How to Become a Spy: The World War II SOE Training Manual

by British Special Operations Executive

Overview

During World War II, training in the black arts of covert operation was vital preparation for the “ungentlemanly warfare” waged by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) against Hitler’s Germany and Tojo’s Japan. In the early years of the war, the SOE set up top secret training schools to instruct prospective agents in the art of being a spy. Soon there was an international network of schools in operation in secluded locations ranging from the Scottish Highlands to Singapore and Canada.

Reproduced here is one of the most comprehensive training syllabi used at SOE’s Special Training Schools (STSs) instructing agents on how to wreak maximum havoc in occupied Europe and beyond. A staggering array of unconventional skills are covered—from burglary, close combat, and silent killing, to utilizing propaganda, surveillance, and disguise—giving an unprecedented insight into the workings of one of WWII’s most intriguing organizations.

These files, released from the British National Archive, put covert history in readers’ hands. Uncover an exciting, little-known part of WWII history and delve into the inner workings of a real spy network.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history—books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632205261
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	06/09/2015
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	289,070
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

British Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a British WWII organization. It was officially formed on July 22, 1940, to conduct espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance in occupied Europe against the Axis powers and to aid local resistance movements. Few people were aware of SOE’s existence; at times it was referred to as “Churchill’s Secret Army” or the “Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” After the war, the organization was dissolved on January 15, 1946.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

A.2.

January 1944.

SELF PROTECTION

INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY

1. DEFINITION.

Security: "Precautions taken by the individual for his own personal protection and the protection of his Organization from the enemy".

Without these precautions, it is dangerous to attempt regular and impossible to attempt irregular warfare alone or in conjunction with other people.

2. APPLICATION.

a) Apparent absence of enemy C.E. measures should never be allowed to engender over-confidence. (Cf. graph of agent's confidence.)

b) Insecurity by an individual may jeopardise not only his own safety but the safety of the organization with which he is in contact.

3. INFORMATION.

Basis of your self-protection is good information. As much as possible provided before departure, but you must check and supplement on arrival. Information required on: i) Local Conditions.

ii) Local Regulations.

iii) Enemy methods.

iv) Enemy personnel.

v) Your own subordinates.

4. INCULCATION.

a) Security cannot be taught by rule of thumb. It is a frame of mind attainable through self-discipline and selftraining that will make the taking of precautions a "habit". (Cf. crossing a road.)

b) What is a habit? A single action committed so often as to become automatic. What precautionary actions must we practise so often that they become a habit?

5. COMMUNICATION.

The answer is "Communicatory Actions". Secret and confidential information can reach the enemy through our carelessness in:

a) Speech.

b) Writing.

c) Behaviour.

a) Speech.

Adoption of hush-hush attitude through vanity.

Confiding in friends to ease nervous strain.

Mentioning facts you are not "outwardly" supposed to know, or isolated facts which can be strung together.

Telling people more than they need to know.

Compromising telephone-conversations through misuse of conventions. (E.g. NOT "Three lambs with sweets and toys who need instruction in malaria" BUT "Three chaps with some goods for Harry who need instruction in my subject".)

b) Writing.

Commit as little as possible to writing. Memorise if you can.

If you must carry documents, select what you must carry.

Burn all secret waste and carbons.

c) Behaviour.

Be inconspicuous. Avoid all limelight by being an "average" citizen in appearance (height, clothes) and conduct (drink, women).

Be tidy. All engaged on secret work must be methodical in their habits — e.g. it is mainly knowing exactly where he has placed his belongings and arranged his room that an individual can detect disturbance by police search.

Have good "Cover" — the innocent activity undertaken or invented to conceal the secret aspects of his activity. Good cover must be consistent with necessary overt behaviour and non-compromising.

(For application to operational Agent see A.4.)

Be observant. Observe and deduce. (E.g. face or voice seen or heard twice suggesting you are being followed. Smell of real coffee in France suggesting someone occupied in Black Market.)

Have foresight. See danger early. (E.g. axis agent in cafÃ(c), policemen checking papers.)

Plan for emergency. Alternative courses in case of accident (RV's) pre-arranged conversation when talking to colleague in case of sudden interrogation. Danger signs.

A.2.a.

September 1943.

SECURITY FOR W/T OPERATORS

1. INTRODUCTION

Lecture deals with special aspects of security for W/T Operators apart from general principles laid down in "Individual Security".

2. CHOOSING OF PREMISES FOR WORKING SET.

a) Choice depends on: i) Security considerations.

ii) Technical considerations.

iii) Combination of i. and ii. and district.

b) Security.

Safer to have number of sets dispersed over wide area with owners or occupants of premises recruited (see further below).

c) Technical.

Avoid steel-framed buildings. Key click easily audible in next room or if radio receiver working off same circuit. Consider aerial camouflage.

d) District.

i) Thinly populated country districts, possibility for isolated buildings, e.g. farms, etc.

ii) Towns — private house or place of occupation.

e) In case of d) ii) above, consider following factors: i) Accessibility.

