In the early years of World War II, Special Operations Executive (SOE) set up top secret training schools to instruct prospective agents in the art of being a spy. By the end of 1941, an international network of schools was in operation in secluded locations ranging from the Scottish Highlands to Singapore and Canada. How to Be a Spy reproduces the extensive training manuals used to prepare agents for their highly dangerous missions behind enemy lines. The courses cover a variety of clandestine skills including disguise, surveillance, burglary, interrogation, close combat, and assassination - everything needed to wreak havoc in occupied Europe. Secret History Files is an exciting series from The National Archives that puts covert history in readers' hands. Dossiers previously classified as 'Top Secret' are now available, with an introduction and background analysis by expert historians. Denis Rigden was engaged in information and historical research for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for over 30 years. He is the author of Kill the Fuhrer: Section X and Operation Foley, and has in recent years made a study of the SOE.
How to be a Spy
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About the Author
Denis Rigden was engaged in information and historical research for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for over 30 years. He is the author of "Kill the Fuhrer: Section X" and "Operation Foley," and has in recent years made a study of the SOE.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By M. Giulio
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a historian, but now I'm writing a novel about SOE's activity during the ww2 and this book in very useful
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
SOE TRADECRAFT SECRETS
15 Dec 2004
By Troy A. Lettieri
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I would have given this 5 stars but, the description for this book failed to say that it is the soft cover re-titled, reprinted version of the 2001 hard cover book "SOE Syllabus - Lessons in ungentlemanly warfare, World War II" by Denis Rigden. I have bought so many books that have been reprinted and re-titled and it just fires me up. So be aware so you do not waste unnecessary money like I did. As for the content, the book is declassified training notes, outlines and instruction in the many facets of secret warfare. Some of the subjects are;
Irregular Warfare
Disguise Techniques
Surveillance
Agent recruiting
Burglary
Interrogation
Agent Covers
Agent Cell organization
Resistance
Subversion
Sabotage
Propaganda
Codes And Ciphers
Secret Inks
Fieldcraft and Tracking
Demolitions
Hand-to-Hand Combat
Weapons Training
Physical Training
This is just a sample of the material covered. This book is ideal for researches, historians and military enthusiasts. This is the same program of instruction that the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner to the CIA and Green Berets) was trained with at Camp-X in Canada. Great historical source.
Irregular Warfare
Disguise Techniques
Surveillance
Agent recruiting
Burglary
Interrogation
Agent Covers
Agent Cell organization
Resistance
Subversion
Sabotage
Propaganda
Codes And Ciphers
Secret Inks
Fieldcraft and Tracking
Demolitions
Hand-to-Hand Combat
Weapons Training
Physical Training
This is just a sample of the material covered. This book is ideal for researches, historians and military enthusiasts. This is the same program of instruction that the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner to the CIA and Green Berets) was trained with at Camp-X in Canada. Great historical source.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is an excellent historical document
1 Jan 2013
By Chu Te
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a reprint of an actual manual used to train Special Operations Executive (SOE)and Office of Strategic Services(OSS)personnel during the Second World War.
This book is a look at espionage and sabotage training 70 years ago, and it reflects that era.
As a historian and military scientist I can recommend this book to individual World War II enthusiasts, and to students of military and espionage history as a reference and guide which accurately reflects the era and the training syllabus of the period. And I can recommend that every library buy a copy for its collection of accurate works on espionage and military history.
The course work would be similar to that taught by the NKVD and COMINTERN of the Soviet Union, similar to the training of German agents, and similar to that training of the Japanese Nakano Spy School. The book reflects the basics of being a 1930s-1940s spy trained in war time.
This book is a look at espionage and sabotage training 70 years ago, and it reflects that era.
As a historian and military scientist I can recommend this book to individual World War II enthusiasts, and to students of military and espionage history as a reference and guide which accurately reflects the era and the training syllabus of the period. And I can recommend that every library buy a copy for its collection of accurate works on espionage and military history.
The course work would be similar to that taught by the NKVD and COMINTERN of the Soviet Union, similar to the training of German agents, and similar to that training of the Japanese Nakano Spy School. The book reflects the basics of being a 1930s-1940s spy trained in war time.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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