SPECIAL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE, 1940-1946:
SUBVERSION AND SABOTAGE DURING WORLD WAR II
Series One: SOE Operations in Western Europe

Part 3: Germany, 1936-1945 (Public Record Office Class HS 6/617-722)

Since VE Day, the concept of resistance movements and secret government organisations has fascinated all aspects of the media, from simple fictional accounts to glamorous film noir characters. The release of files documenting the machinations of the Special Operations Executive means that, for the first time, scholars are able to see beyond the romantic; witnessing the first-hand accounts of those who risked their lives in order to stop the relentless march of fascism. These files offer the realities of setting up, organising and posting agents into occupied territories, making for some of the most interesting and exciting material that has emerged from archives relating to the Second World War.

Subjects for study range from the interaction between allied forces, the impact of guerrilla warfare in occupied territories, the extent of German penetration and the planning, politics and organisation associated with action behind enemy lines. Series One, SOE operations in Western Europe, covers activities in France, Germany, Holland and Italy, while Series Two concentrates on the Balkans.

Initially founded in March 1939, it wasnt until mid-1940 that the SOE received a more formal, if loose, seal of approval from Whitehall. Moving from their small offices on 2 Caxton Street, London, to their new headquarters in Baker Street, the formation of SOE gave existing secret organisations, such as the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service), a means of physically carrying out campaigns that had predominantly remained on paper. Famously ordered by Winston Churchill to set Europe ablaze, the SOE became responsible for supporting and stimulating resistance behind enemy lines. Under the initial leadership of the influential socialist politician, Sir Hugh Dalton, the organisation largely overcame its shaky start to form an essential part in operations aimed at helping to halt Hitlers increasing grip on Europe.

Unlike its sister services who quietly gathered intelligence behind enemy lines, SOEs task was to cause as much disruption as possible and it quickly gained a reputation as an obscure and unique organisation. As the outfit grew, agents were hired from a diverse range of backgrounds and nationalities; by 1944, approximately 5,000 agents were involved in operations behind enemy lines, with a back-up support of nearly 10,000 staff at home.

Part 3 provides complete coverage of SOE records relating to Germany. Until the release of files HS 6/617-722, very little was known of the workings and operations of Section X, the SOE country division for Germany. By studying the archives, academics will be able to research the directorates aims and objectives; firstly the ruination of the Third Reich and, secondly, for SOE to secure a role in a liberated Europe and post-war Germany. The link between the two is reported in HS 6/622:-

File HS 6/692 covers the early work of Section X between 1940-1943. Detailing weekly and monthly progress reports, historians will be able to study the effectiveness of SOE activities in Germany throughout the first half of the war. During this period, the high command in London generally thought that the infiltration of the Third Reich was not a feasible undertaking. The turning point for SOE operations in the ruling country mainly occurred from 1944 onwards, pre- and post D-Day.

Reel 24 includes files HS 6/617-620. These chiefly concern the politics behind the armistice and military surrenders negotiated through SOE work. Detailing peacefeelers (including von Trott and Moltke) and German approaches, the documents report that the former were in themselves no concern to SOE but primarily of interest to the Foreign Office. HS 6/617 states, "we have agreed that as soon as the Germans put out feelers of this kind, our Agents will immediately refuse to discuss any questions of peace terms with the individuals or groups concerned until they have received further instructions from London." The files also reveal SOEs opinion that most of the approaches made by the Germans were calculated in order to serve the purposes of counter espionage, espionage, to gain information on allied policy for peace terms and propaganda.

To complement this, the German Committee Minutes (HS 6/621) include the use by X Section of various German political organisations, such as the communists, social democrats and trade unions, in order to gain manpower and create a network of resistance. Scholars will be able to research the role played in operations by the German working classes (who were thought to have anti-Nazi leanings), and related groups such as the International Transport Workers Federation (HS 6/647-648).

Sabotage missions behind enemy lines are also included in Part 3. The destruction of rail networks, machinery and the attempted destruction of the factory producing components for the V2 bomb (HS 6/662 and 663) are included and give fascinating insights into the workings of X Section in the final stages of the war. Operations DOWNEND, FORDWICK, FRILFORD, COLAN, CARHAM and CLINT can all be used to study the success/failure of missions in Germany.

Operations BRADDOCK I and II (HS 6/637, 719-722) detail the proposal to scatter four million incendiaries (from Lancaster aeroplanes) over various locations in Germany after D-Day. Backed by SHAEF and the PWE, the devices came complete with full instructions written in 11 languages. The intention was for the incendiaries to float down and be picked up by anti-Nazis and forced labourers for use in sabotage attacks. The ensuing explosions, not to mention the waste of German resources in searching for them, would cause immeasurable disruption to the enemy. Judging from the files, the operation did not take place; it was deemed that the most suitable time for the operation to prove successful "had passed".

