Section D for Destruction
Section D for Destruction is a fascinating look at the early efforts of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) to resist Nazi Germany prior to the outbreak of World War II. While Neville Chamberlain was proclaiming “Peace in Our Time” after the Munich Agreement, the SIS was quietly working to build a network of agents and resistance movements across Europe, using any means necessary including bribery, black propaganda, and sabotage. Atkin’s book is the first in-depth account of this period to be published, drawing on previously secret documents from the National Archives.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the description of the SIS’s efforts to arm and support potential resistance fighters in occupied countries, including by creating weapon dumps and working with intelligence services in other countries. The book also provides a glimpse into the SIS’s daring operations, such as the kidnapping of two British officers by German agents in Venlo and the rescue of a large stock of industrial diamonds from Amsterdam.
Overall, Section D for Destruction is a compelling read that offers a new perspective on the early days of the war and the efforts of the SIS to fight back against the Nazis. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of irregular warfare and the early efforts to resist Nazi Germany.
You can buy the book here from Pen and Sword books.
Please note I was not paid to write this review but was sent a review copy of the book. All comments are my own, and the publishers have not amended the review in any way.
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