SOE: The Scientific Secrets

The history of the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War has been the subject of many books over the past fifty years.

Previously secret material has steadily been released but until now there has been no detailed account of the development of equipment and techniques upon which the success of its subversive activities relied.

SOE's behind -the -scenes research and development programme ranged from high explosive technology to chemical and biochemical devices; from the techniques of air supply to incendiarism: from camouflage to underwater warfare: and from radio communications to weaponry.

This book is a unique and well-documented account of how scientific and technical skills were exploited in support of the heroic efforts of SOE agents world-wide during the Second World War.