World turned upside down

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In 1955, after his tenure at the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence and aboard a destroyer, Marvin Durning arrived at ONI's Munich office. He played a crucial role in transforming Germany from a defeated enemy into a respected democracy, reestablishing its sovereignty, and facilitating its NATO membership, which included rearming the former foe. Munich, a Cold War nerve center, was teeming with U.S. troops and refugees, and was home to Radio Free Europe. Durning describes the city as "a jungle of competing secret intelligence organizations" from various nations. Beneath the everyday calm, agents and double agents were involved in defections, kidnappings, and assassinations. Durning's narrative details his experiences as the de facto executive officer of a small team of German intelligence specialists focused on navy issues, while much more was happening behind the scenes. Only known to a select few, former admirals of the defunct German Kriegsmarine held secret meetings at Durning's commander's suburban home to plan a future West German Navy. Additionally, he served as a liaison officer to the Gehlen Organization, a covert German intelligence agency, recounting their clandestine activities during this tumultuous period.