SOE (Special Operations Executive)

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  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    I think I read somewhere that even after all this time they remain so sensitive that some SOE operations & indeed gadgets are still on the classified list.

    Three well known SOE missions was 'Rat Week': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ratweek

    The planned assassination of Hitler: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Foxley

    The assassination of Heydrich: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Anthropoid
  • 72897289 Beau DesertPosts: 1,691MI6 Agent
  • TecoloteTecolote Mississippi,USAPosts: 121MI6 Agent
    Those with further interest in Operation Anthropoid may find thsi of interest:
    http://www.army.cz/images/id_7001_8000/7419/assassination-en.pdf

    Regards,

    Tecolote
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    Number24 wrote:
    I wonder if your grandfather flew missions to Norway?

    I have no idea. Sadly my Granfathers momento's and even medals were stolen a few years back by a family member X-( He did have an avid interest in the Telemark raid and met a few members from Operation Grouse. He died a year before I met them all myself.
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  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    superado wrote:
    Thank you for posting, Asp9mm. What's more amazing than those artifacts is the honored privilege of your grandfather to have been involved in the defense of Great Britain during WWII, most specifically with the SOE. Would you by chance have actual specimens or photos of authentic mission folders from the period?

    I have a few bits and pieces of SOE specific paperwork and photo's from back then, I'll be posting them later too. I've got so much that it's difficult to choose what's next.
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  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Your Grandad sounded like an interesting Bloke {[]
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    I had a friend who had been a PoW for almost the entire Second World War. He escaped - and was recaptured - once and was heavily involved in others' escape attempts for the rest of the war. He had nothing but praise for SOE and MI9 for all the help they gave to escapers and PoWs. He once took me for lunch at a friend's house. The friend had successfully escaped from his camp in 1942, made it to Switzerland and eventually reached the UK. Remarkably, his friend still had a lot of his odds and ends from his escape. He showed me his forged papers and the civilian clothes he wore that were crafted from military uniforms. He showed me keys they had stolen/forged and even the Wanted posters printed by Germany offering a reward for his recapture. There can't be many people out there who have ever owned their own wanted posters!
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Escaping from a POW Camp and being on the Run during War Time must be a rather exciting Experience, if not rather tense -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Sadly over the years, I think many films have almost glamorised POW camps. :#
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    If you read Odette Hallowes account of the torture she was submitted too and what she observed in those camps on a daily basis. You could not ever imagine in your worst nightmare the savagery and inhumanity that was committed, and those levels the prisoners resorted too to survive. And that was a female prison. I can't even begin to come to terms of understanding or comprehension.
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  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,699MI6 Agent
    How famous is the SOE and the agents in other countries? Here several biographies and movies were made already in the 1940-50's, so some of them are very well known. Can an average adult name 3-4 SOE agents or more in other countries?
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    Most people here have never heard of SOE to be honest. Several documentaries and programmes have been made, and like you, we made some films in the 50's, but if you asked most folks they would not know about SOE and I doubt many people could tell you the names of the famous agents. How sad is that. And this is the UK. I think Violette Szabo is probably the most famous due to her bust adorning the statue to SOE on South Bank between MI6 and MI5, and because of the horrific way in which she was murdered.

    Of course most of SOE's activities were still classified here until a couple of years ago, and loads still until 2024.

    portfolio-szabo-violette001f.jpg

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  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    You're right Asp, I don't think many have heard of SOE (or MI9). Szabo may have some recognition as might Odette Hallowes and possibly Peter Churchill but more amongst people with an interest in the subject or history rather than the general public. The stories of incredible heroism, spirit and ingenuity are breathtaking by any standards and it is a shame that these people are not better known.
  • TecoloteTecolote Mississippi,USAPosts: 121MI6 Agent
    Here's a link to the PPK in the IWM that Odette Hallowes took from the Ravensbruck commandant in 1945:
    http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30036238

    Regards,

    Tecolote
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,699MI6 Agent
    You're right Asp, I don't think many have heard of SOE (or MI9). Szabo may have some recognition as might Odette Hallowes and possibly Peter Churchill but more amongst people with an interest in the subject or history rather than the general public. The stories of incredible heroism, spirit and ingenuity are breathtaking by any standards and it is a shame that these people are not better known.

    I think part of the reason SOE are so famous in Norway is because we ha a great need for heroes and heroism after the war. We were occupied without putting up too much of a fight, since we were fairly unprepared for war. Later in the war life continued not too different from usual for many, and the tales from the SOE helped people believe we were all resistance heroes
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    It's funny that you say that Number24, because I do think of Norway having done their fair share in World War Two. I know the country was overrun quickly, but then any country of that size - and almost any bigger than Norway - would have suffered a similar fate. Norway's resistance was very impressive and certainly overshadows a certain Norwegian political leader whose name is now in the English dictionary with a less-flattering definition!
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Agreed {[] Norway's Resistance was impressive as the French Movement.

