Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action

The Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action (French: [byʁo sɑ̃tʁal də ʁɑ̃sɛɲmɑ̃ e daksjɔ̃], Central Bureau of Intelligence and Operations), abbreviated BCRA, was the World War II-era forerunner of the SDECE and DGSE, the French intelligence services. It was created by Charles de Gaulle in 1940 as a Free French intelligence system that combined both military and political roles, including covert operations, though this policy was reversed in 1943 by Emmanuel d'Astrier (1900-69), who insisted on civilian control of political intelligence.^[1] The Bureau was first commanded by Major André Dewavrin, who had taken the nom de guerre "Colonel Passy",^[2] while journalist Pierre Brossolette (1903-44) headed the civilian-arm.