British Traitors: Betrayal and Treachery in the Twentieth Century

Capital punishment for murder was suspended in Great Britain in 1965, but remained as the punishment for treason until 1998. British Traitors examines the lives and motivations of a number of the perpetrators of this most heinous of crimes, following the footsteps of Fascist traitors such as William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw) and John Amery to the gallows.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2022
Publisher: Oldcastle Books Ltd

In 1965, Great Britain took a significant step towards abolishing capital punishment by suspending it for murder. However, this act was not made permanent until 1969. Interestingly, treason remained the punishment for betraying one's country until as recently as 1998, emphasizing the seriousness with which the crime of treachery was regarded. Despite the looming threat of the noose, many individuals chose to betray their country during the cataclysmic events of the last century.

British Traitors delves into the lives and motivations of a select group of individuals who committed treason against their country. The film follows the footsteps of Fascist traitors like William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw) and John Amery, who faced the gallows for their treachery. It also investigates the actions of men like Wilfred Macartney and John Herbert King, who betrayed their nation during World War II. Furthermore, the film explores the enigmatic Cambridge Spy Ring, which operated from the 1930s to the early 1950s and spied for the Soviet Union.

People commit treason for various reasons, ranging from seeking adventure to seeking rewards, being motivated by political philosophy, or being drawn into it by their own foolishness. British Traitors provides a fascinating insight into the lives and impulses of those who chose to betray their country. It sheds light on the complex motivations that drive individuals to commit such heinous acts and offers a deeper understanding of the consequences of their actions.

Weight: 198g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780857304797