Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2017 - HS 477 D100

War in the Shadows: Espionage, Insurgency, & Violence in the Eastern Mediterranean (4)

Class Number: 8597

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Wed, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Successful completion of 45 credit hours or permission of the instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Espionage was a major aspect of the Second World War. Spies accomplished incredible feats and acts of sabotage. This course will address the challenges that intelligence organizations confronted in dealing with the occupation of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean from the Second World War through to the early Cold War.

COURSE DETAILS:

Espionage was a major aspect of the Second World War. Spies accomplished incredible   feats and acts of sabotage. This course addresses the challenges that intelligence organizations confronted in dealing with the occupation of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean from the Second World War through to the early Cold War. Until recently, little was known about the role of intelligence organizations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the success they achieved against the Axis powers. Britain’s MI6 (Secret Intelligence Service) was the traditional agency that dealt with matters of espionage and sabotage.  However, the Axis occupation of Europe required new organizations that were prepared to work with the emerging resistance movements.  As a result, the British government created the Special Operations Executive (SOE) that concentrated on guerrilla warfare and sabotage operations behind enemy lines. In addition, the Political Warfare Executive was created to conduct black propaganda against the Axis. Unfortunately, these organizations competed against each other in the Middle East, leading to tragic consequences for their agents as well as members of the resistance movements they engaged with.  

The course will examine the reasons behind the internal conflicts of the British intelligence and determine to what extent this hindered the war against the Axis.  

Grading

  • Book Review 20%
  • Participation 25%
  • Midterm 25%
  • Research Paper 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Christopher M. Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin. The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB. New York: Basic Books, 1999.

Stephen Dorril. MI6: Inside the Covert World of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002.

Christopher M. Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin. The World Was Going Our Way: The KGB and the Battle for the Third World. New York: Basic Books, 2005.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS