SDRA8

The SDRA8 (Service de Documentation, de Renseignements et d’Action VIII, or Documentation, Information, and Action Service VIII) was the military branch of Belgium’s clandestine “stay-behind” network, part of NATO’s broader Operation Gladio framework during the Cold War. Colloquially referred to as “Gladio” (meaning “sword” in Italian), this secret unit was designed to form a resistance movement in the event of a Soviet invasion.

SDRA8 was established in the early 1950s (functioning from at least 1951 until 1990) as part of Belgium’s contribution to NATO’s stay-behind network, coordinated initially by the Clandestine Committee of the Western Union (CCWU) and later by NATO’s CPC and ACC. Its primary mission was to prepare for guerrilla warfare, sabotage, intelligence-gathering, and evasion operations in case Belgium was occupied by Soviet or Warsaw Pact forces. It was a mixed civilian and military unit, trained to operate behind enemy lines.

The network’s creation began in 1948 when Belgian Prime Minister Paul-Henri Spaak and Minister of Justice Paul Struye authorized the Staatsveiligheid (State Security Service) to negotiate with allied intelligence services, particularly the U.S. (CIA) and UK (MI6), to set up the stay-behind program. SDRA8 operated under the Belgian General Information and Security Service (SGR), a military intelligence agency, and was thus accountable to the Minister of Defense.

It was one of two sections of Belgium’s Operation Gladio network, the other being a civilian branch managed by the Staatsveiligheid. SDRA8 focused on military operations, including training in radio communications, parachute jumping, clandestine missions, and escape routes. The unit maintained secret arms caches and high-tech communication equipment hidden in underground bunkers and remote locations, similar to other Gladio branches.

SDRA8 was coordinated through the Allied Clandestine Committe with training and directives developed in collaboration with the U.S., UK, and other NATO members. Belgian personnel received training from British instructors in 1981 and 1982, and participated in exercises like “Waterland” (1989) and the canceled “Blackbird” (1982).

The CIA played a significant role in SDRA8’s early organization, with Pentagon documents suggesting de facto control until 1968, though the Belgian parliamentary inquiry downplayed this influence. ◦ Investigative journalist Walter de Bock and a 1959 internal note from Colonel Margot highlight U.S. intelligence’s dominance, which some Belgian officials resented. The UK, particularly MI6, took a leading role in Belgium, providing financing (including gold coins) and training. British instructors were instrumental in shaping SDRA8’s capabilities.

Training and Operations

◦ SDRA8 conducted regular training exercises, documented by both military intelligence and Staatsveiligheid. Examples include: ▪ 1976: Training in radio communications, intelligence, maritime and aerial operations, and escape routes. ▪ 1977: Techniques for locating downed pilots and using escape routes. ▪ 1978: Indoor training on clandestine missions. ▪ 1980: Parachute jumping, long-distance radio communication, and clandestine techniques. ▪ 1985: Six trainings, including infiltration, parachute jumping, and material extraction via escape routes, some conducted abroad. ◦ These activities were overseen by the ACC, with incomplete dossiers later provided to the Belgian parliamentary inquiry. ◦ A notable 1984 exercise involved U.S. Marines parachuting into Belgium to attack a police station in Vielsalm, aiming to simulate a “red revolution” and heighten public fear, though it was criticized as poorly executed.

Exposure

SDRA8’s existence was revealed in 1990 following Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti’s disclosure of Gladio in Italy. Andreotti noted that the last ACC meeting, involving SDRA8, occurred on October 23–24, 1990, in Brussels, chaired by Belgian General Van Calster. After Italian inquiries prompted Belgian officials, Defense Minister Guy Coëme and Prime Minister Wilfried Martens publicly acknowledged SDRA8 on November 7, 1990. The Belgian government disbanded the network on November 23, 1990, following a parliamentary investigation proposal. The Belgian Senate’s inquiry found SDRA8 to be thoroughly anti-communist and noted its recruitment of right-wing operatives, but it concluded there was no “substantive” evidence of terrorist activities or criminal infiltration.

Controversies and Alleged Misconduct

◦ SDRA8 has been linked to several controversies, though evidence remains circumstantial: ▪ Brabant Massacres (1982–1985): A series of supermarket shootings killed 28 people, with some speculating SDRA8 or its far-right recruits (e.g., Westland New Post, led by Paul Latinus) were involved to destabilize Belgium. Senator Roger Lallemand suggested foreign intelligence involvement, and former gendarme Martial Lekeu claimed official inquiries were suppressed. However, the parliamentary inquiry found no direct link. ▪ Julien Lahaut Assassination (1950): The killing of the Communist Party chairman was suspected to involve Gladio/SDRA8, with François Goossens (a Leopoldist) identified as the killer. Repeated calls for investigation have yielded no conclusive evidence. ▪ Far-Right Groups: SDRA8 allegedly controlled groups like the Parti Communautaire Européen (a “Nazi-Maoist” party) and Westland New Post, raising concerns about its influence over extremist activities. ▪ 2006 Arrests: The arrest of Bloed, Bodem, Eer en Trouw members (including 11 military personnel) for planning terrorist attacks recalled SDRA8’s history, though no direct connection was proven. ◦ Critics, including historian Daniele Ganser, argue SDRA8 and Gladio networks engaged in “false flag” operations to discredit communists, citing their anti-communist orientation and CIA backing.