International Spy Museum opens its doors
from Spy Gear (24 articles)
Coat with buttonhole camera
Image Gallery ( 11 images )Nazi Forged Currency: Operation Bernhard was a plot devised during World War II by the Nazi SD (Sicherheitsdienst) intelligence service to derail the British economy using large amounts of forged currency.
Printed by imprisoned master Jewish engravers, the pound sterling notes were not discovered until the 1950's - causing the British government to change the design of their currency.
Poison Gas Gun: a silent killer created by the KGB that was at the time undetectable at autopsy. This double barrel gun fired cartridges containing glass vials of prussic acid that converted into cyanide gas in the victim's face.
Coat with Buttonhole Camera: The lens of the KGB's lightweight F21 camera was hidden behind a false button on the front of the user's coat and triggered by a remote shutter release.
Tree Stump Listening Device: A solar powered listening device disguised as a tree stump was placed by the CIA in the woods near a Soviet military base to capture secret military radio transmissions.
"Through the Wall" Camera: The Stasi, the East German security service, used this camera in the 1980s to photograph individuals through walls in special hotel suites. The tube of the camera fit perfectly into a "port" built into a hotel room wall and pictures are taken from a remote location.
Steineck ABC Wristwatch Camera (c. 1949, Germany): This cleverly disguised subminiature camera allowed an operative to take photographs while pretending to check his watch for the time of day. It used a circular piece of film with six exposures.
Escape Boots: These English MI9 issue boots were designed for British pilots trying to escape detection in enemy territory. A small pen-knife concealed in the boots was used to cut off the tops so that they looked like civilian walking shoes rather than easily recognisable "flying boots".
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