S.O.E headquarters
A plaque marks the building which was the headquarters for Britain's S.O.E secret intelligence and operations organization during WW2
On Baker’s Street stands a rather nondescript building that played a critical role in defeating Nazi Germany and that is so famous in the annals of espionage that it’s shadowy history is commemorated with a plaque.
Constructed in the early 20th century 64 Baker’s street had previously been part of the British Government’s estate and had been let to the prison comission.
However, in 1940 with the onset of Second World War the building was to become the headquarters of the S.O.E (Special Operations Executive) which was growing in operational capacity (at its height the organization had over 10,000 staff working for it) and requiring more working space.
Earlier that year with the fall of France the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had founded the S.O.E and given the instruction to “set Europe ablaze” through setting British agents on the ground to “coordinate, inspire and assist the nationals of the oppressed countries in their resistance”.
As such, it was in this building where top secret espionage, sabotage, reconnaissance, guerilla warfare and even assassination missions against the Nazi and Italian fascists (and later the Imperial Japanese fascists) were meticulously planned and coordinated.
Indeed the activities of S.O.E were eventually to become so associated with the Central London location of the headquarters of the organization that S.O.E agents were often referred to by the British army simply as the “Baker Street irregulars”.
S.O.E were to transport (typically through Lysander light air craft and parachuting) secret agents into the countries of occupied Western Europe such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Czechoslovakia and even Germany itself to conduct missions and liase with resistance and partisan groups.
Several European countries that remained neutral during the war such as Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Ireland were also to be used extensively by the S.O.E in order to conduct important espionage and intelligence gathering activities on the enemy.
Later on agents were also to conduct missions outside of Europe in parts of Africa (such as Ethiopia against the Italian fascist occupation) and South and South-East Asia (against the Imperial Japanese fascist occupation).
Famous S.O.E agents such as Violette Szabo, Robert Benoist, Noor Khan, William Grover Williams, Nancy Wake (“the white mouse”), Richard Hewitt, Vera Atkins, Christine Granville and Odette Hallowes all passed through the Baker’s street headquarters.
After the end of the Second World War and the disbanding of the S.O.E 64 Baker’s street was bought by the record label EMI classics and since then has been continually let for commercial purposes.
However, the incredible and secret history of this building is remembered for posterity by a small plaque that commemorates its central role in contributing to the defeat of Nazism and fascism.
Know Before You Go
The building and plaque can be seen for free.
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