SOE in France

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A Run of Errors: 1943–1944

 

‘Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens’ – Schiller

Across the uneven tenor of F section's operations there ran several series of mistakes. The affaire Grandclément which rocked de Baissac's SCIENTIST circuit at Bordeaux was a straightforward case of double dealing, if that contradictory phrase may be used, and is covered in its chronological place; so are some of the divers eccentricities of the CARTE organization, the break-up of the unlucky MUSICIAN and SALESMAN circuits, the downfall of Southgate the overworked leader of STATIONER, and other defeats. In some of these cases part of the blame for what went wrong in the field must be shared by the home staff; London's share of the blame is larger still ...