Six, SOE and the OSS, ITTL.
Before looking at the effect that the changes ITTL will have on the operations of the above will have, best that we define what their roles were in reality. As apposed to the fantasy that most people who get their information from Hollywood, Pinewood or airport book racks. MI6 or to give it its true name, SIS the Secret Intelligence Service is the oldest of the three, and its primary role is to gather intelligence/information on his/her majesties enemies and friends. SOE the Special Operations Executive, was set up during the war at the instigation of Winston Churchill, and incorporated Section D of SIS whose remit had been to investigate the potential for sabotage in enemy territory. It’s task was To Set Europe Ablaze, which was very incompatible with the tasks of ether MI6 or MI9, who both required the minimum of activity to carry out their tasks. And the conflicts between these services was at times intense, and the actions of SOE could and did seriously affect the work of the other two. The American OSS Office of Strategic Services , or Oh So Social as it was known to those in the know, the forerunner of today’s CIA, was a combination of SIS and SOE, carrying out both functions. Unfortunately this brought with it the conflicting requirements of an intelligent gathering service and a super special forces unit, hence why they are often called cowboys by the more mature and established intelligence agencies. Before we proceed to the effects that events OTTL might have had on the operations of the various Allied intelligence agencies, there is one vital point to take into consideration. That is the profound differences between the conduct of intelligence/sabotage operations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East Pacific region.
In Europe the British and to a lesser extent the Americans, could in addition to their own mixed race’ citizens, ie British father and Dutch mother, or French father and British mother. Or predominately in the American case, the first generation sons and daughters of recent immigrants, especially among their Jewish population and Greek/Italian communities. The British also had access to the large number of refugees through their various ‘Free’ government and their own national intelligence services. Such agents provided with the relevant documents were essentially free to roam around Europe at will, and could finance their operations by raising a lone with a local bank, guaranteed by London. If you want to run an intelligence operation, escape line, or sabotage/terrorist operation, the one thing that you need lots of is money. And the ability to approach senior banker business man and arrange a loan in the local currency, was a huge advantage. He provided you with a code word/phrases, which London then arranged at an agreed time was broadcast on the BBC. The principal advantage that the various agencies will enjoy ITTL, is that with the significant better performance of the British in the early years, more people will be inclined to offer their services, and take part in the clandestine activities against the Germans. No doubt mistakes such as happened in our TL, will take place, but given the greater participation, the overall value of the various attempts, will produce better results.
However once you are outside Europe, the ability to insert a British/American intelligence asset decreases significantly. Even with the best paperwork in the world, no Britton or American could operate in any Japanese controlled territory with impunity. Even a Japanese American would stand out like a sore thumb, and would be obvious to even, but the most dim whited Japanese official. So here as in the Middle East, the overwhelming majority of operations behind enemy lines, are going to have to be conducted by special forces. In the Middle East, this was a combination of the LRDG, who were the MI6 equivalent whose job was primarily to watch and report, and the SAS the SOE equivalent whose job was to do and take action. Given the very sparse population of the region, and the lack of large urban centres, this was the only possible solution. In the Far East especially Malaya, the British have formed two military units, one that is a coalition of experienced local civilians, plantation owners, mine owners/managers etc, who in combination with a military component. Are working to establish contact with the civilian communities behind the lines, and report back information both military and civilian to the military command and civilian authorities, they are trying to avoid any contact with the Japanese, or taking direct action against the Japanese. While the other group which is predominately military in composition, aims to carry out acts that aid the military by disrupting the rear areas of the Japanese forces, and complying them to deploy vital troops in protecting their supply lines. And this system will continue once the British are outside of their own territory, as they will find locals or in the case of FIC, French men who are amenable to cooperating with the British forces.
There because of the local situation, isn’t going to be much intelligence gathering in the Pacific region, other than off the coast watchers type, ie a European officer with ether local or British/American military support. You might on some of the larger islands, be able to use an established local trader, normally Chinese to gather information in a town or city, but other than that it’s a case of watching from afar and reporting back to HQ. The Philippines are the area where we might see the biggest difference, as the various changes that are happening, are going to cause significant modifications to the TL. IOTL, once his imperial majesty the MacArthur had been evacuated and the surrender announced, a local resistance movement developed, with large numbers of American expatriates hiding in the jungle, and regular and reservist officers refusing to surrender, and they too decanting into the jungle. However according to his Majesty, as he hadn’t established this resistance, it didn’t exist, nor was he going to allow the OSS to operate on his turf. ITTL, MacArthur having been evacuated, very much under a cloud, and not appointed SAC South West Pacific, as it is doubtful that this command will be created. There will be a significant time when the nascent resistance movement in the Philippines, will be in contact with both the American high command and the British high command. British and American submarines will be running trained special forces personnel along with essential supplies into the Philippines, and evacuating civilians who have managed to avoid capture. By the time that MacArthur is given command of the invasion force to relieve the Philippines, a well established, effective and supported resistance force will have been established, and the OSS will have a presence that he will have to take notice of. The OSS which had its own successful propaganda service, will have established with the American people its role in the Philippines, and Doug will not be able to ignore it. Thus we could see some very different results, with the resistance playing a much greater role in the liberation of the Philippines, and the subsequent story of this operation.
RR.