Editing Special Operations Executive (section)

====Headquarters====
The organisation of SOE continually evolved and changed during the war. Initially, it consisted of three broad departments: SO1 (formerly Department EH, which dealt with propaganda); SO2 (formerly Section D, operations); and SO3 (formerly MI R, research).{{sfn|Smith|2019|p=24}} SO3 was quickly overloaded with paperwork{{Sfn|Foot|2004|p=22}} and was merged into SO2. In August 1941, following quarrels between the Ministry of Economic Warfare and the [[Ministry of Information (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Information]] over their relative responsibilities, SO1 was removed from SOE and became an independent organisation, the [[Political Warfare Executive]].{{Sfn|Foot|2004|pp=24–25}}

Thereafter, a single, broad "Operations" department controlled the Sections operating into enemy and sometimes neutral territory, and the selection and training of agents. Sections, usually referred to by code letters or groups of letters, were assigned to a single country. Some enemy-occupied countries had two or more sections assigned to deal with politically disparate resistance movements. (France had no less than six). For security purposes, each section had its own headquarters and training establishments.{{Sfn|Milton|2016|p=91}} This strict compartmentalisation was so effective that in mid-1942 five governments in exile jointly suggested that a single sabotage organisation be created, and were startled to learn that SOE had been in existence for two years.{{Sfn|Foot|2004|p=152}}

Four departments and some smaller groups were controlled by the director of scientific research, Professor [[Dudley Maurice Newitt]], and were concerned with the development or acquisition and production of special equipment.{{Sfn|Boyce|Everett|2003|pp=23–45}} A few other sections were involved with finance, security, economic research and administration, although SOE had no central registry or filing system. When Gubbins was appointed director, he formalised some of the administrative practices which had grown in an ''ad hoc'' fashion and appointed an establishment officer to oversee the manpower and other requirements of the various departments.{{Sfn|Wilkinson|Astley|2010|p=141}}

The main controlling body of SOE was its council, consisting of around fifteen heads of departments or sections. About half of the council were from the armed forces (although some were specialists who were only commissioned after the outbreak of war), the rest were various [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil servants]], lawyers, or business or industrial experts. Most of the members of the council, and the senior officers and functionaries of SOE generally, were recruited by word of mouth among public school alumni and [[Oxbridge]] graduates,{{Sfn|Foot|2004|pp=30–35}}{{Sfn|Boyce|Everett|2003|p=9}} although this did not notably affect SOE's political complexion.{{Sfn|Foot|2004|pp=47, 148–156}}