British Military Intelligence: Objects from the Military Intelligence Museum

2017 | History & Politics

This book tells the story behind items in the Military Intelligence Museum from the Second World War, such as a chess set used by several SOE agents in Buchenwald.concentration camp, Himmler's shaving brush, a photo of Rudolf Hoess, the Commandant of Auschwitz, shortly after his capture by an Intelligence Corps Field Security and a world-beating collection of SOE equipment, including miniature cameras. Post-1945 items include a Warsaw Pact ZIL radio lorry, an example of a G-Wagon used by British Military Mission (BRIXMIS) in East Germany, a model of Smokey Joe's - a listening post manned by Intelligence Corps that intercepted Soviet telephone messages in Vienna when the city was occupied by the four Allies and photographic intelligence photographs, gadgetry, models and photos in the Medmenham collection. While technically not special forces in the conventional sense, the Intelligence Corps has been involved in special operations from its earliest days and has close links with elite military units such as paras and commandos as well as with various government agencies.

During the Second World War, it provided a substantial number of linguists and analysts to Bletchley Park as well as agents, instructors and security staff to the Special Operations Executive. Its Field Security Sections played a key role in the defence of the country at ports and airports. This varied and exciting involvement in covert operations and the author's own experiences as an intelligence officer make this book a compelling and revealing read.

Nick van der Bijl (Author)