SOE SYLLABUS: Lessons in Ungentlemanly Warfare, World War II (Public Record Office Secret History Files) [Hardcover]

Denis Rigden (Author)

Book Description

Series: Public Record Office Secret History Files | Publication Date: July 2001

As the regular forces rebuilt after their escape from Dunkirk, Britain began striking back at Nazi Germany through a small number of strategically placed spies and saboteurs, the Special Operations Executive. Britain's Public Record Office now reveals much new information, particularly about the training of agents. This heavily illustrated work includes actual training manuals used during World War II.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: Public Record Office (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 190336518X
• ISBN-13: 978-1903365182
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,365,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Technical yet interesting account of SOE training at Camp X, May 13, 2003

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"hbsvt" (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SOE SYLLABUS: Lessons in Ungentlemanly Warfare, World War II (Public Record Office Secret History Files) (Hardcover)

A very interesting book full of information that you will in all odds never use.

However, we need to remember the past. The SOE did not set Europe ablaze as Churchill had hoped but undoubtedly made a difference in the second world war. The training methods developed at Camp X still have a strong influence today. I have seen some of the hand to hand combat techniques in newer publications reproduced almost word for word. A variation Fairbairn's knife technique is still taught in the military.

Much of the information is adaptable to day to day life. Being aware of ones situation, how to find out if you are being followed and what to do about it and other situations are covered. While none of us will probably have to kill a brothel full of German solders it is still rather interesting to see how it would be done.

Don't expect smooth readability. This is a collection of technical documents and reads like it. It is not entertaining style but still a fascinating record of one of the most interesting sections of history.