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The Special Operations Executive is best known for its efforts in Occupied Europe, in particular in western Europe and Scandinavia, but SOE was also active in the very different environment of the Balkans. SOE operatives were faced with two major problems in this part of the world. First of all, although it was Hitler's back door to the western allies, it was the front door for Stalin, so the operatives were always tripping over the Soviets. The second was that most of the time the SOE operatives were working in countries that were allied with the Germans, a very different prospect from working in occupied territory.
The second of these problems had the biggest impact on the day-to-day activities of the SOE agents. While agents in the west operated amongst a largely supportive population, those in the Balkans were surrounded by a hostile population and active local police forces, militias and armies. As a result of this many of the missions spent much of their time travelling through hostile remote areas attempting to evade capture, and most had a rather short life-span. Despite all of the odds against them many of these SOE missions managed to complete at least some of their objectives, slowly eroding the trust between Hitler and his Balkan allies.
This book is a fitting tribute to those brave men and women of SOE whose efforts were made in obscure corners, away from the historical limelight, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.
Chapters
Part 1: Hungary and Slovakia
Maps of Hungary
SOE Personnel in Hungary and Slovakia
SOE in Hungary and Slovakia
Part 2: Bulgaria
Maps of Bulgaria
SOE Personnel in Bulgaria
SOE in Bulgaria
Part 3: Romania
Maps of Romania
SOE Personnel in Romania
SOE in Romania
Author: Alan Ogden
Edition: Hardcover
Pages: 284
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
Year: 2010