This may seem like a vague question, so I apologize in advance if it is. I'm looking to find information on the history of the Ministry of Defense -- particularly prior to the German occupation. When was it established? What were it's primary functions prior to and during the war? Was it responsible for gathering intelligence outside of France before the war? I'm having problems finding any information on the web. What I do find is in French, and I can't read that. Actually, I'm not even sure if the Ministry of Defense is what I should be looking under. I'm not sure what the different military branches were back then. So if anyone can point me in the right direction -- be it with a website, a book, or any knowledge you may have, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Paul
The main French intelligence agency was called the Deuxieme (2nd) Bureau, but if you don't read French you will not find much on the web. It is now defunct. I don't know a good book on the subject. But if you do manage to dig deeper, you will find the world of French intelligence very complex and mirky indeed, particularly in the 1930s, the early days of WWII and under the Vichy regime. Free French intelligence is a whole different ballgame, but just as complex.