Files concerning agents and double agents enable scholars to research the theories and existence of espionage, counter-espionage and counter-intelligence. Several operations were undertaken using neutral countries, such as Switzerland, as exit/escape routes.

HS 6/646 looks at the case of Lily and Harry. Both were German nationals operating in Sweden and used by the allies to gain intelligence. The papers show how SOE was suspicious of Lilys intentions and movement in German circles in Stockholm. File HS 6/649 studies the credibility and exploits of Sam and Edward two Swedish sabotage agents.

HS 6/702 documents the arrival of enemy agents in Britain. The discovery of the body of Jan Willem Ter Braak in Cambridge, fuelled speculation behind SOEs belief that "The Germans have developed the informer system to almost a fine art." The file can also be used to study German contra-espionage methods and the use of agents provocateurs.

In HS 6/699 scholars will be able to follow the progress of the Demuth Committee. As a joint venture with the PWE, SOE paid the marginal fee of £50.00 per month in order to support the Committee in their objective for the secret services to employ anti-Nazi civil servants, professional men and leading economic experts in espionage operations.

What the files undoubtedly prove is that SOE was actively pressing for a mission to assassinate Hitler and his chief subordinates. Known as Operations FOXLEY and LITTLE FOXLEY respectively, files HS 6/623-626 document the feasibility study made by Section X in 1944 to kill Hitler by sniper, poison or train derailment. Following on from a previously failed attempt within Germany to assassinate the ruler, the u-turn in allied policy targeted Hitlers alpine retreat, Berchtesgaden, as the most obvious location for the mission to take place. Reflecting this the documents include the Frhers daily routine and eating habits, aerial photographs, maps and scale drawings, security personnel, air raid shelters and even details of German uniforms. The plan, of course, never reached fruition Hitlers failing strategies meant that he was more use alive than dead.

Files HS 6/627-633 look at SOE intelligence reports on concentration and death camps. As the end of the war came into sight, finding out the fate of missing agents became a prime concern for SOE. The archives include reports from liberated agents, and the interrogation of suspects on conditions and whereabouts of colleagues. Atrocities concerning Auschwitz, Dachau and Buchenwald are also included.

Documents HS 6/689 and 690 study the work of Military Establishment 42 (ME 42). As part of the German directorate, ME 42 was seen by some to be an extension of SOE. Its objective was to make the cross-over from resistance work to intelligence work by searching for missing agents after the war, in the prospect of securing a post-war role for SOE. The department never fully materialised - British and American troops liberated many agents before ME 42 could reach them.

The use of propaganda in the Second World War is a huge area of research in itself. One of the most successful operations ever undertaken is included in Part 3. File HS 6/641 documents the forged six-pfennig postage stamp portraying the head of Himmler. It was produced by the PWE in order to cause maximum disruption within the internal powers of the Third Reich. The stamp was used to send letters (all baring the German postmark) to various organisations and philatelists in Europe. Secret organisations such as SOE claimed ignorance, which only encouraged the press to believe that the stamps were produced in Germany and that Himmler would actually climb to complete power in the Reich. Files HS 6/694-696 also looks at propaganda for Germany between 1942-1944, including forgeries, itching powder on German soldiers in central Crete, information rumours and the sexual defamation of the Nazi leadership.

The use of BBC radio broadcasts for propaganda purposes were of vital importance for SOE work in Germany. HS 6/637 documents instructions for the BBC to air a five minute broadcast every two hours. "It is of the greatest importance that we, not BBC officials, should have the final say in what is transmitted to Germany." This demand made by SOE to control broadcast copy can be seen in the following extract:-

Part Three will enable scholars to study:

German politics and a post-war German Government
SOEs relationship with OSS, SHAEF, DGER, PWE and the Foreign Office
Underground organisations of the Nazi Government
Sabotage of communication networks
The role played by neutral countries such as Switzerland
Propaganda
Counter-intelligence and Contra-espionage
The feasibility of assassination plots, such as Operation FOXLEY, the plan to kill Hitler
The use of French officers/escaped Prisoners of War, in the allied forces
SOE covert activities in liberated areas
The future of SOE in a post-war Europe
The training of agents in France (Centre 20)
Prisoners of War and concentration camps

Due to the sensitive nature of the material, several files are retained by the department under Section 3(4). However, the documents offered in Part Three invite academics to study SOE in an area previously thought, by the London high command, to be out of reach. Was SOE successful in its operations in Germany? How feasible was the plot to assassinate Hitler? Should it have gone ahead? To what lengths did SOE rely on the German populace in order to carry out their missions? Did the work of Section X secure a role for SOE and sabotage work in a post-war world?