Spy Training Film: House Search | WW2 Era OSS Film | ca. 1942 - ca. 1945

This classic video – originally titled as "House Search" – is a dramatized spy training film produced by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the intelligence agency of the United States during World War 2, and the predecessor of the modern Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It was released between circa 1942 and circa 1945.

The film demonstrates proper and improper methods of searching houses, apartments, and hotel rooms for hidden information by contrasting the behavior of two fictional agents stationed in "a neutral capital in Europe." It shows creative ways to hide evidence of espionage activities, to trick counter agents so you know your place has been searched, to pass information to other agents in unsuspicious manner. It lists rules to follow during a house search, explains where to look for evidence, how to make it appear as if room has not been searched, what tools to have on hand and much more.

Plot:

The story begins with an American industrialist working in a neutral European country, who is working as an undercover OSS agent. He has hidden a purloined chemical sample and other info in his apartment, which is soon searched by an enemy agent, who knows a few things, but doesn't know enough to find what he's after. The tables are then turned and the enemy agent's rooms are searched by OSS operatives, who do a much better job finding secret information.

BACKGROUND / CONTEXT

Warrantless searches are searches and seizures conducted without search warrants. In the United States, warrantless searches are restricted under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights, which provides that, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Espionage & Counterintelligence:

Espionage (colloquially, spying) is the obtaining of secret or confidential information without the permission of the holder of the information. Spies help agencies uncover secret information. Any individual or spy ring (a cooperating group of spies), in the service of a government, company or independent operation, can commit espionage. The practice is clandestine, as it is by definition unwelcome and in many cases illegal and punishable by law. Espionage is a subset of "intelligence" gathering, which includes espionage as well as information gathering from public sources.

One of the most effective ways to gather data and information about the enemy (or potential enemy) is by infiltrating the enemy's ranks. This is the job of the spy (espionage agent). Spies can return all sorts of information concerning the size and strength of enemy forces. They can also find dissidents within the enemy's forces and influence them to defect. In times of crisis, spies can also oblige to steal technology and sabotage the enemy in various ways. Counterintelligence is the practice of various means of thwarting enemy espionage and intelligence-gathering. Almost all nations have strict laws concerning espionage and the penalty for being caught is often severe. However, the benefits through espionage are often great enough that most governments and many large corporations make use of it to varying degrees.