| Meanwhile,
the many agents of S.O.E. were continuing in their "own battle"
ready and determined as ever to disrupt the enemy at all costs. These
women agents and the radio operator were in perpetual fear that the
message sent was being intercepted by the Abwehr Intelligence using
their detector vans, who in turn would swiftly send a contingent of
armed soldiers to arrest them, knowing only too well that if they
were caught the Gestapo interrogators would use every form of sadistic
torture on them and force them to reveal their fellow agents whereabouts,
and the contacts they had made. Or they could use the "L"
pill (Lethal pill-cyanide) in the event of capture, which every agent
was given before they left England, it was a quick and efficient end….
rather than the terror that lay before them at the hands of the Gestapo. |
The
Gestapo used various objects to
inflict horrific sadistic torture on it's captives. |
Fighting
to the bitter end. A French resistance leader smiles at his
German executioners. |
During their training the agents of S.O.E. were instructed to try
and "hold out" for a period of 48 hours during interrogation
by the Gestapo. It was hoped that this would give their fellow agents
valuable time to destroy any written documents and codebooks, and
then hurriedly vacate the safe house in which they were hiding.
The screech of tyres on the cobbled streets gave fear a new meaning.
The ever-present danger of being caught was a constant source of extreme
anxiety for these loyal agents.
But in their heart they realised that this work needed to be accomplished,
knowing full well that by their endurance, the lives of many of the
Allied soldiers depended. |
| |
As the greatest invasion force in history was about to leave the shores
of England and finally Liberate the continent of Europe, these most
brave agents of the S.O.E loyally continued in their task, and remained
dedicated to the cause of Freedom…. and waited hopefully for
their own….. Liberation!!!
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