Podcasts about Special Operations Executive

Raised in Denmark, Hans Tofte eventually began a lifetime of adventures working for the Special Operations Executive (a precursor to the OSS); the OSS during WWII; and the CIA during the Korean War and afterward. Known for his indefatigable support for Yugoslave partisans in 1943-44; his inolvement in regime change in Guatemala in 1954, and his involvement in the Korean War's Operation TP-STOLE in which he cut off critical medical supplies to Chinese forces fighting in North Korea, (clandestinely supplied by the Indian government) simultaneously saving the U.S. government $1MM and saving many American lives.Author, historian, and former intelligence officer David A. Foy shares Tofte's remarkable story, and how he ended up forgotten by history and the agency where he was a legend; all drawn from his book, "Superspy."Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Are GCSE's working for all children? Figures show resits in Maths and English are dragging down the overall results in those subjects. Whilst post 16 education has evolved with A levels, BTECs and T levels, GCSE's have remained largely unchanged since they were introduced in 1988. Chloe Tilly talks to Vanessa Clarke, BBC education correspondent.The CEO of Travelodge Jo Boydell has resigned following a string of security lapses in which unauthorised room access has been granted without the guest's permission. Chloe speaks to Sharon Thompson who made contact with the BBC, reporting that a man accessed her hotel room at 2am, frightening her and her daughter. We'll also hear from Carolyn Pearson, CEO of a travel security company on how women can keep themselves safe while staying in hotels.Parents are taking on debt, cutting maternity leave short and some say they've even resorted to unsafe feeding practices because of the cost of infant formula. New research shows the profits that baby formula companies are making and the impact on family finances, mental health and babies' wellbeing. Chloe is joined by Professor Amy Brown, who led the study and mum Ruth Kenfield.The latest of our series where our academic researchers in residence talk about something that's caught their eye this summer. Ashleigh Percival-Borley served in the British Army in Afghanistan, but now she's close to completing a doctorate in history at the University of Durham looking at women in the Special Operations Executive. That's the organisation responsible for espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance behind enemy lines during the Second World War. But Ashleigh thinks it's time for us to reconsider one particular set of women who worked at the Special Operations Executive such as June Darton Kerr. This weekend, one of Britain's brightest young female motorsport talents will be racing in the Netherlands. Alisha Palmowski won at Silverstone last month. It was the first time what's known as the F1 academy, which promotes female drivers, has raced there. Alisha is one of a new generation of female drivers hoping to prove that women belong at the very highest levels of motorsport. She joins Chloe.Presenter: Chloe Tilley Producer: Corinna Jones

The Special Operations Executive has officially (and secretly) been established and this team suddenly has a much more official backing and they will need all the help and support they can get as the war continues to turn against the Allies.  But their next mission won't be behind enemy lines, it will be looking for the enemy within, and to find them, they will have a very special enabler assigned... Theme song for London Calling! is "Dark Ritual" by Adrian von Ziegler. More from this amazing composer at https://adrianvonziegler.bandcamp.com/  All other scores are used with permission from Adrian von Zielger and Antti Martikainen https://anttimartikainen.com/  Intro song is "Walkin' with Michael Douglas" by A Wilhelm Scream; more here https://www.awilhelmscream.com/ Special thanks to David of the 2W12 - Die besten Spielleiter der Welt podcast!  Check them out here 2w12.podigee.io and on youtube here https://www.youtube.com/@2w12podcast Please consider supporting us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/nastygram - it would mean the world to us!  (And you get some pretty cool stuff including bi-weekly bonus episodes!  Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nastygram  and our group is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/865467380821766; we are @nastygramrpg on both Instagram and Twitter and on Tik Tok at @nastygram.rpg

A deep dive conversation based on the moviescramble.co.uk review written by Mary Munoz. Billed as a true story about a secret British World War II organization, the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, their irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war and gave birth to modern black operations. Apple Podcasts   Spotify   Amazon   YouTube Facebook   x (Twitter)   Bluesky   Instagram  Moviescramble website We love you all! (yes, even you at the back)

Whist researching Tempsford's World War 2 history Nat discovered a dossier of evidence about a haunting. A haunting that happened a hundred years before the second world war. The statements were gathered by Anne Lucinda Elliott, lady of the manor at Tempsford Hall from 1844 -48. They document four years of disturbing and unusual sounds, sights and experiences at the hall. The witnesses are many, including Mr and Mrs Elliott, their guests, servants and even a police constable who was recruited to investigate the unusual and uncomfortable activity at the hall. Nat also explores Tempsford's social history, which could have affected the family's response to this apparent haunting. There were riots both drunken and violent, poaching and sheep stealing around this time in Tempsford. Is this haunting connected to paranormal activity reported at the hall in the 20th century? Could it also be linked to the secret history of Tempsford and its wartime importance? The next episode of weird in the wade will explore this side of Tempsford's past and the invaluable contribution women in the Special Operations Executive made to the fight against nazi Germany. Find show notes and photographs on the show blog weirdinthewade.blog Go ad free, get extra content and support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/WeirdintheWade Thank you to the Bedfordshire Archives. Thank you to all the wonderful voice actors in this episode Bryan Bland Emily Elle Watts Tess Savigear Rhiannon Barrow Steph Lay Mikey Doyle And Olie Campbell Researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Theme music and haunted house theme by Tess Savigear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frozen out by the Special Operations Executive, Polish countess turned British spy Krystyna Skarbek is now stuck in the Middle East. But she's determined to get back into the fight against the Nazis, no matter the personal cost.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eine kalte Nacht irgendwo über dem Ärmelkanal. Unter dem Flugzeug nur Dunkelheit, vereinzelte Lichter in besetztem Frankreich. Dann ein Sprung ins Nichts. Eine junge Frau, Anfang zwanzig, gleitet lautlos Richtung Boden. In ihrem Gepäck: ein Funkgerät, gefälschte Dokumente – und eine neue Identität. Hinter ihr England. Vor ihr ein Leben im Verborgenen, in dem jeder Fehler tödlich sein kann. In dieser Folge von BRITPOD – England at its best spricht Claus Beling mit Dr. Elisabeth Sandmann - Bestsellerautorin (Buch: Wir dachten, das Leben kommt noch), erfolgreiche Verlegerin und durch ihr Studium der Vergleichenden Literaturwissenschaft in Oxford ausgewiesene Englandkennerin. Gemeinsam öffnen sie ein Kapitel britischer Geschichte, das lange im Verborgenen lag: die geheimen Agentinnen Winston Churchills. Im Zentrum steht das Special Operations Executive, kurz SOE - eine eigens geschaffene Organisation für Sabotage, Spionage und Widerstand im besetzten Europa. Anders als die klassischen Geheimdienste setzte man hier bewusst auch auf Frauen. Nicht als Ausnahme, sondern als strategischen Vorteil. Sie wurden unterschätzt, konnten sich unauffälliger bewegen, transportierten Nachrichten, koordinierten Netzwerke und hielten die Verbindung nach London aufrecht. Oft mit einem 15 Kilo schweren Funkgerät im Gepäck, ständig auf der Flucht vor Entdeckung. Die Ausbildung war kurz, intensiv und kompromisslos. Fallschirmsprünge bei Nacht, Waffenhandling, Morsecode unter extremem Druck. Viele dieser Frauen überlebten nur wenige Wochen im Einsatz. Und doch waren sie entscheidend für den Widerstand – nicht nur in Frankreich, sondern auch in anderen Teilen Europas. Ihre Geschichten erzählen von Mut, Improvisation und einem Selbstverständnis, das seiner Zeit weit voraus war. Gleichzeitig führt die Spur direkt in die Welt der Literatur. Ian Fleming, selbst Teil des britischen Geheimdienstes, ließ sich von diesen Einsätzen und technischen Entwicklungen inspirieren. Vieles, was später James Bond ausmacht, hat hier seinen Ursprung – auch wenn die realen Vorbilder lange unsichtbar blieben. Warum wurden diese Frauen nach dem Krieg kaum gewürdigt? Wie lebte es sich mit falscher Identität im Alltag des besetzten Frankreichs? Und was erzählt ihre Geschichte über Mut, Risiko und das britische Selbstverständnis in Zeiten existenzieller Bedrohung? WhatsApp: Du kannst Alexander und Claus direkt auf ihre Handys Nachrichten schicken! Welche Ecke Englands sollten die beiden mal besuchen? Zu welchen Themen wünschst Du Dir mehr Folgen? Warst Du schon mal in Great Britain und magst ein paar Fotos mit Claus und Alexander teilen? Probiere es gleich aus: +49 8152 989770 - einfach diese Nummer einspeichern und schon kannst Du BRITPOD per WhatsApp erreichen. BRITPOD – England at its best. Ein ALL EARS ON YOU Original Podcast. Buch: Wir dachten, das Leben kommt noch. Erschienen im Piper Verlag. ISBN 978-3-492-07367-7 Youtube-Quelle: Free Documentary - History

