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OSS
Archival Summary & Scope
"The best book about America’s first modern secret service."—*Washington Post Book World*
Ex-CIA officer Richard Harris Smith chronicles the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—America's pioneering intelligence agency and direct precursor to the CIA. Formed by FDR before World War II and headed by William "Wild Bill" Donovan, the OSS recruited a diverse, often chaotic cast of agents, from conservative financiers to New Deal idealists. Smith meticulously documents this controversial agency's dramatic operations against the Axis powers, from its inception through its dissolution under Harry Truman. This authoritative account reveals the colorful personalities and elaborate, sometimes outlandish, conspiracies that defined America's first foray into modern espionage.
Categorization Notes
This literature has been indexed in the Read For Truth database under the primary pillar of World War II. It is cataloged here based on its relevance to established secondary research, thematic focus, and educational utility within this specific taxonomy.
