In 1941, Hitler and Mussolini’s armies were sweeping through Europe, crossing political and geographical boundaries and threatening US interests. Reluctant to enter a war and needing an accurate yet clandestine account of foreign affairs, President Franklin Roosevelt charged William J. “Wild Bill” Donovan with the task of assessing the state of the Resistance movement in Europe.
On July 21, 1941 General William Donovan created the Office of Secret Services (OSS). Patterned after the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), the OSS was the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Donovan, a unique and controversial character, allowed his agents a great deal of freedom in accomplishing their missions. He encouraged inventiveness and non-traditional strategies. OSS methods were sometimes unorthodox, attracting serious political scrutiny from both US and British armed forces and intelligence networks. However, these methods contributed in large part to the success of the OSS.
On July 21, 1941 General William Donovan created the Office of Secret Services (OSS). Patterned after the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), the OSS was the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Donovan, a unique and controversial character, allowed his agents a great deal of freedom in accomplishing their missions. He encouraged inventiveness and non-traditional strategies. OSS methods were sometimes unorthodox, attracting serious political scrutiny from both US and British armed forces and intelligence networks. However, these methods contributed in large part to the success of the OSS.
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Over 13,000 men and women worked for the OSS during World War II. Agents were parachuted or smuggled into hostile territories to work closely with Resistance and underground units across Europe. Three hundred and fifty OSS agents operated behind enemy lines in Italy and the OSS alliance with the partisans was essential in undermining the Axis powers in Italy.
In the Spring of 1943, as the campaign in Italy was set, General Donovan, decided it was time to organize OSS activity in Italy. The Allies had not expected strong, widespread Resistance against the Nazis after the Armistice since Italy had been considered part of the Axis alliance from the beginning of the war. However, in the face of strong and unexpected German opposition to the landing in Salerno, the Americans decided that it was necessary to reinforce their units for intelligence and orthodoxy warfare behind the Italian lines. The first contacts between the OSS, the British SOE and the anti-Fascist groups occurred in the early summer of 1943, in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.
Among the OSS were agents who specialized in sabotage and paramilitary operations, forming Operational Groups (OGs). The OGs were uniformed personnel designed as hard-hitting units (the forerunners of the Green Berets). They received training in: parachuting, demolitions, weapons, radio communications, special hand-to-hand fighting techniques and basic survival skills that would enable them to live off the land .
In the Spring of 1943, as the campaign in Italy was set, General Donovan, decided it was time to organize OSS activity in Italy. The Allies had not expected strong, widespread Resistance against the Nazis after the Armistice since Italy had been considered part of the Axis alliance from the beginning of the war. However, in the face of strong and unexpected German opposition to the landing in Salerno, the Americans decided that it was necessary to reinforce their units for intelligence and orthodoxy warfare behind the Italian lines. The first contacts between the OSS, the British SOE and the anti-Fascist groups occurred in the early summer of 1943, in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.
Among the OSS were agents who specialized in sabotage and paramilitary operations, forming Operational Groups (OGs). The OGs were uniformed personnel designed as hard-hitting units (the forerunners of the Green Berets). They received training in: parachuting, demolitions, weapons, radio communications, special hand-to-hand fighting techniques and basic survival skills that would enable them to live off the land .
The OSS recruited for the OGs from the ranks of already commissioned soldiers who volunteered for “hazardous mission” duty behind the lines, and could speak the language of the enemy-held countries. General Donovan realized that the most suitable recruits would come from the families of immigrants. Therefore, the Italian agents (Company A) were recruited from among recently-immigrated Italian-American soldiers.
The OSS operated in Italy like a paramilitary as well as an intelligence force. The two most important groups were: the SI/Italy, responsible for general intelligence with long range missions in the German-occupied Italy (collecting strategic information, counterespionage), and the OSS/5th Army Detachment,responsible for tactical support right behind the front lines (the OGs).
In October 1944, the OSS/IV Corps Detachment was created and lead by Captain Stephen Rossetti. Rossetti was one of the first OSS agents, joining in 1943. He participated in the early ground infiltration missions for the landings in Salerno and Anzio and early on realized the importance of establishing a close collaboration with the Resistance.
The OSS also employed Italian agents for their missions recruited under the ORI (Italian Resistance Organization), after the liberation of Rome. Their goal was to keep contact with the CLN and the different members of the Resistance. The Italians were drilled like the other OGs, learned how to use American weapons and explosives, and received air-delivered supplies.
The use of Italian-Americans gave the OSS a great advantage over British Intelligence, since few of the Italian population could speak English, and their cultural background provided an affinity for the people with whom they would collaborate.
The OSS operated in Italy like a paramilitary as well as an intelligence force. The two most important groups were: the SI/Italy, responsible for general intelligence with long range missions in the German-occupied Italy (collecting strategic information, counterespionage), and the OSS/5th Army Detachment,responsible for tactical support right behind the front lines (the OGs).
In October 1944, the OSS/IV Corps Detachment was created and lead by Captain Stephen Rossetti. Rossetti was one of the first OSS agents, joining in 1943. He participated in the early ground infiltration missions for the landings in Salerno and Anzio and early on realized the importance of establishing a close collaboration with the Resistance.
The OSS also employed Italian agents for their missions recruited under the ORI (Italian Resistance Organization), after the liberation of Rome. Their goal was to keep contact with the CLN and the different members of the Resistance. The Italians were drilled like the other OGs, learned how to use American weapons and explosives, and received air-delivered supplies.
The use of Italian-Americans gave the OSS a great advantage over British Intelligence, since few of the Italian population could speak English, and their cultural background provided an affinity for the people with whom they would collaborate.