James Bond may have Q Branch supplying him with ingenious gadgets, but during the Second World War the agents of the Special Operations Executive had something just as remarkable — the SOE Camouflage Section. This secret unit developed ingenious ways to hide weapons, radios, explosives and documents inside everyday objects, from oil cans and firewood to record players and tubes of toothpaste, helping agents operate behind enemy lines under the watchful eyes of the Gestapo. My guest today is Craig Moore, whose book Exploding Rats and Other Devious Devices of SOE: The Camouflage Section 1941–1945 explores the remarkable work of this little-known wartime unit and the ingenious devices they created to keep agents alive and operational in occupied Europe.   patreon.com/ww2podcast  

Stand outside Chancery Lane Tube station in London and you'll probably notice the regular commuters, trendy cafes and the odd tourist. Look up and you'll see the Staple Inn, built in 1585, and one of the last remaining Tudor timber-framed facades in London. But deep below your feet, there's more history lurking.站在伦敦 Chancery Lane 地铁站外，您可能会注意到定期通勤的人、时尚的咖啡馆和奇怪的游客。 抬头一看，您会看到建于 1585 年的 Staple Inn，也是伦敦仅存的都铎式木结构外墙之一。 但在你的脚下深处，还潜藏着更多的历史。Nestled between Furnival Street and Fulwood Place in this area of London are a network of tunnels even deeper than The London Underground. Built between 1940 and 1942, the tunnels were constructed as part of the war effort as an air-raid shelter, designed to protect civilians and soldiers from bombs dropped in the war. Later in World War Two, the tunnels were occupied by Special Operations Executive and are even believed to have been the inspiration behind Q branch in the James Bond novels. The tunnels are set to open to the public in the near future.伦敦这一地区的弗尼瓦尔街 (Furnival Street) 和富尔伍德广场 (Fulwood Place) 之间有一个比伦敦地铁还要深的隧道网络。 这些隧道建于 1940 年至 1942 年间，是作为战争努力的一部分而建造的，作为防空洞，旨在保护平民和士兵免受战争中投下的炸弹的伤害。 第二次世界大战后期，这些隧道被特别行动执行官占领，甚至被认为是詹姆斯·邦德小说中 Q 分支的灵感来源。 这些隧道将于不久的将来向公众开放。Somewhere that can never open to the public is a secret Victorian street in Bristol. Now considered too dangerous to enter, a local historian climbed down to the street in 1999. He hoped to find gas street lamps, sash window frames and Victorian fire grates frozen in time. Instead, he found thieves had stripped the street, and it was mostly full of rubbish, though some bricked-up shop windows remained. The row of shops was buried in 1879 when a railway was built, and the company raised the road level.布里斯托尔有一条永远无法向公众开放的维多利亚时代秘密街道。 由于现在被认为太危险而无法进入，一位当地历史学家于 1999 年爬到了街上。他希望能找到及时冻结的煤气路灯、推拉窗框和维多利亚时代的炉排。 相反，他发现小偷已经把街道洗劫一空，街上大部分都是垃圾，但一些砖砌的商店橱窗仍然存在。 1879年修建铁路时，这排商店被掩埋，公司提高了道路水平。In Scotland, there is an even older piece of history under foot. Mary King's Close in the centre of Edinburgh is a hidden network of preserved streets and homes from the 1600s. Down under the Royal Mile, the alleyways were once bustling and open-air but also dark and rather smelly. Many Old Town Edinburgh streets in the 1600s consisted of high-tenement buildings where the rich occupied the top stories and the poor lived on the ground floors, which were often flooded with sewage. The streets on Mary King's Close were built over in the 1750s and only re-discovered in 2003 during an archaeological investigation. It's now a tourist attraction, so you can go down and see the streets for yourself.在苏格兰，脚下还有一段更古老的历史。 爱丁堡市中心的玛丽金街 (Mary King's Close) 是一个隐藏的网络，由 1600 年代保存完好的街道和房屋组成。 皇家大道下方的小巷曾经熙熙攘攘，露天，但现在也很黑暗，而且相当臭。 1600年代爱丁堡老城区的许多街道都是高楼大厦，富人住在顶层，穷人住在底层，底层经常被污水淹没。 玛丽金街 (Mary King's Close) 的街道建于 1750 年代，直到 2003 年考古调查中才被重新发现。 现在这里成了旅游景点，可以下去亲自看看街道。So, when you're out and about in the city, admire what's above ground, but also consider the history that could be hiding beneath your feet. 因此，当您在城市中行走时，请欣赏地面上的事物，同时也要考虑一下隐藏在您脚下的历史。

Phyllis Latour was the last living agent of the British Special Operations Executive. Her courage helped liberate Europe from National Socialism. Her life afterwards took place quietly and far away from the world stage at the other end of the world in New Zealand. - Phyllis Latour war die letzte lebende Agentin des britischen Special Operations Executive. Ihr Mut half, Europa vom Nationalsozialismus zu befreien. Ihr Leben danach spielte sich still und fernab von der Weltbühne am anderen Ende der Welt in Neuseeland ab.

