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ABSTRACT
SOE’s resistance circuit Prosper was destroyed suddenly and rapidly. In the absence of any information as to the causes of this collapse, conspiracy theories developed suggesting that the British had somehow deliberately sacrificed the circuit as part of a deception plan. Newly released information enables the sequence of events that led up to this disaster to be set out in detail, making it clear that the circuit was not, and could not have been, betrayed as part of a deception plan nor could anyone in Britain have played any part in the speed with which the circuit was rounded up.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. Phillips and Elledge, Conspiracy.
2. Suttill and Foot, SOE’s ‘Prosper Disaster of 1943.
3. Suttill, Prosper.
4. P Culioli, Dossier Judiciaire: TMP Metz, jgt n° 183/4526, 17/031949. Dépôt Central d’Archives de la Justice Militaire, 36300 le Blanc, France.
5. Dr Segelle, a nephew of one of the reception team, quoted in La République du Centre, 13/14 September 1947.
6. Guillaume, La Solonge au temps de l’Héroisme, 64.
7. P Culioli Rapport dated 28 April 1945, HS 9/379/8, The National Archives, London.
8. See note (6) above, 70.
9. See note (4) above.
10. Dossier 1375 W 70, Archives départementales de Loir-et-Cher, Blois, Loir-et-Cher, France.
11. Police report 6 July 1943 in note 4 above.
12. See note 7 above.
13. See note 6 above, 132.
14. Document given to author by Nicolas Laurent.
15. First Interrogation of Armel Guerne, 14–20 May 1944, HS 9/631/5, The National Archives, London.
16. Deposition of Mme Févre in note (4) above.
17. Report by F/Recs 9 July 1943, KV 2/1131, The National Archives, London.
18. Monthly Reports to SOE Executive Committee, HS 8/143, The National Archives, London.
19. Deposition by Joseph Goetz supported by Maurice Lequeux in note (4) above.
20. HS 7/121, The National Archives, London.
21. Guillaume, La Solonge au temps de l’Héroisme, 66.
22. Statement by Joseph Goetz, 4 November 1946, HS 9/836/5, The National Archives, London.
23. Bodington’s Mission Report, August 1943, released by an SOE Advisor from an unknown file not yet released to The National Archives.
24. Interview with Marguerite Flamencourt, 26 April 1945, HS 9/517/8, The National Archives, London.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Francis J Suttill
Francis J Suttill is the son of SOE’s Prosper, Major Francis A Suttill, DSO. In retirement, he has become an accidental historian and author.