Operator must be able to get to and from premises without arousing suspicions of neighbours or passers by.

ii) Cover.

Must have "genuine" reason for frequent visits (e.g. doctor). Use existing household.

iii) Facilities, defensive.

For concealing self and set.

For escape (exits).

Vulnerability to surveillance.

iv) Control of Access.

Limit to number and type of people with possible access to premises.

3. GENERAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS

To be taken in any premise including place of residence.

a) Precautions against search during absence — tidiness, b) leaf in keyhole, hair, etc.

b) Minimum incriminating material, coded writings destroyed, etc. N.B.: Traces on blotting paper and writing blocks.

c) Hiding places prepared, particularly for set.

i) Inside House — advantages and disadvantages.

ii)Outside House — advantages and disadvantages.

Possibility of working set from hiding places.

d) Preparation for destroying incriminating material.

e) Where possible room with 2 doors and light switch near while operating.

f) Guard while operating, e.g. possibility of hall porter.

g) All clear and danger signals, visual and/or oral.

h) Check on surveillance of premises, or when entering or leaving.

i) Alternative premises in case of emergency.

j) No casual visitors at premises — only possible ones are cut-outs.

4. CUT-OUTS

a) Definition.

Intermediary. Link between two agents. May only carry messages, knowing nothing about Organization, or act as liaison officer. Should undertake no other subversive activity.

b) Reason for employment (In case of W/T Operator).

i)Dangerous for operator to be seen with Organizer.

ii)May not want another member to know him.

iii)Barrier between himself and authorities, e.g. telegram, official enquiry, hiring flat.

iv)Transfer of suspicion, delayed or prevented.

c) Cover.

Must be able to contact inconspicuously people of different social positions, e.g. doctor, dentist, priest, waiter, postman, etc.

5. SECURITY RULES FOR OPERATOR.

a) Must never undertake other subversive activity. Danger of over enthusiasm.

b) Must not attempt to find out more about Organization than he is told, nor know one or two members.

c) Christian names only should be used. Numbering dangerous.

d) Never carry arms unless in situation for which no cover story (e.g. working the set).

e) Must report suspicious incident immediately, e.g. if followed.

f) Emergency measures, e.g. warning signals, hide-out, contacts to drop, how to re-establish contact.

A.3.

April 1943.

INFORMANT SERVICE

1. INTRODUCTION

Without good information it is impossible: (a) to protect oneself against enemy C. E.

(b) to plan or time operations (c.f. importance of "I" to "0" staff in regular army).

2. WHAT DO YOU REQUIRE TO KNOW?

(a) Local Conditions —

— unprocurable articles (e.g. danger of ordering wrong drinks or cigarettes).

— transport service (e.g. fewer trains, buses, taxis) and restrictions (e.g. reason for travelling).

— market days. Danger of search for "Black Market" goods.

— new slang or colloquialisms brought about by war.

— general temper of local population.

(b) Local Regulations —

— Identity Papers. Are yours in order? (Compare yours with other people's and, if possible, procure genuine ones.)

— Ration Cards. Find out how to procure these.

— Movement Restrictions. What passes are necessary?

— Control Posts. Manned by enemy troops or local police?

— Evacuation from forbidden zones.

— Curfew hours.

— Blackout Regulations.

— Bicycles — licenses, restrictions, etc.

(c) Enemy Methods and Personnel.

— location of troops.

— location of nearest enemy police or Gestapo, with details or personnel; attitude of local police.

— names of civilian police spies, agents provocateurs.

(d) Operational Information

— possible targets: Enemy communications, H.Q., dumps, factories.

— bottle necks in enemy production and communications.

— internal working of factories, power station, railways, etc. e.g. type of machinery used.

— personnel employed in any of the above.

— means of entry: layout, guards, control system.

— documents: workers' passes, blueprints, etc.

3. HOW DO YOU OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION?

a) By direct interrogation.

b) By constant personal observation.

c) By reading newspapers and listening to radio.

d) By Informant Service:

THE INFORMANT SERVICE:

(a) Personnel

(i) Very few should know that they are informants. The great bulk will be quite unconscious of it.

(ii) Select from as many strata of society, trades, professions, etc., as possible.

(iii) Best are types who constantly mix with all sorts -E.G.,

Priests,
(iv) In due course you may decide to approach a few of the more trustworthy informants with a view to recruiting them.

(b) Methods

(i) Journalists' technique of eavesdropping on the masses. c.f. — Ability to hear and separate two simultaneous conversations while ostensibly listening to a third.

(ii) Taking advantage of other people's bad security — e.g. —

— Careless talk

— Disgruntled enemy personnel.

— Affecting ignorance and thus encouraging others to air their knowledge.

— Making false statements to elicit correct reply.

(iii) Do not discourage informants, however trivial the information. c.f. — reporter's maxim: "Never refuse a date".

A.4.

November 1943.

