Activity of the Special Operation Executive in Romania via Turkey, 1943 - 1944

Authors : Liliana BOŞCAN

Pages : 11-23

View : 23 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2021-01-20

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The Anschluss of March 1938 marks the point at which Hitler’s designs for Europe became clearer to Britain and greater prominence was given to considerations about Romania. Between 1938-1941 Britain’s only weapon against German ambitions in countries which fell into Hitler’s orbit were military subversive operations — the destruction of the oilfields and the interdiction of supply routes by the Danube and the rail network — but SOE insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Special Operation Executive); failed. Between 1941 and 1944, the S.O.E. insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Special Operation Executive); activity was centred on the revival of wireless contacts with Iuliu Maniu, head of the National Peasant Party, aimed at persuading through him Marshal Ion Antonescu to abandon the Axis and the provision of a channel of communication of armistice terms by the Allies insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Autonomous Mission, December 1943);. The S.O.E. has taken steps to create a reliable communication channel between S.O.E. residents in Istanbul and Bucharest. A network was made through Turkey legations or through emissaries sent to Istanbul, Ankara and Cairo, or by radio broadcast and by agents launched with parachute.
Keywords : SOE, Oil, Balkans, World War II