Women of the OSS and SOE
A digital humanities project
The Special Operations Executive (SOE)
Formation
The SOE was formed in June 1940 and ordered by Winston Churchill to "set Europe ablaze" through military intelligence and espionage. One of the agency's primary leaders as head of training and operations and eventual SOE director was Colin McVean Gubbins, pictured right circa WWI. Gubbins believed that sabotage and resistance building would be key to winning the war.
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Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) did not agree with these tactics and felt that they would be dangerous, but the SOE continued to train agents in guerrilla warfare, in ways to build resistance networks, and as wireless operators to transmit coded messages.
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World War II activities
SOE agents largely focused on building resistance networks in occupied territory and sabotaging Axis efforts. These networks relied on civilians to provide intelligence and to help shelter agents from the enemy.
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The OSS and SOE worked together on secret missions, including Operation Jedburgh, where small teams of SOE, OSS, and French Intelligence men parachuted into occupied territory and engaged in guerrilla warfare. Some Jedburghs are pictured left, circa 1944.
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The work of the agents was dangerous, with the life expectancy of wireless operators only six weeks, but by 1945, the organization had roughly 13,000 men and women employed. Many of the agents weren't British.
After the War
Disbandment
Following Churchill's election loss in 1945 and the war's conclusion, SOE's responsibilities lessened. It was disbanded in January 1946, with the SIS absorbing much of the remaining information and staff.
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Pictured right is a silk escape map associated with Group Captain Hugh Beresford Verity.
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