What is the name for spies sent into a country before it is conquered to sabotage resistance to invasion and make easier to conquer?

Answer 1

Hi Sonja

I believe there are many possible answers to your question.

Military units used in the role you mention are usually called Diversionary units. A modern example would be the Soviet Spetznaz units, designed to operate in a grayzone between war and peace and facilitate easy takeovers by precision sabotage, assassinations and the creation of confusion by spreading desinformation. While military in organisation, these units used what would otherwise be called "spies", i.e. undercover operatives inseperable from the native population of the target nation.

Few powers have developed specialised such units, since aggression in this shape (assaulting an unprepared neighbour) has not been on the agenda.

Hope this adds to the picture.

Sincerely Tommy

Answeras some have said befor, their are many names. That is because every country that was involved during WW2 had sent hundreds of of men AND woman to sabotage. Now a days their is no need for a resistance in the US, Great Britain, so on, because now their is special forces. During WW2, the French were infamously known for their resistance which was one of the first, including Russia to use woman, mostly because they are less suspisious. Whenever you hear the term La Resistance' it is about the frenh resistance. If you want to read some good books, read Jackdaws by Ken Follet, which was about the French resistance, an all female group. Also Hornet Flight by Ken Folloet, which was about the Polish resistance.

Hpe that helps

AnswerIn May 1940 it was said that the Germans had sent soldiers disguised as monks and nuns into the Netherlands ahead of the main invasion force. The story may have been exaggerated; it may even have been an urban legend. However, these people were referred to a 'fifth columnists', and the whole saga led to a panic in Britain and a most unpleasant campaign by sections of the right-wing press to 'lock up all foreigners'.