Gladiators Of WWII - Special Operations Executive

This episode in the BBC documentary series "Gladiators of WW2" focuses on The Special Operations Executive (SOE), a World War II organization initiated by Winston Churchill and Hugh Dalton in July 1940, to conduct warfare by means other than direct military engagement. SOE mission was to encourage and facilitate espionage and sabotage behind enemy lines and to serve as the core of a resistance movement in Britain itself (the Auxiliary Units) in the possible event of an Axis invasion. The Headquarters was set up in an anonymous building in London's 64 Baker street. Another important London base was Aston House, where weapons and tactics research were conducted. Agents destined to serve in the field underwent commando training followed by specialist training in skills such as demolition techniques or morse telegraphy. SOE maintained a large number of training, research and development, or administrative centres. A variety of people from all classes and pre-war occupations served SOE in the field. In most cases, the primary quality required was a deep knowledge of the country in which the agent was to operate, and especially its language, if the agent was to pass as a native of the country. SOE was highly dependent upon the security of radio transmissions and with the continent of Europe closed to normal travel, SOE had to rely on its own air or sea transport for movement of people, arms and equipment. SOE was dissolved officially in 1946, and much of its sphere of influence reverted to MI6. Based on archival footages and photograph and includes also testimonies of SOE’s veterans.