| “ | And now, set Europe ablaze.
— Winston Churchill's orders to the SOE.
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” |
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a British World War II clandestine intelligence organization.
Founded on Winston Churchill's orders as a counter to the rising threat of Nazi spies, its agents were sent into the heartland of Nazi-occupied Europe. The SOE agent was a master of espionage and had the lastest and greatest undercover technology.
While their weapons like belt pistols and pen guns were a bit far-fetched, they proved to be effective in the long run. They were also equipped with more conventional weaponry, including suppressed submachine guns and pistols. Necessity forced the SOE to master their undercover life as capture by the enemy meant interrogation, torture, and certain death.
The operations undertaken by SOE agents helped coordinate civilian resistance in occupied Europe, delayed and frustrated German mobility and supply during the critical moments of the Allied invasion of France, and collaborated with other underground movements, including the French resistance.
After the war, the SOE was officially dissolved as it had served its purpose and was no further need for the organization.
Battle vs. Central Intelligence Agency (by The Deadliest Warrior)[]
SOE: 
CIA: 
A van pulls up outside a military complex. Two men get out, one wearing a blue shirt with a green cap (SOE 1) and the other with a red shirt and dark brown hair (SOE 2). They approach the complex but a man in guard uniform (CIA 3) steps in the way, demanding papers for entrance. SOE 2 complies and as he rummages through his briefcase SOE 1 puts a cigarette in his mouth.
"You can't smoke once you're inside," CIA 3 says gruffly.
"Don't worry," SOE 1 says snidely. "I won't." He fires off his cigarette pistol and it hits CIA 3 in the neck, killing him. SOE 2 tucks a Welgun into his coat pocket and the two head into the building, SOE 2 tossing the cigarette onto the dead CIA Agent's body.
Inside, the two SOE Agents meet up with a pretty brunette (SOE 4) and a balding man she is talking with (SOE 5). "Where's Number 3?" SOE 1 asks in a hushed voice.
"He's in there, talking to one of the Yanks," SOE 4 replies quietly. The door swings open and out walks a young man with a crisp suit on, a cigar in his mouth (SOE 3). "And they told me I couldn't smoke," whines SOE 1.
"Right." says SOE 3. "Let's go. As he starts to walk down the hall, the cigar explodes, blowing off the SOE Agent's face with it. A man (CIA 2) comes out of the room where the now-deceased SOE Agent had been talking with him and he carries a briefcase wtih him. He lifts the handle and a gunshot is heard before SOE 5 falls with a bullet hole in his neck. SOE 4 pulls a Welgun out from her coat and shoots at the CIA Agent, riddling him with bullets and sending him to the floor, bloodied and dead.
Two more people walk into the hall as the SOE Agents retreat deeper into the complex. One, a man with a leather jacket and a MAC-10 in hand (CIA 1) signals to the other, a blonde with a MAC-10 of her own (CIA 4) to follow him. Another man behind them (CIA 5) heads down in the hallway the opposite direction.
As the SOE Agents reach a split hallway, and split in different directions, CIAs 1 and 4 turn the corner, shouting at SOE 1, "Stop!" SOE 1 calmly turns and says, "Yes?"
"We need to talk," CIA 1 says. "Follow us." As both CIA Agents turn, SOE 1 pulls out a pencil knife and jumps at CIA 1, burying the blade in his neck. CIA 4 turns and falls back as SOE 1 bears down on her, stabbing at her chest wildy. She kicks him back and tries to get up but gets stabbed in the arm. SOE 1 grins and pushes the blade deeper into her flesh, but CIA 4 pulls out her MAC10 and kills SOE 1 with a quick burst. She wipes the blood off her arm and continues down the hallway, turning right.
CIA 4 turns the corner and is barely missed by a hail of bullets from SOE Agent 4 with her Welgun. CIA 4 returns fire with the MAC-10 and the two female agents get itno a gunfight. As SOE 4's bullets run out CIA 4 takes the opportunity to finish the SOE Agent off with a quick flurry of bullets. The slain female SOE Agent gasps and falls to the floor dead. CIA 4 turns around only to see SOE 2 aiming with a crossbow at her. Her eyes widen in horror but before she can move, the crossbow bolt flies through the air and pierces her heart. She falls dead next to SOE 4.
SOE 2 quickly hurries down the hall toward the exit, slowed down by the cumbersome crossbow. As he reaches the doors and tries to step out, hands grab him from behind and pull him back into the lobby. Turning, he sees CIA 5, who he punches in the face. As the SOE Agent tries again to retreat, CIA 5 stands up quickly with a piano-wire garrote in his hands. He dives at SOE 2 and as the wire cuts through his neck, SOE 2 struggling but to no avail. He slumps dead and CIA 5 drops the body. He assesses the damage and takes out a walkie-talkie to report the attack to his superiors.
Expert's Opinoin[]
The CIA's more practical and combat-efficient weaponry were more effective in a firefight, whereas the SOE's weaponry focused more on design and subterfuge. The CIA also was more experienced in modern combat, while the SOE's range of operations was limited to mission-specific goals during the Second World War. The superior weapons and greater operational experience of the CIA led them to victory.