Order of Battle, Direction Générale des Études et Recherches

Order of Battle

Bureau Central de Renseignements et d’Action, August 4^th, 1942

The Section Renseignement (R), initially headed by Captain André Manuel (“Pallas”), then by Tony Mella and subsequently by Jean Fleury (“Panier”), is responsible for developing intelligence plans, organising recruitment, preparing and executing missions, and maintaining liaison with the British Intelligence Service (MI6). Stéphane Hessel serves within this section.
The Section Action Militaire (A/M) is created on October 10^th, 1941, first led by Captain Raymond Lagier (“Bienvenüe”) and Fred Scamaroni, later succeeded by Jacques Robert (“Rewez”) and Pierre Lejeune. This section is charged with developing military action plans in coordination with the Fifth Bureau of the French General Staff, recruiting and training “action” agents, identifying military targets for destruction, organising communications with agents in the field, and managing landing and parachuting operations. It works closely with the Section RF of the Special Operations Executive (SOE).
The Section Évasion (E) is also created on October 10^th, 1941, under the leadership of Lieutenant Mitchell “Brick”. Its mission is to assist in the transit of escapees and the evacuation of compromised “burned” French agents, working in collaboration with its British counterpart, MI9. Temporarily placed under the authority of the Commissariat à l’Intérieur, the Section Évasion is reattached to the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d’Action Militaire on June 27^th, 1942.
The Section Chiffre is created on October 10^th, 1941, under the command of Georges Lecot (“Drouot”), to oversee secure communication and encryption
The Section Contre-Espionnage (CE) is established on December 16^th, 1941, initially led by Roger Warin (known as Roger Wybot), later by Stanislas Mangin, François Thierry-Mieg (“Vaudreuil”), and from 1943 by Commandant Bonnefous. This section is responsible for detecting and eliminating enemy agents infiltrated into the Resistance’s intelligence networks, both in France and London. It oversees the central files, conducts preliminary interrogations of arrivals, consolidates intelligence on individuals, and maintains liaison with the British Security Service (MI5). The Morhange network becomes attached to the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d’Action following Colonel Passy’s meeting with Commandant Paul Paillole in London in 1942.
The Section Études et Coordination (A/EC) is created on March 28^th, 1942, within the framework of the Section A/M, led by Commandant Maurice Duclos (“Saint-Jacques”). This section is tasked with the development of overall operational plans and projects for sabotage and raids.
The Section Documentation et Diffusion (DD) is established on July 3^rd, 1942, responsible for sorting and distributing gathered intelligence.
The Section Politique (N/M, standing for “non militaire”) is formed on August 4^th, 1942, and successively led by Louis Vallon, Jacques Bingen, Jean Pierre-Bloch, and, after a short interim by Duprat, Lazare Rachline (known as Lucien Rachet). This section handles the classification of non-military information collected by the Section Renseignement (R) and Section Action Militaire (A/M) and transmits it to the Commissariat à l’Intérieur. Conversely, it prepares political instructions for agents operating within networks in France, based on directives from the Commissariat. These instructions are encoded by the Section Chiffre and dispatched by the Section A/M. From January 10^th, 1944, the Section Politique is detached from the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d’Action and transferred to the Service Courrier-Documentation-Diffusion (SCDD) of the Commissariat à l’Intérieur.

Direction Technique des Services Spéciaux

Led by Colonel Passy (real name: André Dewavrin). This grouped together all the intelligence and action services operating from both London and Algiers.
- Bureau de Renseignements et d’Action d’Alger (BRAA):
  - Based in Algiers, headed by André Pelabon.
  - These were the intelligence and sabotage services operating in French North Africa and supporting operations in southern France.
- Bureau de Renseignements et d’Action de Londres (BRAL):
  - Based in London, headed by André Manuel.
  - Managed agents, intelligence gathering, and coordination with the British Special Operations Executive, particularly for operations in northern and western France.
  - Corps Franc Pommiès
- Operation Jedburgh
- Service de Documentation et Diffusion:
  - Likely focused on intelligence analysis, operational research, and strategic reporting.
- A Security Directorate for the Armed Forces:
  - Responsible for internal counterintelligence and security within the Free French military forces.
- A Technical Inspection Department:
  - Oversaw the standards, effectiveness, and operations of the different intelligence and action networks.

Direction Générale des Études et Recherches, October 26^th,1944

Direction du Renseignement (DR)
Responsible for gathering intelligence abroad, including through human intelligence (HUMINT) and technical means.
Direction Technique (DT)
Oversaw communication technologies, encryption, decryption, and the security of transmissions.
Service de Contre-Espionnage (CE)
Initially led by Colonel Jean Chrétien, then by Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lafont, this service focused on detecting and neutralizing enemy espionage activities.
Service Action (SA)
Handled clandestine operations such as sabotage, targeted assassinations, and support to resistance movements.
Section de Liaison Française en Extrême-Orient (SLFEO)
Based in Calcutta, this section included the French Indo-China Section, led by François de Langlade, operating under the supervision of the British Force 136.
Mission Militaire Française d’Extrême-Orient (FIS)
Commanded by General Roger Blaizot, this mission coordinated military and intelligence operations in Southeast Asia, with headquarters in Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Bureaux Régionaux
Located in key cities such as London, Algiers, and Paris, these bureaus facilitated operations and the flow of intelligence.
Service de Documentation et Diffusion
This service was responsible for the sorting and distribution of intelligence materials.