The Secret History of SOE: The Special Operations Executive 1940-1945
by W. J. M. MacKenzie
The official, definitive history of the SOE which has been classified since the end of the War.

SOE: The Special Operations Executive 1940-46
by M. R. D. Foot

SOE Syllabus: Lessons in Ungentlemanly Warfare, World War II (Secret History Files)
Introduction by Denis Rigden
Our bible. An actual syllabus from one of SOE's training schools. The unarmed combat demonstrations from this book always draw a big crowd at re-enactments.

Secret Agent's Handbook: The WWII Spy Manual of Devices, Disguises, Gadgets and Concealed Weapons
Introduction by Mark Seaman
This book is actually a fascimile of two handbooks issued to SOE agents from which they chose their various implements.   Included are covert radios, explosive rats and soy sauce tins, train derailers, makeup and disguises, and a plethora of other "toys" that remind one of "Q" from James Bond movies.   And it's no wonder; Ian Fleming was a back-office boy at SOE before he wrote the Bond series.

Wish Me Luck - Series 1, 6 Volume Gift Boxed Set VHS
A five episode BBC drama series about the SOE operating in France.   It's a bit melodramatic and all the characters are fictional.   But they get alot of things right (local Résistance's distrust of SOE and vice versa, the unavailability of good equipment and timely drops, the quarrelling between SOE and regular forces...). &nsbp; It's the fictional story of two women who are recruited in England, go through training together, and are eventually posted as a courier and wireless operator on the same team.   It's not overly romanticized.   The constant fear of discovery comes through very well.   Some of the scenes make you feel how they must have felt.   Very well presented.   I highly recommend it.

Between Silk and Cynanide: A Codemaker's War
by Leo Marks
An interesting tale by a young man who joined the Signals directorate right out of code school.   I call it a tale because it is written in a novel-like format that makes it hard to put down.   Our hero's talent for breaking undecipherables and formulating new, unbreakable codes (LOPs and WOKs) barely keeps him one step ahead of his poorly-timed wit.   At first his wisecracks will annoy you.   Later they'll become the thing you like about him most.   A useful look inside SOE in London showing the home perscpective.   All the others tell about the agents in the field.   This is the story of the guy at the desk who worries that he's sending new agents into a captured cell.   Lots of information on the Dutch disaster.   If nothing else, it will teach you what an imprecise science coding and wireless operations are and you will better understand how the Dutch screw-up could have happened.

SOE in the Low Countries
by M. R. D. Foot
An in-depth look at the operations of T Section, which we portray. A must for the Belgian (or Dutch) re-enactor.

Secret Agent: The True Story of the Covert War Against Hitler
by David Stafford

Undercover
by Patrick Howarth, Francis Cammaerts (Introduction)
A great book for getting a feel for what SOE agents went through. Many stories are sad, some are terrifying. But they are all true. Very well written by men who were there. Wonderful and sometimes heartbreaking stories of the brave men and women who worked for the SOE as told by Patrick Howarth who himself operated under its auspices in Poland.   Essential background for character development.

SAS With the Maquis: In Action With the French Resistance June-September 1944
by Ian Wellsted
Yes, it's about French Résistence, not English SOE agents posing as Belgians.   But still, it's a good book to read for understanding the relationship between native clandestine forces and their foreign "handlers".   Objectives were not always agreed upon and things were not always smooth between these two forces.   And since our group works so closely with the Belgian SAS, this is a great resource.