COVER

1. DEFINITION.

Your cover is the life which you outwardly lead in order to conceal the real purpose of your presence and the explanation which you give of your past and present. It is best considered under the heads:

Past,
2. YOUR PAST.

Before your departure, with the assistance of your Section Officers, you will probably prepare the story of your past life up to the time of your arrival. But you cannot always arrange a complete story before leaving; furthermore, you may have to change part or all of your cover story when you are actually in the field and know what your circumstances are to be. Nevertheless you must be able to give some account of yourself if questioned immediately after your arrival.

In inventing or amending your cover story, or that of another agent, the following points should be considered: a) Identity.

i) Your Own.

Advantages: Your story will be mainly true. Only a limited period will have to be explained away. Records will confirm your statements.

Disadvantages: The subversive part of your history may be known to the enemy or to persons who may give you away. This is usually the case with escapees.

ii) That of a Real Person, Distant or Dead.

Advantages: The story, being real, will be self-consistent. Records will confirm at least a part of it.

Disadvantages: People Acquainted with the person whom you are impersonating may give you away. You may have incomplete information about this person's past life, so that your statements may be shown to be untrue. The person may be suspected without your knowing it.

iii) Wholly Fictitious.

Advantages: Less chance of Entanglements and wider scope.

Disadvantages: Records will not confirm your story.

In some cases agents have to assume different identities in different places. This should be avoided as far as possible because it leads to contradictions.

N.B. The danger of two identity cards.

b) History.

i)Whatever your identity, your story must be plausible and not indicate any connection with subversive activity.

ii) It should be based, as far as possible, on the facts of your own life or that of the person whom you are impersonating. Do not introduce places or events which you do not know nor refer to knowledge which you have not. (Do not claim to know of engineering if you do not.)

iii) Pay particular attention to that part of your story which is linked with the details shown in your documents. These may be examined closely.

iv) Your recent history is of most interest to the police. It is also most difficult to invent satisfactorily. Particular care should be devoted to its preparation.

v) Although a complete mastery of details is essential in the preparation of the story, vagueness is often desirable when repeating it, especially in the case of more distant and less important parts.

c) Documents.

These are supplied by your Section and will be as nearly perfect as possible. The following points must be remembered:

i) You must know how you would have obtained them if they had been issued to you legally.

ii) All the documents you need cannot always be produced in this country, e.g. those which change frequently, such as ration cards in some countries.

iii) The falsity of forged documents is always ultimately detectable if counterfoils exist, especially if they are numbered consecutively. It may take a long time to establish this falsity.

iv) Perfect documents can only be obtained through official sources in the field.

d) Clothes and Effects.

i) Do not take anything with you which does not fit your story.

ii) Your effects can sometimes furnish valuable corroborative evidence of the "truth" of your background cover, e.g. unofficial papers, tickets, bills, local products, etc.

e) Change of Appearance.

i) To support assumed character (rough hands for workman).

ii) To avoid recognition if you are going among people who know you.

N.B. Application of disguise is dealt with in a special lecture.

f) Final Search

You must search your person and residence for traces which link you with your "other self":

i) Before your departure.

ii) Whenever you change your cover story

iii) If you wish to conceal some recent activity.

iv) If you are about to undertake some special subversive act.

3. FROM PAST TO PRESENT

As soon as you arrive you must adopt a cover life to account for your presence. Your cover story for your past must merge into this.

a) From the beginning start completing the details of the cover story of your past. Really do the things you say you have done. Really go to the places you say you have been to. This will serve a double purpose:

i) You will obtain the information which you would have had had your story been true, e.g. see the towns, learn their recent history, etc. With this knowledge you can support and, if necessary, modify your background cover.

ii) You can manufacture evidence confirming your background cover, e.g. make acquaintances in the places you go to, possess things coming from these places.

b) Build up also your present cover background by innocent and inconspicuous actions to which reference can be made later. It may be useful to make innocent acquaintances, etc.

4. YOUR PRESENT.

This is the life which you lead and the story which you will tell about that life to account for your presence. It may be planned with the help of your Section Officers before your departure. Or you may have to work it out for the first time after your arrival. In any case, your ostensible present must be consistent with your alleged past.

a) Maintenance of Cover.

i) Name.

Always sign correctly and respond to it immediately.

ii) Consistency in General

Your personality and general conduct must fit your cover background, e.g.:

Expenditure must accord with ostensible income.

Volume and nature of correspondence must fit your social circumstances.

Character of friends and acquaintances must accord with your cover personality.

Documents, clothing, possessions, etc. must be suitable.

Manners, tastes, bearing, accent, education and knowledge must accord with your ostensible personality.

iii) Concealment of Absence from your Country.

Avoid foreign words, tunes, manners, etc.

Avoid slang which has developed among your countrymen in Britain.

Avoid showing knowledge or expressing views acquired in Britain.

Conform with all new conditions which have arisen, observe new customs and acquire the language which has developed in your country.

(Continues…)

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