The OSS ALIU: Unraveling Nazi Art Looting Networks
German soldiers of the Hermann Göring Division posing in front of Palazzo Venezia in Rome in 1944 with a painting taken from the Biblioteca del Museo Nazionale di Napoli. Attribution:…
Secret Warriors: The FBI’s Special Intelligence Service During World War II
Flag of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) played a significant role during World War II. The FBI was tasked with running surveillance…
From Stage to Shadows: How Magic Influences Espionage
Harry Houdini prepares to do the overboard box escape c. 1912, courtesy of the Library of Congress. Magic and espionage are really kindred arts.” — John E. McLaughlin, former CIA…
Covert Cartoon: The CIA’s Role in the Production of “Animal Farm’”
Cel from “Animal Farm”. Public Domain. The animated film adaptation of renowned British writer George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a significant piece of cinema history, not just for its artistic…
National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations: Honoring Those at the Tip of the Spear
Aerial rendering of the National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations. Courtesy of Charles Pinck / The OSS Society. The National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations® is a future…
The CIA Museum: A Journey into the Hidden World of US Intelligence
The CIA Museum was established in 1988 to give employees a sense of the unique history of their profession. This collection focuses on the CIA’s World War II predecessor, the…
BRIXMIS: Espionage and Diplomacy during the Cold War
An Opel Senator ‘touring’ saloon car used by BRIXMIS in East Germany, ca. 1985. Collection of the National Army Museum, London. Photo: Brigade Piron / CC BY 3.0 DEED. The…
John Ford: Hollywood & the OSS
John Ford with Oscar® statuette, circa 1946. He is the essence of classical American cinema. Any serious person making films today, whether they know it or not, is affected by…
AI in Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Collection
Pexels photo by Danny Meneses. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a crucial component of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) collection, providing a suite of capabilities that enhance the speed and accuracy…
The CIA’s Secret Art Patronage: Abstract Expressionism in the Cold War
The Key 1946. Jackson Pollock. Oil on linen. Art Institute of Chicago. It’s believed that painting was named “The Key” to signify a new beginning in American art, during an…