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Camp X was established in December 1941 in Canada as a
training base for U.S. secret agents who were entering service
with the Office of
Strategic Services or OSS. The OSS was the predecessor for
the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the U.S. Army Special
Forces (USSF).
The training base was an allied school for espionage but also
was the site for "Hydra" which was a top secret program to
intercept German U-boat communications.
Training. The art of espionage, hand-to-hand fighting,
explosives, and other intelligence arts were part of the
instruction at Camp X. Once operatives graduated from Camp X
they would they go to Scotland for more advanced training.
Additional training sometimes consisted on the concept of
guerrilla warfare and sabotage of railway lines using
Composition C and other methods.
Other Locations. Camp X was the initial training location for
OSS operatives; however, the OSS soon opened other training
sites within the United States. Many of the graduates of Camp X
became instructors at these other training locations. The basis
for the training was the Special Operations Executive (SOE)
training manual used by the British.
D-Day Support. One of the biggest accomplishments of the OSS
was to cause chaos during the initial days of the D-Day
operation which started on June 6, 1944 - the invasion of Europe
by U.S., British, Canadian, and other allied forces.
Origins of Special Forces and CIA. In 1947 the Central
Intelligence Agency was established. Many of the veterans of the
OSS would be employed by the CIA. In 1952 the U.S. Army
established a Special Forces unit - also with many veterans fo
the OSS. The CIA would concentrate on intelligence while Special
Forces would concentrate on unconventional warfare.
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