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quisling
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,699MI6 Agent
    Norway's military was largely unprepared for the German attack in 1940, and compared to Finland's response to the Soviet attack the year before made many Norwegians embarassed. I believe it took more time to occupy Norway than any of the other countries that were completely overrun by the Germans, but this was more due to geography than fighting. The communist resistance started fighing back after the Soviet Union was attacked a year later, and they were very active. The government-backed resistance didn't actively fight the Germans until very late in the war, with a few exceptions. That being said, the merchant navy played a very important role in WWII. I belive our merchant fleet was among the largest in the world at the time, perhaps the largest. The seamen made huge sacrifices and didn't get enough praise for this. The resistance played its most important role on the inteligence side, especially in the area of shipping. This doesn't look very glamorous to the general population. The UK and US had other heroes that took part in spectacular missions, such as the Battle of Britain, the commandoes etc. On the action-heavy side of WWII we didn't have much more than the SOE.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Here in the UK, we had the Home Guard in case Germany did somehow manage to invade and occupy Britain. My Grandad (Mums Side) was a Member of the HG.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    Here's a few more...

    As I said in my first post, the SOE Jack Knife/Dagger is an exceptionally rare item now, despite every SOE agent being issued with them. The problem is that they were so useful and got used. As such it's rare to find them at all now, but when you do, they are very damaged. This one for example was issued and used well after the war by its owner, and probably by the owners son or grandson too. They are so sought after that even this piece becomes valuable...

    IMG_1554_zps7dpl3mt1.jpg



    This is how it would have looked...

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    Another this the SOE used were these field self-soldering rods. The two wires being soldered together were placed into either end of the tube and the phosphorous part struck. With some wiggling and kneading, the two wires would be solidly fixed together. These examples are pristine after a sealed ammunition can was opened a few years ago which showed the contents as being untouched by time.

    IMG_1555_zpsb4ry2e3x.jpg



    Communication security was always an issue, so SOE had many items used as dead letter drops. This example is a classic. An iron bolt that can be placed into a wooden post, or fixed into supports and walls. Looks pretty innocuous, but the head can be unscrewed and messages placed inside. There must be loads of these WW2 relics still scattered throughout Europe, slowly rusting away, and everyone walking past them would be none the wiser as to their importance 70 odd years ago.

    IMG_1556_zpsfchhlf3e.jpg

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  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    Of course, there were many Norwegians who served in the British military (and other forces, I would imagine) during the war. Two of the most famous were Per Bergsland and Jens Muller, RAF Spitfire pilots who were shot down and eventually sent to Stalag-Luft III POW camp. They not only participated in "The Great Escape" but were two of the three of escapers who managed to make a 'home-run' back to Allied countries.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    There were also many people trained, in case of invasion to be the English resistance.
    With weapons and explosives hidden around the country. I don't know much about it,
    I'm sure others will know much more.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Before he died, my Grandad told me that one Tactic into fooling the Germans would be to bury normal Plates in the Ground, with the Tops showing so that any Patrols would think they were Land mines.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    This is true. They utilised itching powder too. They'd gain access to the laundry and go rampant with it on the woolen underwear and outerwear. In one town during Winter, it virtually immobilised their army :))

    Now pay attention to my post up above. It has piccies :D
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  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    Before he died, my Grandad told me that one Tactic into fooling the Germans would be to bury normal Plates in the Ground, with the Tops showing so that any Patrols would think they were Land mines.

    Never heard that before. Simple but ingenious. Imagine how much that slows down a military?
    Asp9mm wrote:
    This is true. They utilised itching powder too. They'd gain access to the laundry and go rampant with it on the woolen underwear and outerwear. In one town during Winter, it virtually immobilised their army :))

    Another new one for me. Sometimes the simple things are the best. I heard that Napoleon employed Whoopee cushions during the Russian Campaign.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Quite a lot I reckon. Fear is the biggest Weapon in Warfare.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,699MI6 Agent
    I think the SOE gadgets shown in this thread are very interesting. Keep on posting! Personally I can't remember many of them being mentioned in what I have read about operation in Norway. The Welrod is dispayed in a museum documenting a guerilla base outside Bergen, but that's all. Suppressed Stenguns and limpet mines for ship sabotage were used, but there is no mention of the more exotic gadgets. Perhaps they were still secret after the war, and later they were't mentioned because the agents didn't want to be assosiated with the James Bond filmsand their portrial of a secrt agent
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    The dinner plate trick was used on a number of occasions. I read it was also used after WW2.

    Then there was the exploding rat, exploding coal (both designed to demolish boilers - it was hoped that when a dead rat was found the boilerman would shovel it up & toss it into the flames - BOOM. Coal would be scattered amongst real coal & then end up in boilers, trains etc.)

    Incendiary cigarettes. Grease which contained an abrasive compound would be placed where it would do most harm to machinery.

    The list is as long as it is inventive.
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    As I read the Fleming novels in my youth and began researching the SOE, I also came to conclude that he used it as a basis for his fictional Secret Service.
    He came up with the idea of a character like Bond based on the commandos, Royal Navy frogmen and SOE agents he came in contact with. This type of agent would fit in perfectly within the type of fictional SOE/Secret Service agency he invented in the novels. It was more the size of the real SOE than MI6 and had "stations" in different countries just as the SOE did. Instead of a Directorate of War Planning he invented the 00 Section and whereas the DWP would have had substantial personnel he inhabited his section with only a few special operatives.
    It was a clever re-working and downsizing of the real MI6.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Fleming also based many of his Villains on People he knew throughout his Life.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
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