Shadows of the Empire: Espionage in Ancient Rome
The Roman Forum, the political, economic, cultural, and religious center of the city during the Republic and later Empire. Credit: Saiko / CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED. Cropped. Espionage played a…
SOE’s Daring Kidnap: German General Kreipe
Members of the Kreipe abduction team (from l. to r.): Georgios Tyrakis, William Stanley Moss, Patrick Leigh Fermor, Emmanouil Paterakis, and Antonios Papaleonidas. The two British SOE officers are in…
Wandering Warriors: The Rōnin of Japan
Scan from an original woodblock print by Shikazaki Ryuu circa 1890. Depicts the true tale of the revenge of the 47 Rōnin. During the feudal era of Japan (1185–1868 AD),…
Major Anders Lassen: From Rebellious Youth to a Victoria Cross
Major Anders Lassen (right), discussing the forthcoming Lake Comacchio raid, in which he and his men were tasked to cross impossible terrain, so spearheading the Allied breakthrough in Northern Italy.…
Knowlton’s Rangers: Setting the Stage for Modern Intelligence Operations
Painting by John Trumbull of the Battle of Bunker Hill. 184.2 x 274.5 cm Oil on canvas Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT Knowlton’s Rangers was a reconnaissance and espionage detachment of…
Link Analysis: A Powerful Intelligence Tool
Image created by Image Creator from Microsoft Designer Link analysis, also known as “graph visualization” or “network visualization”, is a powerful intelligence tool.It involves visually presenting networks of connected entities…
The Iga and Koga Clans: Japan’s Legendary Ninja Warriors
A ninja and Prince Hikaru Genji by Utagawa Kunisada. Ch. 12, Suma, from the series The Color Print Contest of a Modern Genji (Ima Genji nishiki-e awase). 1853. Cropped. The…
The Foundation of the CIA
Aerial view of the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters, Langley, Virginia. From the Carol M. Highsmith Archive collection at the Library of Congress. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), an independent civilian…
Operation POSTMASTER: The Great Gamble
Modern (2007) aerial view of Santa Isabel harbor where Operation POSTMASTER took place. Photo: Ipisking / CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED. Operation POSTMASTER was a British special operation conducted on the…
Behind Enemy Lines: The Unsung Heroes of OSS Detachment 101
Irrawaddy Ambush.Stuart Brown 2010 Oil on canvas Donated courtesy of Michael DeSombre. The painting depicts one of OSS Detachment 101’s many guerrilla operations staged to disrupt Japanese supply and reinforcement…