The Special Operation Executive (SOE)

When people think of stereotypical spies, usually they are suave and sexy, and their lives are exciting adventures where the y always win and get the girl. This image of a spy comes from movies, TV shows, and books. In reality, spies work for a government or other organizations by secretly collecting information about enemies or competitors. Although the majority of the spies were discovered, they have helped countries win wars. During World War II, spies were sent to Germany and Japan to get secrets about the enemy, such as communication codes or plans for advancement. Spies were also sent from Germany and Japan to the United States. Spies were hidden as soldiers, commanders, and saboteurs. Although British spies determination had

a lot to do with their advancements in wars, all the credit goes to the Special Operation Executive for their intense training and discipline. For example, the phenomenal hard fought victory at D-Day were the result of the spies effort to capture and then break the enemy’s code books, so we knew the enemy’s strategies. If the Special Operation Executive training was not set up in an orderly fashion then the spies would not have been successful or a useful beneficiary for World War II.
The Special Operation Executive (SOE) was a British organization was formed by Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton.

The organization was formed form the merge of three existing secret departments. After Germany annexed Austria in March 1938, the Foreign Office created a propaganda organization known as Department EH ( Electro House) run by Sir Campbell Stuart. Later, the Secret Intelligence Service ( SIS) formed a section known as Section D, under Major Lawrence Grand, to investigate the usage of sabotage, propaganda, and other ideas to weaken an enemy. The same year, the War Office expanded an existing research department known as GS and appointed Major J.C. Holland, as its head in order, to conduct research into guerilla warfare. GS was renamed MI in early 1939. SOE operated in all countries including former countries that were occupied or attacked by the Axis forces. It also made use of neutral territory on occasion, or made plans and preparations in case neutral countries were attacked by the Axis Powers. The organization directly employed or controlled just over 13,00 people, about 3,200 of whom were women. There was a four-stage plan in the training of prospective agents of the SOE. This includes the Preliminary school, Paramilitary school, finishing schools, and the “Drop

Off.”
The Preliminary schools were place where physical training, weapon handling, unarmed combat, elementary demolitions, map reading, field craft and basic signaling.

These schools manage to unlock the potential of agents to the SOE. If at Preliminary school the trainee was due unsuitable they would be sent to the cooler at Inverlair and encouraged to forget what they learned about the SOE. Paramilitary training was the next step for those who passed preliminary school. Paramilitary training included more physical training, silent killing, weapon handling, demolition, map reading, compass work, field craft, elementary Morse, and raid tactics. The paramilitary schools were based at ten shooting lodges in Arisaig and Morar areas, and the courses lasted up to five weeks. Nationalities were separated by housing and remained that

way.
William Fairbairn and Eric Anthony, two ex- Shanghai municipal police officers, taught unarmed combat, or silent killing. Their weapon training opened the student to Colt.45 and .38 and the Sten gun. The students were taught plenty of ways to shoot, but the most orthodox way was the Double Tap System. The Double Tap System was to fire two shots to be certain their target has been shot. Life-sized figures on winches were used for target practices. Demolition and explosive training was essential and rail sabotage was carried out with the cooperation of the West Highland Line. Students were taught how to lay dummy charges and fog signals, then walk away and hide.
After paramilitary training, there was finishing school. The finishing training consist of learning how to disguise quickly and how to tail or loose someone. Peter Folis was an actor that specialized in disguises. He told trainee to make differences into ones appearance and how to use scars as a disguise using Culloden. All SOE agents had their own cover story and background. This information was important to the agent because if they make a mistake their cover can be blown. SOE was prepare for agents whose covers have been blown and had a list of plastic surgeons who could alter the facial features of agents. These plastic sergeants were also used for Jewish agents to make them look more German. The progress of an agent would be tested at Beaulieu. This test would usually last up to 48-72 hours and test the agents ability to make contact with a intermediate, tail someone, or losing someone.