Download or read book OSS Operation Black Mail written by Ann Todd and published by Naval Institute Press. This book was released on 2017-09-15 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: OSS Operation Black Mail is the story of a remarkable woman who fought World War II on the front lines of psychological warfare. Elizabeth “Betty” P. McIntosh spent eighteen months serving in the Office of Strategic Services in what has been called the “forgotten theater,” China-Burma-India, where she met and worked with characters as varied as Julia Child and Ho Chi Minh. Her craft was black propaganda, and her mission was to demoralize the enemy through prevarication and deceit, and ultimately, convince him to surrender. Betty and her crew ingeniously obtained and altered personal correspondence between Japanese soldiers and their families on the home islands of Japan. She also ordered the killing of a Japanese courier in the jungles of Burma to plant a false surrender order in his mailbag. By the time Betty flew the Hump from Calcutta to China, she was acting head of the Morale Operations branch for the entire theater, overseeing the production of thousands of pamphlets and radio scripts, the generation of fiendishly clever rumors, and the printing of a variety of faked Japanese, Burmese, and Chinese newspapers. Her strategy involved targeting not merely the Japanese soldier but the man within: the son, the husband, the father. She knew her work could ultimately save lives, but never lost sight of the fact that her propaganda was a weapon and her intended target the enemy. This is not a typical war story. The only beaches stormed are the minds of an invisible enemy. Often a great deal of time and effort was expended in conception and production, and rarely was it known if even a shred reached the hands of the intended recipient. The process was opaque on both ends: the origin of a rumor or radio broadcast obscured, the target elusive. For Betty and her friends, time on the “front lines” of psychological warfare in China-Burma-India rushed by in a cascade of creativity and innovation, played out on a stage where a colonial world was ending and chaos awaited.
Download or read book The OSS and Ho Chi Minh written by Dixee Bartholomew-Feis and published by University Press of Kansas. This book was released on 2006-05-12 with total page 446 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some will be shocked to find out that the United States and Ho Chi Minh, our nemesis for much of the Vietnam War, were once allies. Indeed, during the last year of World War II, American spies in Indochina found themselves working closely with Ho Chi Minh and other anti-colonial factions-compelled by circumstances to fight together against the Japanese. Dixee Bartholomew-Feis reveals how this relationship emerged and operated and how it impacted Vietnam's struggle for independence. The men of General William Donovan's newly-formed Office of Strategic Services closely collaborated with communist groups in both Europe and Asia against the Axis enemies. In Vietnam, this meant that OSS officers worked with Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh, whose ultimate aim was to rid the region of all imperialist powers, not just the Japanese. Ho, for his part, did whatever he could to encourage the OSS's negative view of the French, who were desperate to regain their colony. Revealing details not previously known about their covert operations, Bartholomew-Feis chronicles the exploits of these allies as they developed their network of informants, sabotaged the Japanese occupation's infrastructure, conducted guerrilla operations, and searched for downed American fliers and Allied POWs. Although the OSS did not bring Ho Chi Minh to power, Bartholomew-Feis shows that its apparent support for the Viet Minh played a significant symbolic role in helping them fill the power vacuum left in the wake of Japan's surrender. Her study also hints that, had America continued to champion the anti-colonials and their quest for independence, rather than caving in to the French, we might have been spared our long and very lethal war in Vietnam. Based partly on interviews with surviving OSS agents who served in Vietnam, Bartholomew-Feis's engaging narrative and compelling insights speak to the yearnings of an oppressed people-and remind us that history does indeed make strange bedfellows.
Download or read book Special Operations in World War II written by Andrew L. Hargreaves and published by University of Oklahoma Press. This book was released on 2013-10-28 with total page 605 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: British and American commanders first used modern special forces in support of conventional military operations during World War II. Since then, although special ops have featured prominently in popular culture and media coverage of wars, the academic study of irregular warfare has remained as elusive as the practitioners of special operations themselves. This book is the first comprehensive study of the development, application, and value of Anglo-American commando and special forces units during the Second World War. Special forces are intensively trained, specially selected military units performing unconventional and often high-risk missions. In this book, Andrew L. Hargreaves not only describes tactics and operations but also outlines the distinctions between commandos and special forces, traces their evolution during the war, explains how the Anglo-American alliance functioned in the creation and use of these units, looks at their command and control arrangements, evaluates their impact, and assesses their cost-effectiveness. The first real impetus for the creation of British specialist formations came in the desperate summer of 1940 when, having been pushed out of Europe following defeat in France and the Low Countries, Britain began to turn to irregular forces in an effort to wrest back the strategic initiative from the enemy. The development of special forces by the United States was also a direct consequence of defeat. After Pearl Harbor, Hargreaves shows, the Americans found themselves in much the same position as Britain had been in 1940: shocked, outnumbered, and conventionally defeated, they were unable to come to grips with the enemy on a large scale. By the end of the war, a variety of these units had overcome a multitude of evolutionary hurdles and made valuable contributions to practically every theater of operation. In describing how Britain and the United States worked independently and cooperatively to invent and put into practice a fundamentally new way of waging war, this book demonstrates the two nations’ flexibility, adaptability, and ability to innovate during World War II.
Download or read book Special Operations in WWII written by James Stejskal and published by Casemate. This book was released on 2020-04-30 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A brief history of secret British and American World War II organizations, their training, tools, successes, and their legacy. Winston Churchill famously instructed the head of the Special Operations Executive to “Set Europe ablaze!” Agents of both the British Special Operations Executive and the American Office of Strategic Services underwent rigorous training before making their way, undetected, into occupied Europe to do just that. Working alone or in small cells, often cooperating with local resistance groups, agents undertook missions behind enemy lines involving sabotage, subversion, organizing resistance groups and intelligence-gathering. SOE’s first notable success was the destruction of a power station in France, stopping work at a vital U-boat base. Later operations included the assassination of Himmler’s deputy Reinhard Heyrich and ending the Nazi atomic bomb program by destroying the heavy water plant at Vemork, Norway. OSS operatives established anti-Nazi resistance groups across Europe, and managed to smuggle operatives into Nazi Germany, including running one of the war’s most important spies, German diplomat Fritz Kolbe. All missions were incredibly dangerous and many agents were captured, tortured, and ultimately killed—the life expectancy of an SOE wireless operator in occupied France was just six weeks. In this short history, historian James Stejskal examines why these agencies were established, the training regime and ingenious tools developed to enable agents to undertake their missions, their operational successes, and their legacy.
Download or read book Weapon of Choice The Operations of U S Army Special Forces in Afghanistan written by United States Department of Defense and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2023-11-29 with total page 576 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Within the pages of 'Weapon of Choice: The Operations of U.S. Army Special Forces in Afghanistan,' readers are invited into the multifaceted world of military operations, strategy, and the raw human elements at play in modern warfare. This anthology, through a series of detailed narratives, analyses, and firsthand accounts, explores the broad spectrum of activities undertaken by the U.S. Army Special Forces. It does so by weaving together diverse literary styles from rigorous academic research to compelling narrative storytelling thereby highlighting the complexity and multifarious aspects of military operations in a war-torn region. The depth and diversity of the content underscore the significance of unconventional warfare tactics in the global arena. The collection stands out for its comprehensive coverage of the subject, presented from a variety of perspectives. The contributors, hailing from the United States Department of Defense and the Combat Studies Institute, bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience. Their backgrounds a blend of military expertise, academic prowess, and firsthand involvement in Afghan operations provide a rich foundation for the anthology. Collectively, their contributions not only align with but also significantly contribute to the discourse on military strategy, counterinsurgency, and international relations. This anthology draws from historical contexts, operational strategies, and the personal experiences of those who served, offering readers a multidimensional understanding of the challenges and innovativeness of U.S. Army Special Forces. 'Weapon of Choice' serves as a crucial compendium for scholars, military enthusiasts, and anyone keen on understanding the intricacies of military operations and strategy. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the perspectives, analyses, and real-life scenarios that have shaped the course of conflicts. By delving into this collection, readers gain access to a treasure trove of insights and experiences, making it an indispensable resource for fostering a deeper understanding of contemporary warfare and strategic thinking.
Download or read book American Covert Operations written by J. Ransom Clark and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2015-07-14 with total page 307 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Traces our country's long history of covert and special operations, focusing on the similarities and differences in the practice from the Revolutionary War to the present. Long before the creation of the CIA, the American government utilized special intelligence strategies with varying degrees of success. Even though critics throughout time have questioned the effectiveness and legitimacy of these tactics, presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama have employed secret operations to benefit the nation's best interest. This book follows America's history of intelligence gathering, undercover operations, and irregular warfare. Through chronologically organized chapters, the author examines secret military maneuvers, highlighting the elements common to covert and special operations across historical eras, and concluding with a chapter on national security since the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Download or read book Special operations in US strategy written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on with total page 325 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Shipping Board Operations written by United States. Congress. House. Select Committee on U. S. Shipping Board Operations and published by . This book was released on 1921 with total page 944 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book OSS Commando Final Option written by Charles Sasser and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2009-03-17 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As American involvement in WW II grew imminent, President Roosevelt authorized the establishment of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor of both the CIA and military Special Operations Forces. Using military cover OSS began building a clandestine capability to combat the Axis powers, in which saboteurs, guerillas, commandos, spies and counterintelligence agents worked behind enemy lines. Captain James Cantrell, a former Chicago homicide detective, is the leader of a secret intelligence team for OSS. He is charged with protecting Operation Overlord, the top–secret Allied plans for invading France, and with ferreting out Nazi spies who are desperately attempting to uncover these secrets. With time running out before D–Day, Cantrell must stop a cunning––and seductive––female Gestapo agent operating in London from delivering stolen Overlord information in time for Hitler to reinforce defenses at Normandy. The chase leads him through bomb ravaged London streets and across the English Channel only hours behind his prey. Parachuting into France behind enemy lines only days before the scheduled D–Day landings, his orders are to assassinate her before she reports to her contact on the French mainland. The fate of WW II hangs in the balance.
