Editing Rose des Vents (section)

==Connection to Operation Gladio==
Plan Bleu and Rose des Vents were integral parts of Operation Gladio, NATO’s clandestine stay-behind program coordinated by the CIA and MI6 to counter Soviet threats and leftist political movements across Western Europe. France’s networks were unique due to their integration with the SDECE and the country’s complex post-war political landscape, including tensions with NATO during Charles de Gaulle’s presidency.

	1	NATO and CIA Coordination:
	◦	Plan Bleu: Initiated with CIA support, Plan Bleu was part of early post-war efforts to reorganize French intelligence after the dissolution of the communist-influenced Direction Générale des Études et Recherches (DGER) in 1946. The SDECE, established as a more anti-communist agency, absorbed Plan Bleu’s remnants, aligning with NATO’s anti-Soviet strategy.
	◦	Rose des Vents: Established in 1947, Rose des Vents was directly linked to NATO’s CPC, formed in 1951, and later the ACC, operating under the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). The network collaborated closely with NATO, with training and arms caches coordinated by the CIA and MI6. Its codename reflected NATO’s compass rose emblem, symbolizing its role in maintaining Western alignment.
	◦	France’s partial withdrawal from NATO’s military structure in 1966 under de Gaulle did not dissolve Rose des Vents, which continued under SDECE control, indicating its deep integration into French intelligence.

	2	Anti-Communist Operations:
	◦	Both networks targeted the PCF, which was a significant political force in post-war France. Plan Bleu’s exposure in 1947 coincided with the exclusion of communist ministers from Ramadier’s government, reflecting a broader anti-communist purge supported by U.S. funding and Gladio’s framework.
	◦	Rose des Vents conducted surveillance of Soviet agents and leftist groups, with the 11e Choc serving as its operational arm for covert actions, similar to the role of Aginter Press in Portugal. These actions included sabotage training and potential false-flag operations to discredit communists, aligning with Gladio’s “strategy of tension” seen in Italy.
	◦	During the Algerian War, Rose des Vents operatives, including those linked to the Organisation Armée Secrète (OAS), a far-right group opposing Algerian independence, may have been involved in subversive activities. Some historians suggest that Rose des Vents contributed to the OAS’s formation, though NATO lost control of these networks during the war.

	3	Training and Infrastructure:
	◦	The 11e Choc, closely tied to Rose des Vents, trained Gladio operatives in weapons handling, explosives, and radio communications at CERP and other sites. These facilities were shared with Italian Gladio, indicating cross-border coordination.
	◦	Arms caches, a hallmark of Gladio, were established across France, mirroring those in Italy and Belgium. These were intended for use in guerrilla warfare but could also support domestic operations against political opponents.

	4	Links to Controversial Figures and Groups:
	◦	François de Grossouvre’s role as Lyon’s Gladio leader tied Rose des Vents to high-level French politics. His alleged suicide in 1994 raised suspicions of foul play due to his knowledge of Gladio’s activities.
	◦	Constantin Melnik’s involvement, with his CIA connections and links to the Ordre Souverain du Temple Solaire (a precursor to the Order of the Solar Temple cult), suggests Gladio’s reach into esoteric and intelligence networks.
	◦	The Service d’Action Civique (SAC), a Gaullist militia, has been linked to Rose des Vents, with some members allegedly participating in Gladio operations. The SAC’s role in political violence during the 1960s and 1970s mirrors Gladio’s tactics in other countries.

	5	Dissolution and Exposure:
	◦	Plan Bleu was dismantled in 1947 after its exposure, but Rose des Vents continued until the early 1980s, when DGSE director Pierre Marion reformed it into a purely French-controlled network, independent of NATO.
	◦	In 1990, following Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti’s revelation of Gladio, French Defense Minister Jean-Pierre Chevènement confirmed France’s involvement, stating the network was dissolved on presidential orders (likely Mitterrand’s). Mitterrand claimed only “rare elements” remained by 1981, though France attended the ACC’s final meeting in Brussels in October 1990, suggesting continued activity.
	◦	Unlike Italy or Belgium, France conducted no parliamentary inquiry, leaving many details obscured. Historian Daniele Ganser notes that the French Gladio’s history “remains to be fully written,” due to limited declassified records.

	6	Potential Links to Terrorism and Political Violence:
	◦	While no direct evidence ties Plan Bleu or Rose des Vents to specific terrorist acts, their anti-communist operations and ties to far-right groups like the OAS and SAC raise suspicions of involvement in France’s political violence during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly during the Algerian War and May 1968 protests.
	◦	The Order of the Solar Temple, linked to Melnik, was implicated in murders and mass suicides in the 1990s, suggesting Gladio’s influence extended into fringe groups, though evidence is speculative.