Mi 6 (the British department responsible for overseas espionage)

Also known as the Secret Intelligence Agency, it was originally an overseas intelligence system of British intelligence agencies. 1939 reorganization, led by the Ministry of National Defense.

Mainly responsible for intelligence espionage activities abroad, such as infiltration into organizations of hostile countries for rebellion and recruitment. Headquartered in a 20-story building south of Westminster Bridge in London, it is called "Government Telecommunications Bureau" and is controlled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

MI6 and MI5 were established at the same time in 1909. The first director was Colonel Mansfield Cumming of the Royal Navy, and later expanded to the Secret Intelligence Agency.

1939 In September, World War II broke out, and MI6 experienced a series of unfortunate disasters in organization and action. 1939165438+10.9, two senior British intelligence officers, Major Henry Stevens and Captain Payne Best, were easily deceived and kidnapped by the SS. As a result, MI6 lost an important intelligence channel.

At that time, intelligence gathering was mainly provided by foreign intelligence stations. After these materials were sent back to London, the headquarters staff classified and analyzed them and distributed them to all "users"-the armed forces. After the Fenlow incident, it encountered financial difficulties, and MI6 fell into a chaotic situation.

1940 in may, the german blitzkrieg forced Britain to close all its intelligence networks in Europe, leaving only a few neutral intelligence stations in mi6.

After serving in 14, the second director of MI6, General Sinclair, died of cancer on19391.4, and was immediately succeeded by his deputy, Stewart Menzies. Faced with difficulties, menzies resolutely abandoned the traditional concept of spying on information, turned his attention to the government cipher school he had just taken over, and decided to rely on the cipher school to obtain information from intercepting and deciphering German telegrams. He really got his wish, and the "Ertra" (super secret) obtained by the decipherer of Blackley Manor made a great contribution to the final victory of Britain.

After Churchill became prime minister, intelligence agencies received unprecedented attention. A large number of talented and dedicated young people, from universities, businesses and intellectuals in London, were called to join secret intelligence organizations.

It is worth mentioning that after the outbreak of World War II, Britain released many criminals from prisons, such as skilled safe thieves, and asked them to serve the Allies. Most of them were allowed to join the commando team; A few people joined MI6, and their main tasks were making locks, sliding safes and blasting. This seems to be a last resort in wartime, because according to the breakthrough standard of British spy recruitment, the ideal spy is a young man from a superior society, with economic income and cheerful personality. His education must be slightly higher than the average person, handsome, brave, tenacious, calm and objective, just like James Bond on the screen. Therefore, British spy agencies have always attached importance to recruiting spies from Oxford and Cambridge, two world-famous universities.

Since 1930, MI6 has had a place dedicated to sabotage and subversion. 1on July 22nd, 940, according to the order of Prime Minister Churchill, the newly established special operation was to take over D. The task of special operations was to carry out sabotage activities overseas. This special action was initiated by the British Secretary of State for Economic War, Dr Hugh Dalton. Soon, Sir Frank Nelson succeeded Dalton.

1942 in may, the special operations organization participated in the assassination of Reinhard heydrich, director of the ss security bureau. 1942 On May 27th, heydrich was assassinated in Czech Republic, which caused a hundred times of crazy revenge by German fascists. In Prague alone, more than 10000 people were arrested, and at least 1300 people were killed. The most brutal atrocities occurred in Lidice village, a small village near Prague, where the environment was quiet and beautiful. The red tile house in the village is surrounded by an ancient baroque church, just like a paradise. One night, the SS suddenly surrounded the village and all the villagers, men, women and children, gathered together. On the grounds that some villagers sheltered the assassins in the village, the SS shot all the men aged 65,438+06 to 70, sent all the women and children to the concentration camp by truck, and then burned down the houses in the village.

The special action is indeed a commendable achievement. When the allied forces landed in Normandy, their agents successfully held off the elite German armored forces and delayed their arrival in the coastal areas.