports from its Scientific and Technical staff. More important was his role in preparing minutes from secret meetings of former German Navy admirals who were planning for a new West German Navy under the cover name “Naval Historical Team” (NHT).

Durning’s book adds to an increasing body of scholarship that highlights the roles and contributions of mid- and junior-grade personnel who implemented Washington’s policies during the Cold War. It provides insight on the day-to-day intelligence activities that transpired in small operating locations. In a few instances, Durning broadens his lens to shed light on larger issues, such as U.S. Navy Essential Elements of Information at the time. He also provides insight into collection and reporting of intelligence on train movements in East Germany and their importance for U.S. efforts to monitor Soviet war preparations. Where Durning is at his best and where the bulk of the text is oriented is in providing detailed, personal portraits of his German and American colleagues and in the recounting of his personal emotions and experiences—all of which give the reader a feel for what it was like to serve in post-World War II Germany. The book also contains a few historical nuggets, like the alleged Soviet assassination attempt on West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer during his visit to Moscow in 1955.

Despite its strengths, World Turned Upside Down provides only a few significant insights into U.S. intelligence operations in Germany, particularly in light of the growing secondary literature on this topic. Much of the information—outside of the details on the German and American personnel he worked closely with—can be found elsewhere. In fact, even a portion of his discussion of the “Gehlen” organization is in other secondary studies. The same is true for some of Durning’s insights on his accomplished “Skipper”—Commander Rychly—and the NHT. Beyond what it fails to deliver, World Turned Upside Down falls short in how it gets there. The book lacks primary source research to flesh out Durning’s memory and experiences. It includes no discussion of National Security Council policy papers and larger U.S. strategy to help the reader understand the purported impact and significance of the Munich office’s contributions. Finally, organizational and editing problems at times make for a difficult read. His attempt to provide historical context is repetitive and presumes the audience has little knowledge of the Second World War and its aftermath. Given these shortcomings, World Turned Upside Down may be better suited for a more general audience than readers of this journal.