Any spycraft enthusiast or James Bond aficionado will tell you of the existence of MI5 and MI6, the United Kingdom’s departments for domestic and foreign security. But there used to be far more departments, some of which lie forgotten.
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During World War II, a small, secretive unit of British military intelligence known as MI9 played a crucial role in the Allied war effort. From covert operations behind enemy lines to helping Allied prisoners of war escape captivity, MI9’s daring and ingenious tactics were the stuff of spy novels.
But today MI9 is much less famous than its sister agencies MI5 and MI6. Why is this? To answer this question, we need to take a closer look at the fascinating history of MI9, what it was, and how it operated. One thing is certain, without the work of MI9 the outcome of the war could have been quite different.
The Founding of MI9
MI9, also known as Section 9 of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence, was a super-secret department of Britain’s War Office during World War II. It existed for two reasons, to help Allied prisoners of war escape from the Axis countries, particularly the Nazis, and to help Allied military personnel evade capture when stuck behind enemy lines.
