Читать книгу SOE Manual: How to be an Agent in Occupied Europe - Special Executive Operations - Страница 7
Оглавление1. INTRODUCTION.
a) Security must be the first consideration of the agent. Unless he has taken the necessary precautions for his own safety it is useless for him to attempt any subversive work alone or in conjunction with other people.
b) Apart from the danger to the individual agent his arrest may jeopardise the safety of an organisation with which he is in contact.
c) The agent, unlike the soldier, who has many friends, is surrounded by enemies, seen and unseen. He cannot even be certain of the people of his own nationality who are apparently friendly. The agent must, therefore, remember that, like primitive men in the jungle, he has only his alertness, initiative and observation to help him. He has to look after himself but we can prepare him for this by training.
d) Despite the apparent difficulties the agent can train himself to be security-minded and by self-discipline make the taking of precautions an automatic process (cf. crossing the road). He should, at the same time, beware of the danger of over-confidence when he sees little evidence of measures being taken against him.
2. RULES.
The following rules should be studied and followed by the agent and passed on to any one he recruits:
a) Cover.
b) Information.
c) Alertness.
d) Inconspicuousness.
e) Discretion.
f) Discipline.
g) Planning for emergency.
a) Cover. It is essential to have a comprehensive cover story for his past and every action, and to do nothing which might jeopardise it. This is dealt with in detail in another lecture.
b) Information. This is the basis of all the agent’s work. As much as possible is provided before departure but the agent must check and supplement it on arrival. For the purposes of self-protection, information will be required on:
i. Conditions and regulations in the agent’s area.
ii. Enemy methods and personnel.
e) Alertness.
i. The agent cannot rely on the law for protection; on the contrary, he is opposed to it, and must depend on alertness and observation, e.g. must see danger early (old friend in the street, or policeman checking papers) so that he may have time to avoid it.
ii. He should not only observe things but also make deductions from them, e.g. papers moved suggesting someone has been in his room; a smell of real coffee suggesting someone connected with black market; familiar voice or face suggesting that the agent is being followed.
iii. Combined with alertness of mind, the agent should develop a good memory; the ability to remember a face, details of instructions, plans laid some time previously, is an essential requisite for the agent, who should commit as little as possible to writing.
d) Inconspicuousness.
The agent should avoid attracting attention to himself by:
i. Observing all rules and regulations. Small infringements may bring the agent into contact with the police and may lead to further investigations. Little danger in this for the person not engaged in clandestine activity, but for the agent it is unnecessary contact with the police. He should, therefore, be a “model citizen”.
ii. Personal behaviour. Under this heading consider physical appearance (hands, hair, etc.), clothes, friends (avoid persons suspected by the police, Jews, Communists, etc.), tastes, amusements, etc. The agent should merge into the background and act in the same way as those around him. This does not mean perpetual silence – which might be even more conspicuous – but natural behaviour. Build up good reputation – be pleasant to people and avoid annoying them. Conform to local conditions.
e) Discretion.
The agent must not give himself away by carelessness.
i. In conversation. The agent should not:
confide in friends just to relieve the strain on nerves;
answer questions in such a way as to arouse curiosity;
tell people more than they need know, no matter how important or how close the association;
adopt a “hush-hush” attitude (vanity is usually the cause of this), or an atmosphere of importance;
mention facts which he is not supposed to know;
mention isolated facts at different times which can be pieced together;
be led into making compromising statements, e.g. by pro-German remark.
ii. With incriminating material or documents. The agent must not leave about, and, as far as possible, must not carry, incriminating documents, e.g. names, addresses, notes. Remember that even a tram ticket may in some circumstances be an incriminating document. A daily check of the contents of one’s pockets is essential and all unnecessary documents must be destroyed at once.
iii. Behaviour. The agent must observe self-discipline, e.g. be able to control his reactions in routine controls or if accidents occur. Practise moderation in drink, care in relations with women, avoid celebration after success, etc.
f) Discipline.
It is essential to security as well as to efficiency that an agent should obey his chief’s orders exactly and without dispute.
g) Planning for Emergency.
The agent must foresee emergency and plan in advance the action to be taken.
i. Arrange alternatives in case of accident or misunderstanding, e.g. alternative R.V. if the first is not kept.
ii. Prepare for any sudden difficulty, e.g. prearranged conversation in talking to colleague in case of interruption.
iii. Prepare signs by which he can warn colleagues of the fact that he is in danger.
iv. Plans must be laid for eventual flight if he comes under grave suspicion, and a suitable hide-out prepared. Any necessary false papers and clothes for this disappearance should be readily available, including a reserve supply of money. Cover story advisable to explain the disappearance. Simple disguise.
3. CONCLUSION.
The security precautions outlined above should be put into practice as soon as the agent enters the organisation and starts his training. Although the danger of German espionage in this country is not so great, all precautions should be taken. It is also necessary to know how to deal with friends and other persons who might be curious.
By starting at such an early stage the agent is also getting into the habit of thinking along security lines and preparing himself for his work in the field. He must remember that secrecy, even with those nearest to him, and in whom he has the most confidence, is essential for his safety.
