For thirty-two months during World War II, the mission of the Office of Strategic
Services (OSS) in Bern, Switzerland, was an American observation post at Hitler's
doorstep. It transmitted thousands of messages to Washington, many of them bearing
evidence of the personal involvement of Allen Dulles, mission chief. OSS Bern
constituted a virtual Central Intelligence Agency in itself, with operations ranging
from the gathering of battle order information, to running espionage networks in
enemy territory, to orchestrating unconventional military operations. Dulles ven-
tured far beyond the usual domain of intelligence, offering his own views on grand
strategy and psychological warfare.

The historical significance of the Bern episode is multifaceted. We see in action
one of the important figures of twentieth-century American statecraft at the height
of his powers. The messages also offer a new perspective on the history of World
War II, providing rich detail and insight and a bridge between diplomacy and intelli-
gence. The Bern operations and the views of Dulles deserve a place in the final
analysis of the political/military course and outcome of the conflict. With regard to
the evolution of American intelligence, the Bern documents indicate the emergence
of institutional cohesiveness and proficiency in tradecraft. One stands at the moment
of OSS transition from old-fashioned political intelligence-gathering to more so-
phisticated techniques of the modern era.

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