From sabotage operations to devastating betrayals, stories of the women of Special Operations Executive are some of the most incredible stories of the Second World War – but, says Kate Vigurs, many remain little known. In her new book, Mission Europe, Vigurs reveals the astonishing bravery of such female agents operating in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, and Mandate Palestine, many of whom parachuted behind enemy lines. Speaking to Elinor Evans, she reveals how their courage and sacrifice changed the course of the war. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Historian Tom Trumble tells the story of the cunning World War II Australian sabotage mission known as Operation Jaywick, and how two survivors outsmarted the Imperial Japanese Army police, the Kempeh Tai.Deep in the years of World War II, Australian commandos in the Pacific theatre executed a cunning and quite dastardly plan to sneak up on Japanese warships in the occupied Singapore Harbour.They managed to get away with an incredible operation, but in doing so, triggered intense paranoia and embarrassment for Japan.The Japanese were furious, and were convinced Chinese-Singaporeans were behind this humiliating setback.They enacted a terrifying regime of massacres, arrests and torture.Japanese authorities suspected Elizabeth Choy and Robert Heatlie Scott were involved with the sabotage, and the two paid dearly for that assumption during their time in prison.Further informationSurvival in Singapore: The triumph and tragedy of Australia's greatest commando operation is published by Penguin Random House.This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan, Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores Changi, Changi Prison, smuggling money, the double tenth incident, sook ching massacre, fall of Singapore, WWII, military history, WWII history, fishing vessel, sabotage, commando operation, Australian commandos, Ivan Lyon, SOE, Special Operations Executive, revenge, Sumida Haruzo and spies.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Historian Tom Trumble tells the story of the cunning World War II Australian sabotage mission known as Operation Jaywick, and how two survivors outsmarted the Imperial Japanese Army police, the Kempeh Tai.Deep in the years of World War II, Australian commandos in the Pacific theatre executed a cunning plan to sneak up on Japanese warships in the occupied Singapore Harbour.They managed to get away with an incredible operation, but in doing so, triggered intense paranoia and embarrassment for Japan.The Japanese were furious, and were convinced Chinese-Singaporeans were behind this humiliating setback.They enacted a terrifying regime of massacres, arrests and torture.Japanese authorities suspected Elizabeth Choy and Robert Heatlie Scott were involved with the sabotage, and the two paid dearly for that assumption during their time in prison.Further informationSurvival in Singapore: The triumph and tragedy of Australia's greatest commando operation is published by Penguin Random House.This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan, Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores Changi, Changi Prison, smuggling money, the double tenth incident, sook ching massacre, fall of Singapore, WWII, military history, WWII history, fishing vessel, sabotage, commando operation, Australian commandos, Ivan Lyon, SOE, Special Operations Executive, revenge, Sumida Haruzo and spies.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Sie war eine Heldin von nebenan: Die Britin Eileen Nearne, aufgewachsen, schloss sich während des Zweiten Weltkriegs der britischen Special Operations Executive in Frankreich an. Zweck der SOE: Spionage, Sabotage und Aufklärung in Ländern, die gegen Nazideutschland und anderen Achsenmächten besetzt waren.

En débarquant en France au cours de l'année 1943 pour préparer une vaste opération visant à détourner l'attention de l'ennemi, aucun agent du réseau de résistance Prosper-Physician ne soupçonne que la Gestapo est prête à les accueillir. La consternation fait place au doute, il y a un traître au sein du SOE, le service secret britannique. Mais qui ? Il faut attendre le 22 novembre 1946 pour poser un nom et un visage. Il s'appelle Henri Déricourt, il est français et il a, dit-on, tenu un rôle d'agent triple...Henri Déricourt est âgé de 31 ans lorsque les allemands entrent dans Paris, le 22 juin 1940. La France courbe l'échine. Le territoire est séparé en deux. Mais les combats sont loin d'être terminés. La résistance se prépare, ailleurs, en Angleterre. Le 19 juillet, Winston Churchill décide de frapper fort. Il met sur pied une organisation clandestine, le SOE, le Special Operations Executive qui se donne pour objectif d'enflammer l'Europe en multipliant les opérations de sabotage.

From parachuting into Nazi-occupied France to silent assassinations and exploding rats, many of the missions undertaken by the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War sound like the events of a high-octane spy thriller. Dr Kate Vigurs tells Elinor Evans more about the organisation dubbed 'Churchill's Secret Army', answering listener questions on the men and women trained to take on these dangerous, high-stakes secret operations. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On lui a décerné la Distinguished Service Cross, l'une des plus hautes distinctions américaines. La France l'a honorée de la Croix de guerre et l'a faite chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. Parfaite incarnation de la résilience, Virginia Hall, alias “La dame qui boîte” pour les nazis, a défié la Gestapo en France, dirigé un réseau de résistance de 1 500 personnes, organisé des parachutages d'armes, fait sauter des voies ferrées, libéré des prisonniers, et traversé les Pyrénées en pleine hiver… tout cela avec une jambe de bois. Et pourtant, comme beaucoup d'autres figures féminines, l'Histoire semble l'avoir oubliée.Nous sommes le 23 août 1941. Virginia Hall, nom de code 3844, fait ses premiers pas sur le sol français en tant qu'agente du Special Operations Executive. Mais pas question de la jeter tête baissée au coeur de la fournaise. Avant d'entrer en zone occupée, elle doit assurer sa couverture. On l'envoie à Vichy, en zone libre, où elle joue le rôle d'une journaliste, correspondante pour le New York Post. Elle se façonne une silhouette soignée, élégante, sûre d'elle, et rencontre ainsi aisément ses contacts, loin des oreilles indiscrètes.

[SPONSORISÉ] Voici l'histoire de Nancy Wake, surnommée la Souris Blanche, journaliste australienne engagée dans la Résistance française pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, et résistante la plus décorée du conflit. D'abord active dans le réseau Pat O'Leary, elle sera bientôt recrutée par le Special Operations Executive.

Voici l'histoire de Nancy Wake, surnommée la Souris Blanche, journaliste australienne engagée dans la Résistance française pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, et résistante la plus décorée du conflit. D'abord active dans le réseau Pat O'Leary, elle sera bientôt recrutée par le Special Operations Executive.

Voici l'histoire de Nancy Wake, surnommée la Souris Blanche, journaliste australienne engagée dans la Résistance française pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, et résistante la plus décorée du conflit. D'abord active dans le réseau Pat O'Leary, elle sera bientôt recrutée par le Special Operations Executive.Nous sommes en novembre 1942. En seulement 3 jours, la zone libre connaît de grands bouleversements. Le 8 novembre, les forces alliées lancent l'opération Torch en débarquant en Algérie, au Maroc et en Tunisie dans le but d'ouvrir un nouveau front et d'affaiblir les forces de l'Axe. Malgré une résistance acharnée, les Alliés prennent rapidement le contrôle de plusieurs villes, coupant ainsi les voies d'approvisionnement et affaiblissant l'armée allemande. Mais Hitler ne compte pas en rester là. Dès le 11 novembre, il ordonne l'invasion de la zone libre en France.

Voici l'histoire de Nancy Wake, surnommée la Souris Blanche, journaliste australienne engagée dans la Résistance française pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, et résistante la plus décorée du conflit. D'abord active dans le réseau Pat O'Leary, elle sera bientôt recrutée par le Special Operations Executive.1997. Une femme agée entre dans l'un de ces magasins de prêts sur gages que l'ont trouve en trouve en masse plein à Sydney. En voyant passer cette dame de 85 ans, cheveux blancs, ongles vernis, regard fier et dos tout juste voûté, aucun témoin de la scène ne peut s'imaginer ce qu'elle s'apprête à déposer. Sur le comptoir, elle sort de son sac alourdi une impressionnante série de médailles militaires, en or et en argent. Parmi elles, la Médaille du Courage, la Médaille de la Résistance et trois authentiques Croix de Guerre. Ces objets, d'une valeur inestimable, ont bien moins d'importance que ses actes passés...

Have you heard of the White Mouse? Given the codename by the Gestpao in WW2, for her ability to evade capture and wreak havoc behind enemy lines, Nancy Wake was a larger-than-life character, and highly decorated Special Operations Operator. At one time, she topped the Nazi's most wanted list. She was one of dozens of women who served in the Special Operations Executive during WW2, with distinction. Why were we so open about women in Special Operations nearly 100 years ago, but now we are so closed minded, at least it would seem? To answer this question, Harry Moffitt is joined by Frank Steder, the Principle Scientist at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and one of the researchers who was originally involved in Norwegian Jergertroppen, or Hunter Troop: an all-female special operations unit. Frank himself served with the Norwegian Armed Forces and since that time has been enlisted back to work in its science and technology branch and as a visiting scientist to the Norwegian Naval Postgraduate School. Today we talk about women in the special forces, conscription, and big institutional change.

NAZI scientists relied on heavy water to produce the right uranium isotope for an atomic weapon.  They produced most of their heavy water at a hydroelectric in occupied Norway called Vemork.  In February 1943, a small group of Norwegian commandos slipped into Vemork, blew it up, and made their escape.  This is after months of reconnaissance and preparation in the frozen wilderness.  Neal Bascomb tells the story in “The Winter Fortress.”  

The Front to the Films podcast is thrilled to announce our latest episode featuring a conversation with Georges Strachan-Heyes, retired British Army officer and Director of Operations for the UK and NATO at Onebrief. In this episode, hosted by Colonel Tom Rendall (USA, Ret.), Georges brings his exceptional insights in discussing The World War II Foundation's newest documentary, Dad's Secret War: France 1944. This gripping documentary, based on Scholars of Mayhem by Daniel C. Guiet and Timothy K. Smith, chronicles the daring World War II missions of Jean Claude Guiet, who served with Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE) and America's Office of Strategic Services (OSS). His covert operations helped arm and organize the French Resistance in Nazi-occupied France following D-Day, ultimately shaping the Allied breakthrough in Europe. Jean Claude's “Salesman II” circuit team played a vital role in holding back German reinforcements from Normandy, a critical part of the Allied advance. As Georges recounts, Guiet's story adds a powerful chapter to the narrative of WWII, bringing to light the real risks and sacrifices made by the unsung agents operating behind enemy lines. On September 10, 2024, the Foundation held a special advance screening of Dad's Secret War at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg). It was a memorable evening attended by 150 senior active and retired members of the Special Operations and Airborne communities, along with their families. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees deeply moved by this untold story of heroism and resilience. Georges Strachan-Heyes, who served as the keynote speaker, delivered exceptional remarks that resonated with the entire audience. His speech, which was so captivating and insightful that it left the room spellbound, delved into the film's themes and explored how covert actions by the OSS and SOE transformed the course of WWII. His remarks were so impactful that we immediately invited him to share more on Front to the Films. In this podcast episode, airing as a lead-up to the formal premiere of Dad's Secret War at the French Embassy in Washington, DC, on November 14, Georges joins Colonel Rendall to discuss the importance of bringing this story to the screen. He touches on themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the meticulous training and bravery required of SOE agents. Georges also reflects on the documentary's production, which involved collaboration with the Newhouse School, offering students a hands-on opportunity to explore WWII history and contribute to historical storytelling as part of The World War II Foundation's Doccumentary, Film, Photography and History Program. Their involvement reinforces the film's dual purpose: honoring the sacrifices of WWII veterans while educating future generations on the critical lessons of the past. Following its Embassy premiere, Dad's Secret War: France 1944 will be aired nationwide on nearly 300 American Public Television channels. The film, narrated by Kevin Bacon, invites viewers into the life of Jean Claude Guiet and his comrades, revealing the profound human and historical impact of their missions in occupied France. Georges and Colonel Rendall's conversation serves as an enlightening primer for the documentary, giving listeners a rare perspective on the bravery and complexities of war, and how these untold stories resonate in today's world. Join us for this extraordinary episode of Front to the Films, where we honor those who lived and served in the shadows, and look forward to the story's reach on a national scale. This conversation is both an introduction to the documentary as well as a fitting tribute to the courage that defined the Greatest Generation.

Le Special Operations Executive (SOE) manual était un guide pratique destiné aux agents du Special Operations Executive, une organisation britannique secrète créée en 1940 pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale pour mener des opérations de sabotage et de résistance derrière les lignes ennemies, principalement dans les territoires occupés par l'Allemagne nazie. Contexte du SOE Le SOE avait pour mission de soutenir et coordonner les mouvements de résistance dans les pays occupés, de déstabiliser les forces de l'Axe et d'affaiblir leur capacité militaire. Ses agents étaient formés pour infiltrer les territoires ennemis, organiser des réseaux de résistance, mener des actes de sabotage (comme la destruction d'infrastructures stratégiques) et collecter des renseignements. Le SOE a souvent été appelé "Churchill's secret army" (l'armée secrète de Churchill), en raison du rôle décisif de Winston Churchill dans sa création. Objectifs du manuel Le SOE manual était conçu pour fournir aux agents des instructions détaillées sur un large éventail de compétences nécessaires à leurs missions, dans un environnement dangereux où ils devaient souvent opérer seuls ou en petites équipes. Les domaines abordés incluaient : 1. Techniques de sabotage : Le manuel expliquait comment détruire des installations industrielles, des ponts, des voies ferrées, et des véhicules avec des explosifs de fortune ou des moyens discrets. 2. Espionnage et collecte de renseignements : Les agents apprenaient comment infiltrer des réseaux ennemis, recueillir des informations sensibles et envoyer des rapports aux alliés, souvent en utilisant des méthodes cryptographiques ou des messages codés. 3. Dissimulation et infiltration : Une partie cruciale du manuel portait sur la manière de se fondre dans la population locale et d'éviter la capture. Cela impliquait l'adoption de nouvelles identités, l'utilisation de déguisements, et l'apprentissage des coutumes et langues locales. 4. Techniques de combat et d'autodéfense : Les agents recevaient une formation sur des méthodes de combat rapproché, comme l'utilisation d'armes improvisées, le maniement de couteaux, et le combat à mains nues. L'accent était mis sur l'efficacité et la discrétion, dans le but de neutraliser l'ennemi rapidement et silencieusement. 5. Survie en territoire ennemi : Le manuel contenait des conseils sur la survie en milieu hostile, y compris l'approvisionnement en nourriture, l'évasion des forces ennemies, et la recherche de refuges sûrs. Importance du manuel Le SOE manual représentait un condensé de l'expertise opérationnelle accumulée par le SOE, formant les agents à être à la fois indépendants et polyvalents, capables d'agir dans des environnements où la moindre erreur pouvait leur coûter la vie. Le manuel insistait sur la flexibilité, l'ingéniosité et l'adaptabilité des agents dans des situations imprévisibles. Ce document était hautement confidentiel pendant la guerre et n'était divulgué qu'aux agents en formation, avec des mesures de sécurité strictes pour éviter qu'il ne tombe entre les mains ennemies. De nombreuses techniques et pratiques couvertes dans le manuel ont influencé les opérations spéciales et les tactiques d'espionnage bien après la guerre. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

The Special Operations Executive was a secretive British organisation that engaged in espionage and supported resistance movements in occupied Europe during the Second World War. In this episode Mat is joined by historian Clare Mulley to tell the story of several women who played vital roles in SOE operations - many of whom lost their lives in the effort.Clare Mulley's latest book, Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elzbieta Zawacka, is available now. Find out more about Clare at https://claremulley.comPresenter: Mat McLachlanGuest: Clare MulleyProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When France fell to the Nazis in 1940, Churchill declared that Britain would resist the advance of the German army--alone if necessary. Churchill commanded the Special Operations Executive to secretly develop of a very special kind of military unit that would operate on their own initiative deep behind enemy lines. The units would be licensed to kill, fully deniable by the British government, and a ruthless force to meet the advancing Germans.The very first of these "butcher-and-bolt" units--the innocuously named Maid Honour Force--was led by Gus March-Phillipps, a wild British eccentric of high birth, and an aristocratic, handsome, and bloodthirsty young Danish warrior, Anders Lassen. Amped up on amphetamines, these assorted renegades and sociopaths undertook the very first of Churchill's special operations--a top-secret, high-stakes mission to seize Nazi shipping in the far-distant port of Fernando Po, in West Africa.Though few of these early desperadoes survived WWII, they took part in a series of fascinating, daring missions that changed the course of the war. It was the first stirrings of the modern special-ops team, and all of the men involved would be declared war heroes when it was all over.To discuss this unit, dubbed by Churchill “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is today's guest, Damien Lewis, author of the book by the same name.

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, journalist and author, Nahlah Ayed tells the story of two elite agents working for Britain's Special Operations Executive in France during the Second World War. "The War We Won Apart" is constructed from hours of unpublished interviews and archival and personal documents to recount the love story of a British woman, Sonia Butt and a French-Canadian soldier, Guy d'Artois who fought the war apart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to hear the full version go to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/election-debates-105633791?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link At the end of the show a question from ian Currie Recommendations:  Eamonn Fiennes Return to the Wild - National Geographic Sir Ranulph Fiennes, ‘the greatest living explorer', and his cousin, actor Joseph Fiennes, revisit Ran's 1971 expedition of Canada's British Columbia. Catriona Night Train to Odesa by Jen Stout - BBC Radio 4 Eric - Netflix A desperate father, alongside a tenacious cop, battles his own demons on the streets of 1980s New York as he searches for his missing nine-year-old son. David S.O.E.: An outline history of the special operations executive 1940 - 46 - book SOE, the Special Operations Executive, was a small, tough British secret service, a dirty tricks department, set up in July 1940. Recruited from remarkably diverse callings, the men and women who were members of this most secret agency in the Second World War lived in great and constant danger. Their job was to support and stimulate resistance behind enemy lines; their credentials fortitude, courage, immense patience and a devotion to freedom. The activity of the SOE was world-wide. Abyssinian tribesmen, French farmers, exiled Russian grandees, coolies, smugglers, printers, policemen, telephonists, tycoons, prostitutes, rubber workers, railwaymen, peasants from the Pyranees to the Balkans, even the regent of Siam - all had a part to play as saboteurs, informers, partisans or secret agents. In this engrossing and illuminating study, the eminent Second World War historian, M.R.D. Foot, sheds light on the heroism of individual SOE agents across the world and provides us with the definitive account of the Executive's crucial wartime work.

In this episode of the History Rage Podcast, host Paul Bavill interviews Richard Duckett, author of "The Special Operations Executive in Burma." The discussion delves into the lesser-known aspects of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the Far East during World War II.Key Points:Diversity of Operations: Richard sheds light on SOE's operations in Burma, covering a diverse range of ethnic groups involved, including Chinese, Kachin, Karen, and more. The narrative dispels the misconception that all factions in Burma sided with the Japanese.Survival Stories: The conversation explores epic stories of survival by British prisoners of war (POWs) in Japanese camps. Richard highlights the brutalities faced by British agents, emphasizing the risks and challenges unique to the Far East theatre.Major Hugh Seagram: Richard recounts the heroic actions of Major Hugh Seagram, who surrendered to the Japanese to halt atrocities against the Karen people. The narrative extends to individuals like Saw Polar, a lieutenant with a remarkable escape and survival story.Operations Dilwin and Billet: Richard unveils significant SOE operations like Dilwin, a prolonged venture in Kachin territory, and Billet, focused on the Burma Independence Army. These operations contributed significantly to intelligence gathering and securing the Burmese resistance.Challenges in the Far East: The discussion explores the unique challenges faced by SOE in the Far East, including adapting to diverse ethnic groups, navigating the complex colonial context, and overcoming logistical hurdles in the vast and challenging environment.Collaboration with OSS: Richard shares insights into the collaboration between SOE and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), highlighting the forging of relationships that laid the foundation for future cooperation between British and American special forces.Resistance Movements: The episode touches upon the various resistance movements in Burma, encompassing Burmese nationalists, communists, and smaller ethnic groups. The complexities of these movements and their alliances are discussed in the context of the broader wartime narrative.Please subscribe to the History Rage Podcast on your favourite platform and consider supporting us on Patreon to get early access to episodes and exclusive perks. Join the conversation on TwitterYou can buy Richard's book “SOE in Burma” at Amazon and you can follow Richard on Twitter @richard_duckettYou can follow History Rage on Twitter @HistoryRage or Paul individually @PaulBavill and let us know what you wish people would just stop believing using the Hashtag #HistoryRage.You can join our 'Angry Mob' on Patreon as well. £5 per month gets you episodes 3 months early, the invite to choose questions, entry into our prize draws and the coveted History Rage mug. Subscribe at www.patreon.com/historyrage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo goes undercover to discuss “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” with star Cary Elwes (“The Princess Bride,” “Stranger Things,” “Saw”). The movie is based on real events and dives into the origin of the Special Operations Executive, a small group of highly skilled men recruited by the British military to strike German forces behind enemy lines. The high-energy action film is directed by Guy Ritchie (“The Gentleman,” “Snatch,” “Sherlock Holmes”) and also stars Henry Cavill, Henry Golding, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza Gonzalez, and more. Elwes also discussed many of his other projects, past and present, including "Rebel Moon: Part Two," the "Knuckles" spin-off series from "Sonic The Hedgehog" and, of course, the classic "Princess Diaries" comedy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theplaylist/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theplaylist/support

In this podcast episode, Dennis interviews Alex McDonald, a medical student and member of Tactical Medicine New Zealand, about the republishing of the book 'Guerilla Surgeon.' The book tells the story of Dr. Lindsay Rogers, a New Zealand-born surgeon who served with the Special Operations Executive in Yugoslavia during World War II. The conversation covers topics such as the challenges of providing medical care in resource-limited environments, building trust with local forces, and the importance of cultural competency. Alex also discusses the mission of Tactical Medicine New Zealand and their partnership with the Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA) to republish the book. Takeaways The book 'Guerilla Surgeon' tells the story of Dr. Lindsay Rogers, a New Zealand-born surgeon who served with the Special Operations Executive in Yugoslavia during World War II. Providing medical care in resource-limited environments requires improvisation and making the most of available resources. Building trust with local forces is crucial for successful medical operations in foreign nations. Cultural competency is important for effective communication and collaboration with partner forces. Tactical Medicine New Zealand aims to promote and advance tactical medicine in New Zealand and has partnered with SOMA to republish 'Guerilla Surgeon.' Thank you to Delta Development Team for in part, sponsoring this podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠deltadevteam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more content go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.prolongedfieldcare.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Consider supporting us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/ProlongedFieldCareCollective or www.lobocoffeeco.com/product-page/prolonged-field-care

For this "Quick Screen" episode, Michael checked out the brand new theatrical film "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare". What are some of his thoughts on this spy action comedy film based on a true story of Special Operations Executive in World War II starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusanmokun, Henry Golding, Cary Elwes? Check it out and see! Be a part of the conversation! E-mail the show at screennerdspodcast@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter @screennerdspod Like the show on Facebook (Search for Screen Nerds Podcast and find the page there) Follow the show on Instagram and Threads just search screennerdspodcast Check out the show on Bluesky just search screennerdspodcast Be sure to check out the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods, Overcast, Amazon Music or your podcast catcher of choice! (and please share rate and review!) Want to be a guest or share your thoughts on the podcast? Send me an e-mail! Thanks to Frankie Creel for the artwork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/screennerdspodcast/message

Volwest from Stati9n joins Bob "The Knife Junkie" DeMarco on Episode 496 of The Knife Junkie Podcast (https://theknifejunkie.com/496).Stati9n specializes in the development of unconventional tools and weapons for combatives and survival in austere environments and occupied zones.Inspired by the secret British WW2 organization S.O.E. ("Special Operations Executive"), whose purpose was to conduct espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance in Axis-occupied Europe and Southeast Asia.Stati9n is also inspired by the weapons used by armies with limited resources during WW1, when butcher knives and other common household tools were modified for brutal trench warfare.Famous French knife maker and close combat specialist, Fred Perrin, collaborated with Stati9n in creating the Number Five Scorpion, a curved, double-edged self-protection knife designed around Perrin's signature forefinger retention hole.The company's offerings range from weapons for close quarters fighting to discreet but useful tools for minimalist urban and outback survival.Though knives are Stati9n's specialty, they also make other defensive tools, like a knuckle duster inspired by Austro-Hungarian knuckles from WW1; a non-metallic push dagger made of G10; and faux chopsticks, also made of G10, to give the owner something robust and stabby in non-permissive environments.Find Stati9n online at https://www.stati9n.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/station_9_/Be sure to support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details. You can also support The Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives.Let us know what you thought about this episode and leave a rating and/or a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also call the listener line at 724-466-4487 or email bob@theknifejunkie.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions.To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use The Knife Junkie's podcast platform of choice: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.

What would you need to go it alone behind enemy lines? For the agents of the notoriously brave Special Operations Executive in World War II, a select toolkit of spy gadgets represented the difference between life and death. Design Museum CEO Tim Marlow and host Alex Loxton discuss the groundbreaking folding motorcycle that accompanied SEO operatives on their thrilling missions into war torn Europe – and continues to influence engineering and design right up to the present day. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series produced by Alex Burnard, Morgan Childs, Claire Crofton, Joe Foley, Frank Palmer, Kellie Redmond and Isabel Sutton. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a Text Message.This week, I tell the inspiring stories of 6 women who served in the top secret British espionage and sabotage organization, the SOE, during World War II.  In the late 1930s, Hitler's Nazi Germany quickly expanded throughout Europe, grabbing up country after country in its quest for world domination. When France finally fell to the Nazis in 1940, Britain was utterly alone in Europe, a sitting duck. Something had to be done. That something was the SOE and they soon found that women, who were far less suspicious and conspicuous than men, made perfect undercover agents. Join me to learn how the women of the SOE sacrificed everything to literally save the world! Sources: Time Magazine "Inside the Stories of the Most Daring Women Spies of World War II"UK National Army Museum "Special Operations Executive"Imperial War Museums "SOE: The Secret British Organization of the Second World War"Historic UK "The Female Spies of the SOE"UK National Archives "Records of Special Operations Executive"UK National Army Museum "Defeat in the West, 1940"National Interest "Germany's Superpower Quest Caused World War I"The National WWII Museum "How Did Adolf Hitler Happen?"Aspects of History "The Women of SOE"Holocaust Encyclopedia "The British Policy of Appeasement Toward Hitler and Nazi Germany"pearlharbor.org "Why Didn't America Join the War Sooner?"International Churchhill Society "Famous Quotes and Stories"encyclopedia.com "Sansom, Odette"Australian War Memorial "Nancy Grace Augusta Wake"Support the show! Buy Me a CoffeeVenmo @Shea-LaFountaine

I feel like I should only need to post the purpose of the Special Operations Executive to sell you on this episode so here you go "Espionage, Sabotage, and Reconnaissance in German occupied Europe during WW2. But I'll also leave you  with what Churchill told the guy in charge of this "Ministry" when it was formed "Now go and set Europe ablaze."  Plus there's a great looking new movie coming out about these men and women (yeah, some of the greatest spies were women what of it) by Guy Ritchie.

In today's episode, I'm talking with Jenni L. Walsh. Her latest novel, Unsinkable, tells the story of Violet Jessop, a stewardess who survived the sinking of the Titanic as well as maritime disasters aboard Titanic's two sister ships! We talked about Jenni's desire to tell Violet's story along with her decision to write a dual timeline novel with a parallel story about another "unsinkable" woman. Jenni's loves sharing the stories of little-known women who've made remarkable contributions to history. Here's a description of Unsinkable: The Titanic was only the beginning. What she survived has become legend. Violet Jessop is Miss Unsinkable. After her mother becomes too ill to work, the responsibility to provide for the family falls to Violet as the oldest of nine. When the world enters the Great War, she serves as a nurse, helping men who could very well be her brothers. Working as a stewardess and wartime nurse, Violet not only survives a shipwreck but also two sinkings, one on the infamous Titanic. No one can understand why she would return to sea, but something keeps drawing Violet back to the tumultuous waters, where she struggles to put the tragedies of her past behind her and pursue a life and love all her own. Daphne has survived calamity of her own. Daphne Chaundanson grows up as an unwanted child after her mother died in a tragedy. She throws herself into education, collecting languages like candy in a desperate attempt to finally earn her father's approval. When the Special Operations Executive invites her to be an agent in France in World War II, her childhood of anonymity and her love of languages make her the perfect fit. She sees it as an opportunity to help the country she loves and live up to her father's expectations. But the dangers of war challenge Daphne in ways she never could have expected, and the secrets from her own past must be faced for her to truly have a future beyond the conflict—if she can survive it. ​ Inspired by true stories of Violet Jessop and the thirty-nine women of the Special Operations Executive. Two unsinkable women. Two stories of survival, family, and finding one's own happiness. One connection that reshapes both their lives forever. Purchase Unsinkable on Amazon (affiliate). Purchase Violet Jessop's memoir on Amazon (affiliate). Check out Jenni's website, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to my mailing list to receive book recommendations and samples of my writing! Join the Historical Fiction: Unpacked Podcast Group on Facebook! Be sure to visit my Instagram, Facebook, and website. Follow the show on Instagram! Purchase Alison's historical novel, One Traveler (affiliate). Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, you help support my work without paying any more for the product. Thank you for your support!

Welcome to The Best of Binge Reading 2023, Part One, the first of two shows featuring the most listened to episodes on our popular fiction podcast, chosen solely on the basis of the number of times you, our audience, listened to them. They include an intriguing range of genres, from a contemporary thriller, to a French story in equal parts about food and love, a World War II spy mystery, a NZ historical family saga pre-dating European settlement, and two romances, one a fresh and funny romcom, the other a tender second chance tale of loss, regret, and the influence family has on life changing decisions..... And like our audience, our authors reflect our international reach, with two Australians, a Kiwi, one French American, and one each from New York and Massachusetts. We present brief excerpts from each show, with links for where to find them if you'd like to hear more... As in previous years, we've selected shows that aired between Dec 1, 2022 and Dec 1, 2023. The second part of The Best Of The Joys of Binge Reading will air on January 16. Kelly Rimmer: Spies – Lies - Betrayal But now, here's the first of this week's guest authors, Kelly Rimmer.  Her sweeping World War II suspense has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and made international best seller lists, including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Her latest book, The Paris Agent, a fascinating dual timeline mystery with multiple romance lines moving from England and World War Two to the 1970s with the daughter of one of those people that was involved in the war. It's a powerful story of two otherwise ordinary women who become spies dropped into Nazi occupied France. I asked Kelly to tell us of the story's genesis. Kelly Rimmer - Best-selling World War II fiction Kelly Rimmer: My daughter's name is Violette. It's a family name from my husband's side. And when I was pregnant with her, and we were talking about names, you do the Googling thing, trying to think about famous people with this name. Or what the meaning of the name is. And I stumbled upon Violette Szabo, who was an SOE agent, in the F section of the SOE. Her story was so inspiring and had stuck with me. I loved the idea that we were naming my daughter after someone so incredible. And I had always intended, always hoped that I would come up with the right premise to write a book that was inspired by her. And, maybe two or three years ago, I heard a podcast about Diana Rowden, who is another SOE agent, who I had never heard of, even though I'd done a little bit of reading about the SOE. And I've also found her to be just such an incredible woman. The idea for this book came out of their stories, their real-life stories. It's fiction. I've taken a few liberties here and there with their stories. And they weren't actually close friends, but in my book, my characters inspired by them are friends. But for the most part, where I could, I followed the real history. Traitors operating within the SOE Jenny Wheeler: Part of its foundation is the understanding that's emerged since the war that the Special Operations Executive, the branch of the British Secret Service that handled all of the dispensing of agents over France. The ones that were so tremendously brave as to jump out of planes into enemy territory and work to support the Resistance... Some of those people were betrayed from within the SOE even before they set foot on French soil. Kelly Rimmer: There's plenty of scenarios where agents landed and were met by Nazi troops on the ground as they were landing. In hindsight, it's very clear that there were people in the SOE who were betraying information through to the Nazis, but at the time they were operating blind in so many ways. As soon as I came across that idea and this, gentleman named Henri Dericourt, who was thought to have potentially been quite senior in the SOE,

