M.R.D. Foot

M.R.D. Foot (1919-2012) was a British military historian who specialized in the history of World War II resistance and intelligence operations. His most significant work was SOE in France, the first authoritative account of Britain's Special Operations Executive, published in 1966. As the official historian of the SOE, Foot gained unprecedented access to classified documents and conducted extensive interviews with former resistance members and SOE operatives. His expertise in clandestine warfare led to several other notable works, including Resistance: European Resistance to Nazism 1940-1945 and Six Faces of Courage. Foot served in World War II as an intelligence officer and was wounded in combat, experiences that informed his later historical work. He taught at Oxford University and held positions at the University of Manchester and Imperial Defence College. Beyond his SOE research, Foot authored numerous books on military intelligence and resistance movements throughout occupied Europe. His work remains foundational for scholars studying World War II covert operations and resistance networks.

Readers consistently note M.R.D. Foot's deep research and firsthand access to SOE archives and personnel. His books receive frequent citations in military history forums and academic works. What readers liked: - Detailed accounts of specific operations and agents - Clear explanations of complex intelligence networks - Inclusion of primary source material - Balanced treatment of successes and failures - Technical accuracy about weapons and equipment What readers disliked: - Dense writing style with long sentences - Heavy use of military jargon - Limited maps and visual aids - Focus on operational details over human stories Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: SOE in France - 4.1/5 (127 ratings) - Amazon: SOE in France - 4.4/5 (38 reviews) - Amazon: Six Faces of Courage - 4.3/5 (12 reviews) One military historian wrote on a WW2 forum: "Foot's access to original SOE files makes his work indispensable, even if the prose can be challenging." A common reader complaint notes: "Important information but requires intense concentration to follow."

SOE in France (1966) Detailed account of the Special Operations Executive's activities in France during World War II, based on newly released official documents and personal interviews.

Resistance: European Resistance to Nazism 1940-1945 (1976) Comprehensive examination of resistance movements across Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II.

MI9: Escape and Evasion 1939-1945 (1979) Chronicles the work of British Military Intelligence Section 9 in helping Allied servicemen escape from enemy territory.

Six Faces of Courage (1978) Biographical studies of six key resistance agents who worked with SOE during World War II.

Art and War (1990) Analysis of the relationship between warfare and artistic expression throughout history.

Secret Lives: Lifting the Lid on Worlds of Secret Intelligence (2002) Overview of various intelligence agencies and their operations throughout the 20th century.

SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive 1940-1946 (1984) Concise history of the Special Operations Executive from its formation to dissolution.

Foreign Fields: The Story of an SOE Operative (1994) Examination of SOE operative Harry Rée's wartime experiences and missions.

Christopher Hibbert wrote extensively on British military history and resistance movements in WWII, with a focus on primary source research. His writing style and methodical approach to military history mirrors Foot's attention to detail.

Antony Beevor specializes in WWII military history with an emphasis on European operations and resistance networks. His work incorporates oral histories and archival materials similar to Foot's research methods.

Michael R.D. Deacon focuses on Special Operations Executive (SOE) and clandestine operations during WWII. His research covers much of the same territory as Foot's work on resistance movements and secret intelligence.

Richard Overy examines WWII from both strategic and operational perspectives, including intelligence operations. His analysis of wartime resistance and underground movements builds on foundations laid by Foot's research.

Max Hastings writes about WWII with particular attention to intelligence operations and special forces. His work on secret warfare and resistance movements follows similar investigative paths to Foot's research on SOE operations.