Service of external documentation and against-espionage

The Service of external documentation and against-espionage ( SDECE ) was created in 1946 and was replaced the April 4th 1982 by the Head office of the exterior security (DGSE). It does not take therefore the function of the Second Office which remains devoted to the traditional military information then.

Under the Fourth Republic the SDECE is subordinated to the President of the Council. With the advent of the Fifth Republic and until 1962, it is used by the Prime Minister Michel Debré and is shown particularly effective in the fight against the rebellion in Algérie. Following the business Mehdi Ben Barka, the general De Gaulle decides to subordinate the service to the Minister for defense. The SDECE and its frameworks are militarized slowly.

Directors of the SDECE

Andre Dewavrin alias “colonel Passy”, (DGER /SDECE), of April 19th 1945 at April 1946
Henri-Alexis Ribiere, of April 1946 at January 1951
Pierre Boursicot, of January 1951 at September 1957
Paul Grossin (major general), of 1957 with 1962
Paul Jacquier (general), of 1962 with 1966
Eugene Guibaud (general), of 1966 with 1970
Alexandre de Marenches, of the November 6th 1970 with the June 12th 1981
Pierre Marion (SDECE/DGSE), of the June 17th 1981 with the November 10th 1982

Known operations

Information and operations of maquis with the mountain partisans during the War of Indo-China via GCMA (Group of Airborne Mixed Commandos). Operation Condor of Colonel Jean Sassi at Diên Biên Phu on April 30th, 1954.
Fight against the traffic of weapons in favor of FLN and against its supports in Europe (“Carrying bags”, intellectuals favorable to the independence cause) during the war of Algeria.
Attempt at appropriation of oil Nigerian in 1968 at the expense of the the United States and the the United Kingdom by supporting the separatists Biafra is. (The revolt was crushed by the Nigeria at the price of 500 000 dead).
Advertisement of the War of Kippour in October 1973 (single Western service with the current)
Advertisement of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 (preceding the CIA).
Support of the coup d'etat against the emperor Jean Bédel Bokassa in Central African Republic in 1979 (Operation Barracuda) and installation of a government pro-French.
Attempts in 1977 and August 1980 of inversion of the colonel Kadhafi by soldiers Libya NS supported by agents of the DGSE.
Infiltration and support of the separatist movements Québécois by the agents of the SDECE within the framework of the operation “Assistance and technical collaboration” or “Operation Ascot”.

Known or supposed agents

Because of the secret activities of the agents of the SDECE, it is not always easy to establish the membership of certain people to this service.

Jean-Charles Marchiani, with the SDECE of 1960 to 1970
Vladimir Volkoff, officer of the information during the war of Algeria
Philippe Thyraud de Vosjoli
Colonel Rene Bertrand, alias Beaumont
Colonel Nicolas Fourcaud
Colonel Marcel Leroy, alias Leroy-Finville
Colonel Paul To shoe, alias Baker
Colonel Marcel Draper, related to the the red Hand (terrorist group)
Lieutenant-colonel Bernard Nut, mission leader, died in service on February 15th, 1983

See too

Service action

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