Monopoly X

Monopoly X: How Top-Secret WWII Operations Used the Game of Monopoly to Help Allied POWs Escape, Conceal Spies, and Send Secret Codes by Philip E. Orbanes unveils a remarkable—and previously classified—World War II tale of espionage, ingenuity, and daring escape. This absorbing history reveals how British and American military intelligence transformed the beloved board game into a covert tool of war.

During WWII, England’s MI-9 and America’s MIS-X collaborated to create special versions of Monopoly game sets with hidden compartments. These doctored editions contained escape tools—such as lockpicks, saws, silk-printed maps, fake ID, and currency—and were innocuously sent to POWs via Red Cross deliveries. Only one in three games was modified, minimizing detection and enabling countless daring breakouts that remained secret for decades.

For the first time, Orbanes tells the full story: how the scheme was devised, implemented, and executed with precision—featuring resistance operatives, heroes and heroines, hidden betrayals, and unforgettable intelligence work. Comparable in suspense to *The Great Escape*, *Monopoly X* brings to life wartime courage in every clandestine move. It includes a 16-page black-and-white photo insert.

Key Features:

• Author: Philip E. Orbanes, noted Monopoly historian and former game industry executive
• Reveals the secret "Monopoly X" operation with hidden compartments for POW escape tools
• Includes real espionage drama featuring MI-9, MIS-X, Resistance networks, and a traitor’s betrayal
• Includes rare archival photos (16-page black-and-white insert)
• Genre: History / Espionage, reminiscent of *The Great Escape*
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 304
• Publication Date: July 15, 2025
• ISBN-10: 0063425130
• ISBN-13: 978-0063425132

Monopoly X is a riveting fusion of spycraft and board-game lore—perfect for history buffs, espionage aficionados, and anyone fascinated by the hidden strategies of war.