OSS Agents Behind the Lines

mrerick · 08-17-2012, 11:11 PM

The recent posting about OSS Railroad sabotage testing got me looking around for more of their work.

On the archive.org site I found a couple of films that are a fascinating look into the challenges of working behind the lines in Europe.

The first is a training film for agents preparing to work under deep cover. It's done using actors in Hollywood style of the time. Watch for the appearance of Lugers...

http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.39979

The second is a record of the testimony of an American OSS officer that worked with a British SAS team just after D-Day preparing for sabotage and insurrection in Brittany, France. His recall of detail is riveting...

http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.4713777

Marc

pitsword · 08-18-2012, 08:52 PM

Thanks. That was outstanding in many ways, talk about kill conditioning. Excellent prep work and execution.

sheepherder · 08-19-2012, 09:05 AM

Coincidentally, Alan Ladd made a film (Titled "O.S.S") in 1946...Pretty fascinating, considering it's Hollywood...

I have it on DVD, of course...

Several Lugers in it...And a train scene, with an excellent explosion...

Edit: BTW, if you love train films (I do!), 1964's "The Train" with Burt Lancaster is excellent...

alanint · 08-19-2012, 02:21 PM

Own both films. Both are excellent!

For another great period film, look for William Holden's "Counterfeit Traitor", where he plays an actual Swedish Businessman who cozied up to the Nazis prewar and spied on them the entire time. The ending scenes, filmed in the late 40's in the actual ruins of bombed out Berlin are fascinating. It is the first film I ever saw where the Germans are carrying MP44s.

mrerick · 08-19-2012, 05:11 PM

And, Frank Sinatra in "Von Ryan's Express"... another train film of note!

Marc

08-17-2012, 11:11 PM	#1
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	OSS Agents Behind the Lines The recent posting about OSS Railroad sabotage testing got me looking around for more of their work. On the archive.org site I found a couple of films that are a fascinating look into the challenges of working behind the lines in Europe. The first is a training film for agents preparing to work under deep cover. It's done using actors in Hollywood style of the time. Watch for the appearance of Lugers... http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.39979 The second is a record of the testimony of an American OSS officer that worked with a British SAS team just after D-Day preparing for sabotage and insurrection in Brittany, France. His recall of detail is riveting... http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.4713777 Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

08-19-2012, 09:05 AM	#3
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	Coincidentally, Alan Ladd made a film (Titled "O.S.S") in 1946...Pretty fascinating, considering it's Hollywood... I have it on DVD, of course... Several Lugers in it...And a train scene, with an excellent explosion... Edit: BTW, if you love train films (I do!), 1964's "The Train" with Burt Lancaster is excellent... Attached Images __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

08-19-2012, 05:11 PM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	And, Frank Sinatra in "Von Ryan's Express"... another train film of note! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

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08-18-2012, 08:52 PM	#2
pitsword User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 459 Thanks: 3,964 Thanked 103 Times in 83 Posts	Thanks. That was outstanding in many ways, talk about kill conditioning. Excellent prep work and execution.

08-19-2012, 02:21 PM	#4
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Own both films. Both are excellent! For another great period film, look for William Holden's "Counterfeit Traitor", where he plays an actual Swedish Businessman who cozied up to the Nazis prewar and spied on them the entire time. The ending scenes, filmed in the late 40's in the actual ruins of bombed out Berlin are fascinating. It is the first film I ever saw where the Germans are carrying MP44s.