How Winston Churchill planned to set Europe ablaze with an underground army
In 1940, a secret British organization was forged to wage a hidden war. Tasked with sabotage and subversion, the Special Operations Executive operated behind enemy lines, using everything from silenced guns to radio transmitters disguised as ordinary suitcases to disrupt the Axis powers.
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was formed in July 1940 through the amalgamation of three existing departments: Section D, MI(R), and Department EH. This new organization was driven by the vision of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who famously instructed his Minister of Economic Warfare, Hugh Dalton, to 'set Europe ablaze.' While its mission was to conduct espionage and sabotage, the SOE faced significant internal friction. The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) viewed the group with suspicion, with its head, Sir Stewart Menzies, labeling SOE agents as 'amateur, dangerous and bogus.'
The personnel of the SOE were remarkably diverse, comprising over 13,000 people, including 3,200 women. While many were serving soldiers, others joined directly from civilian life. Some women even joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) to disguise their clandestine work. The organization's operational reach was vast, spanning territories occupied by the Axis powers, and even utilizing neutral territories for planning. To support these missions, research stations near Welwyn in Hertfordshire developed specialized equipment, including explosives, forged papers, and even a gun disguised as a pen.
The leadership of the SOE was shaped by the experiences of irregular warfare. Major J.C.F. Holland, a key figure in the development of MI(R), drew inspiration from the guerrilla tactics of the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence. Later, Brigadier Colin Gubbins, who had also studied the IRA's methods, took command as Director of Operations. Despite the eventual dissolution of the SOE in 1946, its legacy remains preserved through memorials in places like Westminster Abbey and the Albert Embankment, honoring those who served in the shadows.
Source: Special Operations Executive
