Stay-behind units

History

Stay-behind units were covert paramilitary groups established by NATO during the Cold War as part of Operation Gladio to counter a potential Soviet invasion or communist subversion in Western Europe. These units were designed to operate behind enemy lines in the event of a Soviet occupation, conducting sabotage, guerrilla warfare, intelligence gathering, and resistance activities to disrupt enemy control and support NATO’s defense efforts.

Operation Gladio was a clandestine NATO initiative, named after the Italian branch, which coordinated these stay-behind networks across multiple European countries. Initiated in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Gladio was driven by fears of Soviet expansion and aimed to ensure a resistance framework if NATO forces were overrun or if communist parties, particularly in countries like Italy and France, gained significant influence.

Stay-behind units were composed of trained civilians, often former military personnel, police, or anti-communist volunteers, who operated in secrecy. They were organized into national networks, with each country’s units managed by its intelligence services in coordination with NATO and often with CIA or MI6 involvement. Units were compartmentalized to minimize exposure, with members unaware of the full network or other operatives’ identities.

Members received training in sabotage, espionage, communications, and guerrilla tactics, often at NATO or CIA-run facilities. NATO and Western intelligence agencies provided funding, weapons, and supplies, including hidden arms caches buried in remote locations for use in emergencies. The purpose of these units was to resist occupation by harassing occupying forces, disrupting supply lines, and assisting NATO’s efforts to reclaim territory. They also countered internal threats by monitoring and opposing communist or leftist movements perceived as threats to Western governments, especially in politically unstable countries. Additionally, they collected information on potential subversive elements and maintained covert communication channels with NATO.

Stay-behind networks existed in numerous NATO countries, including Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Denmark, and others. Non-NATO countries like Switzerland and Austria also had similar programs, often coordinated with NATO.

Operation Gladio and its stay-behind units became controversial when their existence was publicly revealed, starting with Italy’s Gladio in 1990. In Italy, allegations surfaced that Gladio units were involved in the “strategy of tension,” a series of terrorist attacks blamed on leftists but allegedly orchestrated or supported by right-wing elements within Gladio to discredit communist movements. Evidence remains debated and inconclusive. Critics argue that stay-behind units were used to influence domestic politics, suppress leftist parties, and bolster anti-communist sentiment, undermining democratic processes. The covert nature of these units meant they operated with little parliamentary or public oversight, raising concerns about accountability.

NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and its NATO Clandestine Planning Committee played a central role in coordinating stay-behind activities. The operation was closely tied to NATO’s broader Cold War strategy of containment and deterrence against the Warsaw Pact. Declassified documents, such as those from the 1990 Italian parliamentary inquiry, confirm NATO’s involvement, though the alliance has downplayed its role and emphasized national control of the units.

With the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, most stay-behind units were disbanded as the Soviet threat diminished. Public exposure, starting with Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti’s 1990 admission of Gladio’s existence, led to investigations in several countries and widespread debate about NATO’s covert operations. Some networks, like Switzerland’s P-26, continued into the 1990s before being dissolved amid public scrutiny.