The recently declassified Simple Sabotage Field Manual, published in January 1944 by the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS, predecessor to the CIA), advising civilians in occupied Europe how to conduct themselves in order to sabotage the Axis war effort. It was published over the signature of William J. (“Wild Bill”) Donovan, founder of Donovan Leisure.

This Simple Sabotage Field Manual- Strategic Services (Provisional) – is published for the information and guidance of all concerned and will be used as the basic doctrine for Strategic Services training for this subject. The contents of this Manual should be carefully controlled and should not be allowed to come into unauthorized hands. The instructions may be placed in separate pamphlets or leaflets according to categories of operations but should be distributed with care and not broadly. They should be used as a basis of radio broadcasts only for local and special cases, and as directed by the theater commander. AR 330-5, pertaining to handling of secret documents, will be complied with in the handling of this Manual.

wild bill

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