Operation Sussex

Gr 9 Up—Shot on location in France and England, this documentary is the story of a long-kept secret, Operation Sussex. Shortly after the planning of D-Day began, the American, British, and Free French intelligence services came to the realization that they needed better on-the-ground surveillance. Therefore, 120 young French men and women (about 10 were over the age of 25) were recruited and sent to England to be trained as spies, where they learned everything from Morse code to how to ride a motorcycle. The newly trained spies were dropped by parachute in pairs back into France in April 1944. Most of the presentation features a small group of the surviving spies who describe some of their training and spying experiences. Subtitles translate the French. Some viewers may find portions to be somewhat emotional, as some of the men remember the capture, torture, and death of friends. Some interviews are a little repetitive, but that can be expected when people reminisce. Vintage stills and archival footage tie the story together.