Monday, June 30, 2014

Books read in 2014: No. 26 -- Simple Sabotage Field Manual

by the Office of Strategic Services

Started: June 30
Finished: June 30

Notes: The title of this little e-book might seem dangerous to some modern readers, but there is little to be worried about as this one pertains to World War II. Originally published in 1944, this is a basic text for friendly civilians trapped behind enemy lines and how they can continue with the war effort in ways to help the Allied Forces. I don't know for sure, but my guess would be this little book was passed out in countries facing being overrun (such as England feared) and was possibly dropped into or somehow distributed in countries already occupied by Axis powers. And for those who don't know, the Office of Strategic Services, aka the OSS, were the precursors to today's CIA.

Mini review: The mischevious teenage version of me would have had a field day with this book. There's lots of information about slouching off on the job, of how to disrupt motors of all sorts, and of how to subvert authority while appearing subserviant. As is, it's an interesting piece, and I got the impression from a few remarks it was planned to be released right before D-Day in order to give the Allied troops just a little bit of extra help behind enemy lines.

1 comment:

Charles Gramlich said...

I know there were a number of these kinds of items published in WWII. Mostly pamphlets of various kinds. Interesting.