Codename CYNTHIA: The Unsung Spy Heroine of World War II
Amy Elizabeth “Betty” Thorpe. Wars are not won by respectable methods — Betty Thorpe Pack, Codename CYNTHIA Betty Thorpe Pack was a remarkable woman who sought out and led an…
The Return of SMERSH: Russia Revives Stalin’s Notorious Spy-Hunting Unit
1943 SMERSH identity document cover. Russian (English): НКО (Народного Комиссариата Обороны (People’s Commissariat of Defense) Главного управления (Main Department) контрразведки (Counterintelligence) СМЕРШ (SMERSH) SMERSH, a counter-intelligence agency with a name…
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…
Give No Truces to Your Enemies
Give No Truces to Your Enemies by Donavon L Riley “Where you recognize evil, speak out against it, and give no truces to your enemies.” — Havamal The ‘Havamal’ is…
Hershey Chocolate Corporation’s Contribution to WWII Military Ration Bars
In the midst of World War II’s global turmoil, soldiers faced unparalleled challenges, finding an unexpected ally in Hershey’s Chocolate. Renowned for indulgent treats, Hershey’s took on historical significance by…
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…