Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
16 used & new from £5.97

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive
 
See larger image
 

SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive (Paperback)

by M.R.D. Foot (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
RRP: £14.99
Price: £9.09 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £5.90 (39%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, July 14? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
12 new from £7.99 4 used from £5.97

Frequently Bought Together

SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive + Secret War Heroes: The Men of Special Operations Executive + The Next Moon: The Remarkable True Story of a British Agent Behind the Lines in Wartime France
Price For All Three: £23.07

Show availability and shipping details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Secret War Heroes: The Men of Special Operations Executive

Secret War Heroes: The Men of Special Operations Executive

by Marcus Binney
4.5 out of 5 stars (2)  £6.99
The Next Moon: The Remarkable True Story of a British Agent Behind the Lines in Wartime France

The Next Moon: The Remarkable True Story of a British Agent Behind the Lines in Wartime France

by Ewen Southby-Tailyour
4.3 out of 5 stars (15)  £6.99
The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War

The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War

by Thaddeus Holt
3.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £10.49
SOE: The Scientific Secrets

SOE: The Scientific Secrets

by Fredric Boyce
D-Day: The Battle for Normandy

D-Day: The Battle for Normandy

by Antony Beevor
4.2 out of 5 stars (65)  £12.49
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Pimlico; New edition edition (3 Jun 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0712665854
  • ISBN-13: 978-0712665858
  • Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 12.8 x 3.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 111,631 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
Special Ops Watches
   www.SpecialOpsWatch.co.uk    It's Time you Had this Watch Great Value - Order Now! 
SOE Engineering Society
   www.SOE.org.uk    Society of Operations Engineers CEng, IEng or Eng Tech levels 
Operations Executive
   www.Ask.com    Find the Best Results for Operations Executive. Ask us! 
  
 

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
SOE The Special Operations Executive 1940- 1946 reads just as well now as it did when it was first published by the BBC in 1984 to coincide with a television series--not least because its author, M.R.D Foot, was appointed the official historian to the SOE just after World War Two and has had access to its entire archive. The SOE was hastily cobbled together in 1940 to wage subversive campaigns behind enemy lines, and by and large it made up the rules as it went along. It recruited where and when it could. As might be expected, the senior ranks generally came from the echelons of the public schools, the City, the business world and the armed services; but its agents were a bizarre mix of eccentrics and mavericks from all over the world--including North American newspaper editors, South American businessmen, Spanish smugglers, Abyssinian tribesmen, Norwegian mountaineers, schoolchildren, Dutch printers, Greek outlaws, Slovene peasants, Malayan rubber workers, Siamese noblemen, Naga hillmen, Polish and Czech railway guards and Chinese tycoons. All in all, however, SOE's total strength never totalled more than 10,000 men and 3,200 women. Often the training was crude and the operations were ill-thought out and as a result many failed. But that only serves to make those that succeeded against such long odds all the more impressive. Occasionally, such as its attack on the Norsk Hydro plant at Rjukan, SOE's operations were critical to the outcome of the war, but for the most part its successes owed more to the longevity of attrition rather than any immediate outcome.

The SOE spent much time engaged in diversionary activity. It was said that each day Hitler spent at least half an hour considering Abwehr reports on SOE activities and that he was never entirely sure of their place in the overall framework of Allied plans. But perhaps the greatest success of the SOE was the way it managed to foster a mentality of resistance in all areas of Nazi occupation. Populations that might otherwise have settled for an easy life were galvanised into a permanent state of mini-rebellion, thereby ensuring that the occupying forces could never relax for a moment. Foot is the ideal guide to walk you through this outfit of which much has been spoken but little is known, sorting out the fact from the fiction but he still finding ample room for storytelling. Your perspective on World War Two will never be quite the same again after reading this. -- John Crace

Product Description
Those in the Special Operations Executive during World War II were recruited from remarkably diverse callings. This is the story of the men and women who were members of this most secret agency and who lived in constant danger. Their job was to support and stimulate resistance behind enemy lines.


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive
73% buy the item featured on this page:
SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive 3.5 out of 5 stars (2)
£9.09
Memories of an SOE Historian
9% buy
Memories of an SOE Historian 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£13.99
Secret Agent's Handbook
6% buy
Secret Agent's Handbook
£10.49
A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Lost Agents of SOE
6% buy
A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Lost Agents of SOE 4.3 out of 5 stars (14)
£6.99

 

Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:    (0)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars When secrets become history, 10 April 2004
By A Customer
Simetimes there are certain things that cannot be written in history books. Either politics or security reasons does not allow the aknowledjment of people and organizations. This book offers to reader the opportunity to learn about and understand the significant role of SOE in WWII, not only for Britain but also for other countries that faced Nazism. It is history about WHO HOW and WHEN secretelly helped fighting the Axis forces world-wide. Especially for me it was also a confirmation of what I had Heard from people that lived the WW II in Greece, about participation of British in the efforts of my country to fight German occupation (1941-1944).
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Summary from a master of the subject, 8 Jan 2009
By Stephen Bull - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
MRD Foot is acknowledged as one of the leading authorities on the subject, and this work effectively summarises his efforts on SOE in different areas - as well as giving a clear picture of its origins, objectives and methods. A relatively easy read, enjoyable, and with many well chosen examples and comments on the task and problems of the organisation.

Probably the biggest problem facing the author was to pack much information into a single volume - so if you want to pick on one aspect or country it would be worth consulting one of his other works. I understand that his 'SOE in France' is a classic, though I have not read this one as yet.

Recommended for anybody interested in clandestine operations, or World War II - also a good choice for the general reader who wants an all round picture of SOE in a single work.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]

   


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

Shop the Powerball store

 

Make A Wish

Get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk Wish List Make sure you always get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk Wish List.

More info on Wish Lists

 

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates