United States intelligence agency (1942-1945)
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the second-ever non-departmental civilian intelligence agency of the United States. It was formed during World War II, second chronologically only to its direct predecessor, the … Wikipedia
Factsheet
Agency overview
Formed June 13, 1942; 83 years ago (June 13, 1942)
Factsheet
Agency overview
Formed June 13, 1942; 83 years ago (June 13, 1942)
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Office_of_Strategic_Services
Office of Strategic Services - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the second-ever non-departmental civilian intelligence agency of the United States. It was formed during World War II, second chronologically only to its direct predecessor, the Office of the Coordinator of Information (COI).
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Arsof-history
arsof-history.org › articles › v3n4_oss_primer_page_1.html
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS): A Primer on the Special Operations Branches and Detachments of the OSS
Considered as a legacy unit of the U.S. Army Special Operations Forces, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) has assumed almost mythical stature since World War II. Several OSS veterans, among them Colonel Aaron Bank, Lieutenant Colonel Jack ...
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CIA
cia.gov › legacy › museum › exhibit › the-office-of-strategic-services-n-americas-first-intelligence-agency
The Office of Strategic Services: America's First Intelligence Agency - CIA
Before World War II, the US Government ... of Pearl Harbor led to the establishment of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) on 13 June 1942....
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The National WWII Museum
nationalww2museum.org › war › articles › wwii-secret-agents-the-oss
Secret Agents, Secret Armies: The Short Happy Life of the OSS | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans
May 13, 2020 - In 1942, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) became the first independent US intelligence agency. It only lasted for three years and three months but it became the basis for the modern Central Intelligence Agency.
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National Archives
archives.gov › research › guide-fed-records › groups › 226.html
Records of the office of Strategic Services [OSS]
Redesignated ODD-SSO, November 1943, implementing JCS directive JCS 155/11/D, October 27, 1943, which ordered that the term "psychological warfare" be replaced by the term "strategic services." Responsibility extended to include Special Projects Office (see 226.14), December 1943; and Field Experimental Unit, March 1944. Abolished with OSS, effective October 1, 1945. Textual Records: Records relating to plans, policies, and administrative activities, 1943-45. Reports and other records relating to branch operations, 1943-45. Budget and finance records, 1943-45. Personnel records, 1943-45. ... History: Office of the Deputy Director--OSS Services (ODD-OSSS) established, effective October 19, 1942, by General Order 1, OSS, October 17, 1942, assuming responsibilities formerly exercised in OCOI by the Executive Office.
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U.S. National Park Service
nps.gov › articles › office-of-strategic-services.htm
Office of Strategic Services (U.S. National Park Service)
December 16, 2015 - The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and America’s Special Forces Units. Formed to aid the Allied cause in World War II, the OSS gathered information about the enemy, aided resistance groups, and sabotaged enemy assets.
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Osssociety
osssociety.org
Office of Strategic Services Society
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society honors the historic accomplishments of the OSS during World War II, the first organized effort by the United States to implement a centralized system of strategic intelligence, and the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Special ...
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Foreign Policy Research Institute
fpri.org › articles › a new office of strategic services?
A New Office of Strategic Services?
May 1, 2025 - Using the president’s vague guidance and access to presidential “unvouchered funds,” Donovan created a centralized organization from COI, which on June 13, 1942 would become the Office of Strategic Services. Donovan’s team provided the president with what we now call the intelligence cycle where he provided intelligence and then received requirements for future collection. Donovan also created a small irregular warfare capability focusing on sabotage and subversion. To minimize the hostility within Washington, the executive order creating Donovan’s OSS also placed it directly under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
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EBSCO
ebsco.com › research-starters › military-history-and-science › office-strategic-services
Office of Strategic Services | Military History and Science | Research Starters | EBSCO Research
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was a United States intelligence agency established on July 11, 1941, during World War II, under the leadership of William J. Donovan. Initially formed as the Office of the Coordinator of Information, it ...
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House.gov
house.gov › feature-stories › 2018-3-22-honoring-the-oss
Honoring the OSS | house.gov
March 21, 2018 - The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), formed on June 13, 1942, served as a precursor to today’s intelligence community.
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Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › politics, law & government › international relations
Office of Strategic Services (OSS) | Britannica
April 16, 2026 - Office of Strategic Services (OSS), agency of the U.S. federal government (1942–45) formed for the purpose of obtaining information about and sabotaging the military efforts of enemy nations during World War II.
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VetFriends
vetfriends.com › units › 2726 › office:of:strategic:services
Office of Strategic Services | U.S. Army Unit | VetFriends
The Office of Strategic Services ... Major General William J. Donovan, the OSS was responsible for gathering intelligence, conducting espionage, sabotage, and supporting resistance movements behind enemy lines in Europe and Asia....
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HISTORY
history.com › home › articles › oss: the predecessor of the cia | history
OSS: The Predecessor of the CIA | HISTORY
May 28, 2025 - During World War II, Major General William “Wild Bill” Donovan was the head of the Office of Strategic Services. Getty Images / Corbis · After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt acted swiftly to improve U.S. intelligence capabilities even further. In June 1942, he issued an executive order establishing the OSS, which replaced the COI and was charged with collecting and analyzing strategic intelligence and running special operations outside the other branches of the U.S.
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Governmentattic.org
governmentattic.org › 58docs › WarRptOSSvolI_1947_1976.pdf pdf
Description of document: War Report of The OSS (Office of Strategic Services)
April 28, 2025 - defined in practice rather than by fiat. It was primarily a service so con- ceived that it could be of value to many agencies but subject to none. It · served the operating branches of the OSS but did most of its work for var-
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CIA
cia.gov › resources › csi › static › Office-of-Strategic-Services.pdf pdf
The Office of Strategic Services: America's First Intelligence Agency
About 7,500 OSS employees served overseas, and about 4,500 were women (with 900 of them serving in overseas postings). In Fiscal Year 1945, the · office spent $43 million, bringing its total spending over its four-year life to around $135 million (almost $1.1 ... American academics and experts in the Office of Strategic Services virtually invented the discipline of non­
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CONTENTdm
cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org › digital › collection › p4013coll8 › id › 180
Office of Strategic Services (OSS) : organization and ...
April 1, 2005 - The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) is an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff charged with collecting and analyzing strategic information and secret intelligence required for military operations, and with planning and executing programs of ...
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Study.com
study.com › history courses › general military history lessons
Office of Strategic Services | History, Activities & Facts | Study.com
Donovan intended the agency to conduct research and analyze foreign threats, oversee counterintelligence, and develop new technology to continuously improve the agency's capabilities.
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DVIDS
dvidshub.net › news › 422791 › office-strategic-services-established
DVIDS - News - Office of Strategic Services established
June 13, 2022 - On June 13, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Office of Strategic Services. Throughout the Second World War, this wartime intelligence agency operated in every theater (albeit minimally in the Pacific), collecting and analyzing information as the nation’s first centralized intelligence service.
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Small Wars Journal
smallwarsjournal.com › home › recent › oss anniversary – office of strategic services (oss)
OSS Anniversary – Office of Strategic Services (OSS) | Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University
June 13, 2025 - The OSS anniversary is observed on June 13th each year. The Office of Strategic Services was created on June 13, 1942, in the early days of World War II to provide an intelligence service to the United States.