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Operation Huguenot

Operation Huguenot was a psychological warfare plan intended to instruct German Luftwaffe pilots on how to desert with their aircraft to Britain. The plan was intended not so much to encourage genuine desertions of Luftwaffe personnel but to convince the German authorities to suspect the loyalty of their aircrew and, therefore, to take repressive counter-measures against them.

The idea was originally set out in a memorandum by Sefton Delmer at the end of 1943. But it was not until January 1945 that the details were worked out and submitted to the Chief of the Psychological Warfare Division of Supreme Headquarters for approval. Huguenot was implemented throughout late February and early March, principally through the clandestine radio station Soldatensender West.

Official records from the British National Archives detailing the plan are reproduced below:

• Memorandum by Sefton Delmer outlining a plan to encourage desertion of Luftwaffe aircraft and German Navy U-boats to Britain dated 13 December 1943.
• Plan Huguenot memorandum dated 18 January 1945.
• Cover letter to General McClure, commander of PWD/SHAEF, outlining details of the plan, dated 21 January 1945.
• McClure's approval of Huguenot, dated 12 February 1945.
• Transcripts of Soldatensender West clandestine radio broadcasts giving instructions to Luftwaffe pilots on how to desert.
• Translation of article re: Luftwaffe desertion from PWE/OSS air-dropped newspaper 'Nachrichten für die Truppe'.

 

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