Political Intelligence Department (1939–1943)
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The Political Intelligence Department was a department of the British
Foreign Office Foreign may refer to: Government * Foreign policy, how a country interacts with other countries * Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in many countries ** Foreign Office, a department of the UK government ** Foreign office and foreign minister * United ...
during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Established in 1939, its main function was the production of weekly intelligence summaries. It was originally headed by Foreign Office diplomat Rex Leeper. In April 1943, the department was merged with the
Royal Institute of International Affairs Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family or royalty Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Roya ...
' Foreign Research and Press Service in
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, creating the new Foreign Office Research Department. The 'Political Intelligence Department' name continued to exist until 1946 as a cover for the Political Warfare Executive.


See also

*
Political Intelligence Department (1918–1920) The Political Intelligence Department (1918–1920) was a department of the British Foreign Office created towards the end of World War I. It was created on 11 March 1918 by Permanent Under-Secretary Lord Hardinge. It gathered political, econo ...


References

1939 establishments in the United Kingdom 1943 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Defunct United Kingdom intelligence agencies Foreign Office during World War II British intelligence services of World War II {{UK-gov-stub