For how long could you keep a secret? In the case of Joan Bright Astley, the answer was ‘To the grave.' Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz and host Alice Loxton offer up a gift from the real-life Miss Moneypenny – a formidable woman who protected the secrets of the notorious Special Operations Executive for as long as she lived. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series produced by Alex Burnard, Morgan Childs, Claire Crofton, Joe Foley, Frank Palmer, Kellie Redmond and Isabel Sutton. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women have been part of the espionage world since intelligence agencies were established in the early 1900s, so it's no great surprise that they became key assets during the First and Second World Wars, but what does that mean?Historian Helen Fry talks with our editor about Mata Hari, Edith Cavell and other less known stories from the Cambridge Spies to the Special Operations Executive.Helen is the author of Women in Intelligence: The Hidden History of Two World WarsHelen Fry LinksWomen in Intelligence: The Hidden History of Two World WarsHelen on XOllie LinksOllie on Xhistory@aspectsofhistory.com

Kelly Rimmer talks to Cheryl Akle about the work involved in owning a bookstore, and the female Special Operations Executive agents of WWII who inspired her latest novel, The Paris Agent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stéphane Bern raconte une armée britannique qui a œuvré pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, indépendante du ministère de la Guerre, chargée d'espionner les ennemis nazis et de multiplier les actes de sabotage. Ou la véritable histoire du Spécial Operation Executive, l'armée secrète de Winston Churchill.Qui sont les agents de cette armée secrète ? Comment ont-ils participé à la Résistance en France ? Et pourquoi ces agents britanniques irritaient-ils au plus haut point le Général de Gaulle ?Pour en parler, Stéphane Bern reçoit l'historien Olivier Wieviorka et la documentariste Cécile Coolen, auteurs du documentaire “La résistance au service de Sa Majesté”(disponible sur arte.tv).

Stéphane Bern, s'amuse avec l'Histoire – la grande, la petite, la moyenne… - et retrace les destins extraordinaires de personnalités qui n'auraient jamais pu se croiser, pour deux heures où le savoir et l'humour avancent main dans la main. Aujourd'hui, le Special Operations Executive, l'armée secrète de Winston Churchill.

On Binge Reading today, USA Today bestselling author A.W. Hartoin talks about her World War II, Stella Bled spy thriller series, and the young American honeymooner who becomes a double agent, trapped into working for both Germany and England. Hi there. I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler, and on Binge Reading today, A.W. talks about the sixth book in the series, Her London Season. It's 1940 and the Battle of Britain rages in the skies overhead. Stella is stuck, frustrated, in a lowly administrative job at the Special Operations Executive, the SOE. Until a mysterious set of orders arrives. A.W. talks about crafting a story that challenges all the assumptions you may make about truth and power. Our Book Giveaway this week Our Giveaway this week is another Kobo Free Genre offer, a wonderful range of books from several genres - mystery, thriller  and romance, and all of them First in Series, including Poisoned Legacy, my Book #1 in the Of Gold & Blood series. Find the download link in the show notes for this episode on The Joys of Binge Reading website, that's www.thejoysofbinge reading.com. FREE KOBO GENRE LIST BOOKS ​https://www.kobo.com/nz/en/p/free-ebooks​​Kob​​o And remember. If you enjoy the show, leave us a review, so others will find us too. Word of mouth is still the best way for others to discover the show and great books they will definitely want to read. Links to subjects mentioned in today's episode Kristallnacht: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnacht (*See Editor's note at the end of the transcript.) Kelly Rimmer, The Paris Agent, https://www.kellyrimmer.com/books/the-paris-agent Pam Jenoff, The Lost Girls of Paris, https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Girls-Paris-Pam-Jenoff/dp/0778308618 Martha Hall Kelly: Lilac Girls, https://marthahallkelly.com/books/lilac-girls/ Janet Evanovich:  https://evanovich.com/ Jana DeLeon:  https://janadeleon.com/ Brian Cann, photographer:  https://brian-cann.format.com/about Laser guided bomb systems:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser-guided_bomb The House Witch by Delemhach   https://www.amazon.com.au/House-Witch-Humorous-Romantic-Fantasy/dp/1039410251 Stephen King: The Shining, https://stephenking.com/works/novel/shining.html EM Powell: Stanton and Barling series. https://www.empowell.com/stanton-and-barling-mysteries Liane Moriarty: What Alice Forgot, https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781743535493/ The Splendid and the Vile by Eric Larson: https://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Vile-Churchill-Family-Defiance/dp/0385348711. The Rape of Europa by Lynn K Nicholas: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/121563/the-rape-of-europa-by-lynn-h-nicholas/ Kristin Hannah The Nightingale:  https://www.amazon.com/Nightingale-Novel-Kristin-Hannah/dp/1250080401 Where to find A.W. Hartoin online Website:  https://www.awhartoin.com/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/A.W.Hartoin/ Introducing mystery author A. W. Hartoin A.W. Hartoin - Best Selling mystery author. Jenny Wheeler: But now here's A.W. Hello there, A.W. and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. A.W. Hartoin: Hi Jenny. Thanks for having me. Jenny Wheeler: You've done a remarkably wide range of genres. You've done fantasy, you've done YA. But I think the bulk of your work has been in mystery, either Second World War, a series with Stella Bled, or a more contemporary cozy mystery series with Mercy Watts. So we'll be focusing on those two today because most of our listeners are really interested in those mainstream genres. I wondered first what has attracted you to the mystery genre. A.W. Hartoin: I've always loved my mystery since I was a child, but I think it's the puzzle pieces and how they come together, and planting little clues here and there. I've always loved plotting and mystery's all about the plotting And Cozy Mystery in particular is about characters and having really interesting people in t...

Summary Stephen Duffy (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the spy stories of St. Ermin's Hotel in London. It includes links to SOE, MI6, Ian Fleming, and the Cambridge 5.  What You'll Learn Intelligence The origins of the SOE MI6 and the SOE in the hotel during WWII (bad neighbors!) Incredible female spies of WWII  St. Ermin's Cambridge Five connection The history of the hotel Reflections The stories a hotel could tell if it could talk Proximity to power And much, much more … *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes During World War II, the hotel was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill's Special Operations Executive – a crucial element in his initiative to “set Europe ablaze.” Notorious spies Kim Philby and Donald Maclean were known to enjoy a drink at the hotel bar while sharing secrets with their Soviet handlers. And that's not all – to learn the rest, you'll have to listen to the episode.  Quotes of the Week “That's where Burgess, MacLean, and Philby at different times met their Russian handlers in plain sight and sat there and spoke normally. Didn't talk out the side of their mouths, didn't have red carnations and copies of the Financial Times under their arm. They just passed over their information, their paperwork or whatever, in plain sight to everybody.” – Stephen Duffy. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources  SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Hitler's Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023) Nazis on the Potomac – with former National Park Service Chief Historian Bob Sutton (2022) SPY@20: The Spy of the Century – Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022) The Beverly Hills Spy – with The Hollywood Reporter's Seth Abramovitch (2022) *Beginner Resources* MI6 History & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica (2022) [Brief history of MI6] World War 2 Chronology, B. Johnson, Historic UK (n.d.) [Timeline of Britain in WWII] How Churchill Led Britain to Victory in the Second World War, J. Taylor, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article] The St. Ermin's Autobiography, St. Ermin's Hotel (n.d.) [Pamphlet] *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Primary Sources  File Release: Cold War Cambridge spies Burgess and Maclean, UK National Archives (2015) Alexander Simitch Stevens Oral History, Imperial War Museum (1992) Basil Davison Oral History, Imperial War Museum (1988) My Silent War, K. Philby (1967) SOE Training Advice on Disguise, UK National Archives (n.d.) *Wildcard Resource* The cocktail menu at St. Ermin's Caxton Bar features a number of spy-related references, including Bond's signature drink. To learn more about this “shaken, not stirred” beverage, check out this article for a brief history of the Vesper Martini.  *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE*

