Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a British agency operating during the Second World War, with responsibility for 'special operations' including psychological warfare, assassinations and paramilitary activities.[1]
SOE was established in in July 1940 by consolidating Section D of MI6 with MI R, a War Office guerrilla warfare research group and a covert propaganda unit, Department EH.[2]
Initially, SOE had three sections, SO.1 for propaganda, SO.2 for dirty tricks, and SO.3 for planning. A year later SO.1 was separated to become the Political Warfare Executive under Rex Leeper and Robert Bruce Lockhart.[3]
People
Executive Officers (CD)
- Gladwyn Jebb - 1941-42
- Sir Frank Nelson
- Sir Charles Hambro
- Colin Gubbins
Resources
- 64 Baker Street Website on 'The Women of the Special Operations Executive', accessed 30 March 2009.
- Spartacus Educational Special Operations Executive, accessed 30 March 2009
- Obituaries, Special Operations Executive, The Times
- National Archives [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/new_releases_feb2002_SOE_recs.pdf Special Operations Executive Records Release 8th Feb 2002 (pdf)