Download or read book Operation OSS written by U.S. Army Special Forces and published by Paladin Press. This book was released on 2011-09-01 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Operation OSS provides a fascinating glimpse into the famed Office of Strategic Services, better known as the OSS, the predecessor to today's CIA. It combines three declassified manuals that together document the field activities of the clandestine community during World War II, involving both citizen saboteurs and professional teams of trained operatives. Simple Sabotage Field Manual is the basic OSS doctrine for training civilians as saboteurs, outlining the tools, targets, and timing schedules necessary to achieve maximum efficiency in support of conventional military offensives. Maritime Unit Field Manual describes OSS clandestine waterborne operations, including ferrying operatives and supplies to and from enemy-held shores, conducting maritime sabotage against enemy shipping and shipping installations, and providing tactical assistance to conventional forces. Provisional Basic Field Manual puts the sabotage and maritime manuals in proper context, showing how the objectives of physical and morale subversion fit into the overall mission statement and structure of the organization. These rare manual reprints are essential study for anyone interested in the activities of the clandestine community during World War II.
Download or read book Morale Operations Field Manual written by Oss Reproduction Branch and published by . This book was released on 1943-01-26 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Second World War era Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the forerunner of today's CIA. During the war the organisation planned and executed thousands of covert operations behind enemy lines from North Africa to Europe to Asia. This publication reproduces the OSS' 1943 Morale Operations Field Manual. It describes the techniques used by OSS to damage the enemy's morale. Today we'd call it "Psychological Operations". This is near-perfect reproduction of the original publication with all wartime classification markings intact. With the originals all but extinct outside the US National Archives' OSS collection, this series is a must-have for any military scholar or for special operations or intelligence community personnel wishing to honor their heritage. The titles available in this series include: Special Operations Field Manual Operational Groups Field Manual Simple Sabotage Field Manual Secret Intelligence Field Manual Morale Operations Field Manual Maritime Unit Field Manual
Download or read book Special Operations Forces in the 21st Century written by Jessica Glicken Turnley and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-08-09 with total page 541 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book sets out the major social scientific approaches to the study of Special Operations Forces. Despite consistent downsizing, over the past two decades the armed forces of the industrial democracies have seen a huge growth in Special Operations Forces (SOF). Through increasing numbers of personnel and more frequent deployments, SOF units have wielded considerable influence in conflicts around the world, with senior SOF officers having led major strategic operations. This increased presence and unprecedented expansion for SOF is largely a result of the ‘new’ kinds of conflicts that have emerged in the 21st century. At the same time, even with this high profile in the military, policy and media and popular cultural arenas, there is relatively little social scientific research on SOF. This volume aims to fill this gap by providing a series of studies and analyses of SOF across the globe, since the end of World War II. Analysing SOF at the micro, mezzo and macro levels provides broad and diverse insights. Moreover, the volume deals with new issues raised by the use of such forces that include emerging modes of civilian control, innovative organizational forms and the special psychological characteristics necessitated by SOF operatives. It concludes with a discussion of a question which continues to be debated in today’s militaries: what makes SOF ‘special’? Filling a clear gap in the literature, this book will be of much interest to students of strategic studies, civil-military relations, irregular warfare, security studies, and international relations.
Download or read book Doctrine for Joint Special Operations written by United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Special Operations Executive in Malaya written by Rebecca Kenneison and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-05-30 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During World War II, agents of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) infiltrated Japanese-occupied Malaya. There they worked with Malayan guerrilla groups, including the communist-sponsored Malayan Peoples Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA), regarded as the precursor of the communist insurgent army of the Malayan Emergency. This book traces the development of SOE's Malayan operations, and analyses the interactions between SOE and the various guerrilla groups. It explores the reasons for and the extent of Malay disillusionment with Japanese rule, and demonstrates how guerrilla service acted as a training ground for some later Malay leaders of the independent nation. However, the reports written about the MPAJA by SOE operatives just after the war failed to draw out the likely future threat posed by the communists to the returning colonial administration. Rebecca Kenneison shows that the British possessed a wealth of local information, but failed to convert it into active intelligence in the period prior to the Malayan Emergency. In doing so she provides new insights into the impact of SOE on Malayan politics, the nature of Malayan communism's challenge to colonial rule, and British post-war intelligence in Malaya.
Download or read book Journal of Special Operations Medicine written by and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 720 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Operations Support Systems Solutions and Strategies for the Emerging Network written by International Engineering Consortium and published by Intl. Engineering Consortiu. This book was released on 2003-09-15 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Secret Flotillas Clandestine sea operations in the Mediterranean North Africa and the Adriatic 1940 1944 written by Brooks Richards and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2004 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This authoritative publication by the official historian, the late Sir Brooks Richards, vividly describes and analyses the clandestine naval operations that took place during World War II. The account has been made possible through Sir Brooks' access to closed government archives, combined with his own wartime experiences and the recollections of many of those involved. In addition to operations off French North Africa this second volume also includes descriptions of operations in the Adriatic around Italy. More than half of the 390 operations in Italian and adjacent waters were carried out by Italian vessels with Italian crews. It was a contribution to the Allied war effort which ought not to be forgotten.
