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New · Mission Dossier No. 1

Operation Pastorius: the case file

In June 1942, German submarines landed eight saboteurs on American beaches. Within sixteen days, every one of them was caught. This large-print dossier lets you follow the whole story at your own pace: the maps, the men, the night on the beach and the trial.

$7 US dollars · one-time payment

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  • 15 pages, printed in large, clear type
  • Prints at home on US Letter or A4 paper (both sizes included)
  • Opens on any computer, tablet or phone
Cover of Mission Dossier No. 1, Operation Pastorius, showing a map of the Atlantic with the two U-boat routes from France to Long Island and Florida.

What's inside

Turn the pages before you buy

Every page is shown below exactly as it prints. Tap any page to see it full size.

Page 4: map of the Atlantic crossing by U-202 and U-584.
The crossingMap of both U-boat routes from France
Page 5: map of Long Island and a diagram of the beach at Amagansett.
Amagansett, June 13Where the first team came ashore
Page 6: a minute-by-minute table of the night on the beach.
Minute by minuteThe night on the beach, from the 1942 Navy war diary
Page 7: the life of Coast Guardsman John C. Cullen.
One life: John CullenThe 21-year-old who met them in the fog
Page 8: map of the nine planned targets in the eastern United States.
The targetsNine factories, bridges and railways on their list
Page 14: a table of where historical accounts disagree.
Record checkWhere the accounts disagree, and why

All 15 pages

  1. Cover
  2. The story in one minute
  3. The people: eight saboteurs and the men who caught them
  4. Map: the Atlantic crossing
  5. Map: Amagansett, the night of June 13
  6. The night on the beach, minute by minute
  7. One life: John C. Cullen
  8. Map: the targets
  9. Sixteen days: the timeline
  10. Why it failed: the leader's phone calls
  11. The trial and the sentences
  12. From the court record
  13. What changed afterwards
  14. Record check: where the accounts disagree
  15. Sources and further reading

Made for reading

Easy on the eyes, careful with the facts

Large print

Body text is 14 point, with strong contrast. No squinting at tiny captions.

Print at home

Two files included: US Letter and A4. Plain white background saves ink.

Checked against the record

Dates and times come from FBI files, the 1942 Navy war diary and the Supreme Court.

Sources listed

Every source is named at the back, so you can look up the originals yourself.

How buying works

Three simple steps

  1. Press "Buy now"

    A secure Gumroad checkout opens. Gumroad is a well-known shop for digital downloads.

  2. Pay $7 by card

    Type your email address and card details. The price is in US dollars; your bank converts it if you pay in another currency.

  3. Open your email

    Your receipt arrives within a minute with a "View content" link. Click it to download the PDF. Keep the email: the link works again any time.

Stuck at any step? Email yesmidealab.contact@gmail.com and we'll help you personally.

Watch the story first

This dossier goes with our documentary on Operation Pastorius. Watch it free on YouTube, then keep the dossier beside you.

Go to our YouTube channel

Coming soon

More dossiers on the way

Subscribe on YouTube to hear the moment each one is ready.

Guide

Trace Your Veteran

Find your relative's unit and service record, even if the 1973 archive fire took his file.

How it worked

Willow Run

How Ford's giant plant built a B-24 bomber an hour, explained with clear diagrams.

Map pack

Operation Drumbeat

Follow the 1942 U-boat attacks off the American coast, step by step, map by map.

One life

Tadayoshi Koga

The 19-year-old Japanese pilot whose crash-landed Zero gave the Americans their first intact one to study.

By the numbers

America's WWII soldiers, state by state

Who served, from where, at what age, in which branch, and how many did not come home.

Questions

Questions people ask

Is this a printed book?

No. It is a digital file (a PDF) that you download and read on screen or print yourself. Nothing is posted to you.

How do I open a PDF?

On most computers, tablets and phones you simply tap or double-click the file. If it won't open, the free Adobe Acrobat Reader works on every device. Email us if you get stuck.

Can I print it?

Yes. Both US Letter and A4 versions are included, so it fits your printer's paper. Choose "Actual size" or "100%" in the print settings.

I lost the download. What now?

Search your email for "Gumroad" and open the receipt: the link works again. Or email us and we'll resend it.

What if I'm not happy with it?

Email us within 30 days and we will refund you in full. No forms, no arguments.

Are there photographs?

This edition uses maps and diagrams drawn for it, plus extracts from official documents. It does not reproduce photographs.

Can I give it as a gift or share it?

Please buy one copy per household. To give it as a gift, buy it with the recipient's email address, or print it and hand it over.