In August 1944, Fred Bailey jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and parachuted into Nazi-occupied France, landing in a disused brickyard. Growing up he had been  a sickly child with a heart condition, which led his family to move out of London for his health. But in 1941 at age 18  he had joined the British Army's Royal Armored Corps, and served with the Desert Army. Bored after the fight for North Africa was over,  he volunteered for special duties, and soon found himself in the Special Operations Executive, assigned to be a radio officer in a Jedburgh team–groups of three soldiers designed to jump into France and support the French resistance in conjunction with the Allied invasion.  Fred Bailey died on January 29, 2023, at age 99, the last veteran of the Jedburgh teams living in Britain. When I read his obituary it seemed to me a very good time to have Ben Jones back on the podcast. Ben Jones is the State Historian of South Dakota and Director of the South Dakota State Historical Society, and he appeared in Episode 290 to talk about both of those jobs. But he is also a historian of the Second World War, and author of Eisenhower's Guerrillas: The Jedburghs, the Maquis, and the Liberation of France, which is the subject of our conversation today. For Further Investigation At the Imperial War Museum in London are records related to the Special Operations Executive, Section F, Operation Jedburgh. Among them are oral histories, including one with Fred Bailey. Recorded on December 11, 1990, it's wonderful. Interestingly Bailey emphatically says "we went in far too late...", and very crisply and incisively explains how the effects of the operation would have been better had they arrived two or three months before. You can also listen to his team leader, John Smallwood, talk about his experiences. Obituary of Fred Bailey Bernard Knox, "Premature Anti-Fascist" John K. Singlaub William Colby in Norway A Brian Lamb interview with Robert Merry about Joseph Alsop and (more importantly, for our conversation) Stewart Alsop    

January 2023  The Podcast Team wish all our listeners a Very Happy New Year.  To start the 2023 season of the podcast, producer Mark Cotton sits down with Oral History Officer Jonathan Byrne to catch-up on both our Roll of Honour and our continuing Oral History Project.  For the rest of the episode we have highlights of 3 selections from our Oral History Archive. As with previous years we have a theme … but this year the theme is unusual, they are all from people who didn't work at either GC&CS or its Outstations. We hear from the 14 year old girl who made vital deliveries to the Codebreakers, a member of S.O.E., the Special Operations Executive and finally a Luftwaffe Radio Operator. This episode features the following contributors from our Oral History Archive: Jean Barratt Lois Barefield Rudi Schoberl The Bletchley Park Roll of Honour can be found at: https://bletchleypark.org.uk/roll-of-honour/  Image: ©Bletchley Park Trust 2023 #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #WW2, #Enigma,

Virginia Hall's prison cell in northeastern Spain was something out of a nightmare. Hall imagined the moment in which the Spanish police would hand her over to the Gestapo and their glee at having finally captured "The Limping Lady." Hall knew the Nazis wouldn't risk letting her escape. They'd transfer her to a secret facility, interrogate her, torture her, and kill her. Or sometimes the Nazis kept their prisoners alive and attempted to leverage them against the Allies. Months of psychological torture would give way to more physical punishments. Dousing with freezing water. Electric shocks. Beatings and cutting. This was the way of the Nazis. Virginia's Hall's American nationality was maybe the one thing that could save her. In late 1942, Spain was still considered technically neutral in the war. The Spanish dictator Francisco Franco had offered Hitler Spain's allegiance in return for aid in nation-building. There was a division of Spanish volunteers fighting for the German army, but Spain still remained reluctant and fickle.  Andrew Orr says, "Franco's regime is ideologically complex and people still fight over whether or not it was fascist or just really authoritarian and traditionalist. Regardless of how anyone's individual sees it, the regime was very friendly to Nazi Germany and especially fascist Italy because Italy and Germany had backed Franco in the civil war. So Spain tended politically to like the Axis powers a lot." But Virginia Hall's capture by the Spanish was too big a threat to the British. Hall knew too much, and the Nazis could assume that the British would change battle strategy once the Special Operations Executive, Hall's intelligence agency, discovered she'd been captured. Hall's information would be useless to the Axis Powers, and so she was as good as dead.  This episode contains interviews with:• Andrew Orr: a professor in the Department of History at Kansas State University, a specialist in modern military history, intelligence operations in the Middle East, imperialism, civil-military relations, and the history of French Communist Party identity; author of Women and the French Army• Chris Costa: Executive Director of the International Spy Museum, a 34-year veteran of the Department of Defense, and he served 25 years in the United States Army working in counterintelligence, human intelligence and with special operations forces in Central America, Europe, and the Middle East.• Judith Pearson: expert on Virginia Hall and author of the book The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy• Dr. Ludivine Broch: A scholar of World War II French history and lecturer at the University of Westminster, UK; Editor of Contemporary European History, associate fellow of the Birbeck Institute for the study of Antisemitism; co-founder of the French History Network• Brad Catling: great nephew of Virginia HallLearn more at diversionaudio.com/good-assassins “Good Assassins” is a production of Diversion Audio, in association with iHeartPodcasts. Featuring the voices of Matthew Amendt, Orlagh Cassidy, Raphael Corkhill, Manoel Felciano, Sean Gormley, Mikaela Izquierdo, Lenne Klingaman, Andrew Polk, John Pirkis, Steve Routman.This season is hosted by Stephan Talty and written by C.D. Carpenter. Produced and directed by Kevin Thomsen for Real Jetpacks Productions. Story Editing by Jacob Bronstein with editorial direction from Scott Waxman. Additional research and reporting by Sophie McNulty. Theme music by Tyler Cash. Sound Design, Mixing, and Mastering by Paul Goodrich. Sound Editing by Justin Kilpatrick. Executive Producers: Jacob Bronstein, Mark Francis and Scott Waxman for Diversion Audio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virginia Hall joins the UK's spy agency, the Special Operations Executive. The SOE was created to "set Europe ablaze" and wreak havoc on the battlefield: sabotage plus a little espionage, paramilitary operations, make things blow up.After spy training, Virginia heads into the field in Lyon, France, a strategic location for the Allies. They're planting the seeds of a Resistance there and it's a hotspot for Nazi activity. Virginia hooks into the Resistance network but the walls around her begin to push in. The USA, which had remained neutral in the War up to this point, makes broader shows of support for the Allies. And it means Virginia Hall will soon lose her open status—and her cover—as an American newspaper reporter working in France.In her first operation to save a downed British pilot, Virginia has a chilling encounter with Gestapo officers that has fateful consequences for her larger mission.This episode contain interviews with:• Chris Costa: Executive Director of the International Spy Museum, a 34-year veteran of the Department of Defense, and he served 25 years in the United States Army working in counterintelligence, human intelligence and with special operations forces in Central America, Europe, and the Middle East • Judith Pearson: author of The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy, the first biography to tell the story of the amazing Virginia Hall • Brad Catling: great nephew of Virginia Hall • Andrew Orr: a professor in the Department of History at Kansas State University, a specialist in modern military history, intelligence operations in the Middle East, imperialism, civil-military relations, and the history of French Communist Party identity; author of Women and the French ArmyLearn more at diversionaudio.com/good-assassinsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.