How Monopoly was used to Free POWs during WWII Artwork

History and Hearsay

On this podcast we discuss lesser known characters and events from history. Some of the details of these historical accounts may be debated and on this show YOU get to decided: Is it History? Or is it Hearsay?

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History and Hearsay

How Monopoly was used to Free POWs during WWII

June 14, 2025 • Christina • Season 4 • Episode 11

0:00 - Intro

0:25 - Disclaimer & Inspo for todays episode

1:21 - The Origin of Monopoly

2:44 - The REAL Origin of Monopoly

12:49 - The History of MI9

15:33 - Christopher Clayton Hutton

20:45 - Maps & Monopoly

25:58 - Getting the games into the POW Camps

30:18 - Knowing what to look for

31:42 - Sending a message

34:08 - Other ways they snuck stuff in

35:17 - The American Effort

36:43 - Game Over

38:22 - Declassified

Sources:

https://www.visitforgottonia.com/lizzie-magie-inventor-of-monopoly/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/62285/how-brilliant-intelligence-officer-used-monopoly-free-wwii-pows

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/ruthless-monopolys-secret-history/

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/mi9-the-ingenious-secret-service-of-the-second-world-war https://www.thelegendofq.co.uk/christopher-clayton-hutton.html

http://www.ww2rafcollection.co.uk/RAF_Collection/Aircrew_Evasion_&_Escape.html

A ton of other sources are linked on this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hutton

https://invention.si.edu/invention-stories/woman-inventor-behind-monopoly

https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send?accession=ohiou1651700929726961&disposition=inline