SOE Manual: How to be an Agent in Occupied Europe

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SOE Manual: How to be an Agent in Occupied Europe
Special Operations Executive

The actual course given to all secret agents in SOE before working behind enemy lines. It includes everything you needed to know to go undercover – from documents, cover stories and how to live off the land to how to get through an interrogation.The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a secret British World War II organisation formed in 1940 to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe against the Axis powers, and to aid local resistance movements.In late 1942, SOE was asked to increase the number of agents to aid the invasion of mainland Europe. Part of agent training was ‘tradecraft’ – the practical details on how to be a clandestine agent behind enemy lines – which every agent had to attend at various bases centred around Beaulie in Hampshire.The course was a set of lectures and this book contains the actual text of those lectures which were discovered in the National Archives this year. It is not only a fascinating insight into the workings of one of the Second World Wars most famous and secretive organisations, but is also a reminder of the huge danger anyone being dropped behind enemy lines had to face.

Copyright (#u429c0a8d-2b34-5390-a949-a29f22c47bf8)

William Collins

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 77–85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

WilliamCollinsBooks.com (http://WilliamCollinsBooks.com)

First published in Great Britain by William Collins in 2014

Copyright © Crown Copyright reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England, 2014

The National Archives asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins

This book is published as a source of historical reference only and no warranty is given as to the accuracy of any information given. Some of the procedures and processes contained in this book could be hazardous to you or other people and you should not perform any of these activities. The publishers and the editor do not accept any responsibility for any harm that may occur from your decision to follow the instructions contained in this book and you do so at your own risk.

Source ISBN: 9780008103613

EBook Edition © 2014 ISBN: 9780008103620

Version: 2014-10-04

CONTENTS

Cover (#u55a9d85e-0ba9-5392-9452-b50ba40f4133)

Title Page (#u85f2fc67-aab3-5a17-9041-0396b0439689)

Copyright

Security Talk

Opening Address

Individual Security

Cover (A. 4/5)

Interrogations (A. 6)

Know Your Enemy (A. 8, 9 & 10)

Surveillance (A. 11)

Use of Premises (A. 15)

External Communications (A. 17)

The Cell System (A. 19)

Security of Organisation (A. 20)

Selection of Dropping Points and Arrangements for the Reception of Agents and Stores by Air (B. 3)

Enemy Forces

German Counter-Espionage (C. 1 & 2)

Intelligence Reports (C. 9(A))

Sabotage of Enemy Road Signs (C. 9(B))

Recognition of Enemy Forces’ Uniforms (C. 12)

Morale Warfare (D. 1)

Methods of Morale Warfare (D. 2/3)

Passive Resistance in Occupied Countries (D. 7)

Codes and Ciphers

Letter-Opening

Disposal of Parachute

Subversive Organisation Exercise (X. 4)

Treasure Hunt (X. 7)

Reconnaissance and Selection of Dropping Points for Parachute Operations (X. 8)

Fieldcraft (X. 9)

About the Publisher

SECURITY TALK. (#u429c0a8d-2b34-5390-a949-a29f22c47bf8)

(To be given by House Commandants to all students on arrival).

INTRODUCTION.

This is the most important part of your training. You will, therefore, in your own interest be subject to strict security rules.

GENERAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS.

a. You will not be allowed to leave these grounds during the course unless accompanied or specially instructed to do so.

(N.B:- i. This does not apply to British Officers undergoing non-operational training.

ii. House Commandants may use their discretion about recreational walks; if in doubt they should refer to the Security Officer.)

b. You must never disclose at any time to anyone that you have been at this School or at Beaulieu.

c. You must never recognise anyone whom you have met here if you happen to meet them later on elsewhere, except on official business.

LOCAL SECURITY RULES.

a. You will hand to me all identity documents now in your possession for inspection. (Paybooks will be retained by me during the course.)

b. You will hand to me any firearms, other weapons, cameras or notebooks in your possession for retention during the course.

c. You will hand to me any money in excess of £5 and any valuables for safekeeping until your departure. If you wish to retain more than this sum you must obtain permission through me from the Area Commandant. Failure to comply with this rule will be regarded as contributory negligence in the event of any loss. Any loss of kit or personal property must be reported to me immediately.

d. Mail.

i. Outgoing. All letters will be handed to me in a stamped, unsealed envelope for censoring. You must not make any reference in your letters to the fact that they are censored.

You will use the Postal Box address already given to you or the special arrangements for writing overseas.

Your letters will be posted in London.

ii. Incoming. All letters sent to you will be censored by the Administrative Officer.

e. Telegrams. Telegrams, which may only be sent in cases of urgency, will be handed to me for censorship and despatch.

f. Telephone. You will not use the telephone here or in the locality. (This rule is only relaxed in special cases where H.Q. desires to communicate urgently with a student.)