Force Majeure

This documentary history by Bernard O'Connor explores a clandestine World War II sabotage mission in Northern Italy involving agents trained by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE). Drawing on recently declassified files from the National Archives, the text details the infiltration of Italian personnel via submarine to conduct secret operations against German forces. The narrative specifically focuses on the conflicting accounts and eventual captures of agents Mario Scopinich and Antonio Ercolino. Through official interrogation reports and personal testimonies, the sources examine themes of betrayal and survival under the pressure of fascist and German security services. Ultimately, the records highlight the complexities of intelligence collaboration between British agencies and the Italian military during the final years of the conflict.