Research and Analysis Branch

Branch overview
Formed| June 13, 1942; 82 years ago (1942-06-13)
Dissolved| October 17, 1945 (1945-10-17)
Superseding agency|

* Bureau of Intelligence and Research

Jurisdiction| Executive branch of the United States
Branch executives|

* James Phinney Baxter III, Director Research and Analysis
* William L. Langer, Director Research and Analysis

Parent department| Deputy Director Intelligence Service

The Research and Analysis Branch (R&A) was a branch of the Office of Strategic Services. Established in the OCOI with the appointment of James Phinney Baxter III as the first Director of Research and Analysis, July 31, 1941, the branch became operational within the OCOI on August 27, 1941. [1] With OSS General Order 1 on October 17, 1942, R&A was absorbed into the new structure of the OSS. On January 4, 1943, with the restructuring of the OSS in OSS General Order 9, R&A was placed under the leadership of the Deputy Director of the Intelligence Service. [2]

R&A is the predecessor of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

The primary mission of this OSS Branch was to "to collect, analyze, and disseminate foreign intelligence." [3] Responsible for collecting intelligence from open sources, and evaluating all types of intelligence, R&A was tasked with identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the Axis powers in all of the active WWII Theaters of Operation.[4] R&A was "widely recognized as the most valuable component of the OSS." Also known as the "cornerstone of the OSS," R&A made significant contributions to the Allied victory. [5]

Staffed by "some of the best minds in America," [1] the branch provided timely assessment of the Allied bombing campaign in Europe, studied operations in countries where Allied forces were fighting, and developed preparations for the occupation of Germany. It used notable historians, economists, geographers, anthropologists, political scientists, and subject matter experts to research and prepare reports for senior policy makers.[6]

This work was done by "poring through papers, cables, reports, photographs, maps, journals, foreign newspapers, and other materials – laying the foundation of modern intelligence research and analysis." [1]

Upon its dissolution in 1945, R&A assets and personnel were transferred to the State Department, forming the Office of Intelligence Research.[7]

## Divisions[edit]

### Europe-Africa Division[edit]

This Division was comprised of the Europe Section and the Africa Section. [8]

##### Europe Section[edit]

The Europe Section studied and analyzed axis-occupied Europe.

##### Africa Research Section[edit]

##### [edit]

The Africa Research Section studied and analyzed primarily Colonial North Africa during WWII, but their memorandum was the continent of Africa. The Chief of the Africa Research Section was Ralph Bunche, who notably wrote the handbook given to all Allied soldiers stationed in North Africa. According to a report by his superiors, Bunche's knowledge of Africa was "irreplaceable."

##### Far East Division[edit]

#### Middle East Division[edit]

##### Map Division[edit]

R&A’s Map Division functioned as the central repository for target intelligence collected by OSS around the world. Winnowing out irrelevant details, the branch created accurate, customized maps for specific operations. [9]

##### Current Intelligence Staff[edit]

##### Latin America Division[edit]

##### USSR Division[edit]

##### Central Information Division[edit]

##### Enemy Objectives Unit[edit]

The Enemy Objectives Unit, based in London, analyzed the German economy and war production, recommended particular targets and ultimately helped convince Allied air commanders that the key objectives of the bombing campaign should be first, German aircraft factories and second, German oil and synthetic oil production facilities. [10]

## Notable Researchers and Staffers[edit]

* Arthur Schlesinger Jr.
* Walt W. Rostow
* Edward Shils
* Herbert Marcuse
* H. Stuart Hughes
* Gordon A. Craig
* Crane Brinton
* John King Fairbank
* Sherman Kent
* Ralph Bunche
* Benjamin Rivlin
* William L. Langer
* Walter Langer
* William Applebaum (Wolf)
* James McHugh
* Joseph Charles
* Richard Gard
* George H. Owen
* Edward T. Dickinson, Jr.
* Charlotte Gower (Chapman)

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "The Office of Strategic Services: America's First Intelligence Agency - CIA". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
2. ^ "Records of the office of Strategic Services [OSS]". www.archives.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
3. ^ "PRIMER". www.soc.mil. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
4. ^ "The Office of Strategic Services: Research and Analysis Branch — Central Intelligence Agency". web.archive.org. 2017-04-29. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
5. ^ "Secret Agents, Secret Armies: The Short Happy Life of the OSS". The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
6. ^ "The Office of Strategic Services (OSS): A Primer on the Special Operations Branches and Detachments of the Office of Strategic Services". arsof-history.org. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
7. ^ "OSS Legacy". www.soc.mil. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
8. ^ "HyperWar: Office of Strategic Servcices (OSS) Organization and Functions". www.ibiblio.org. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
9. ^ "OSS Exhibition Catalogue" (PDF).
10. ^ "A Wartime Organization for Unconventional Warfare (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-23.

## External links[edit]

* v
* t
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United States Intelligence Community

Intelligence
Community|

| Defense|

* Defense Intelligence Agency
* Defense Clandestine Service
* Defense Debriefing Service
* Defense Attaché System
* National Intelligence University
* Missile and Space Intelligence Center
* National Center for Medical Intelligence
* Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
* National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
* National Reconnaissance Office
* National Security Agency
* Central Security Service
* Special Collection Service

| Armed Forces|

* Army Intelligence and Security Command
* Marine Corps Intelligence
* Office of Naval Intelligence
* Air Force Intelligence
* Space Force Intelligence (Space Delta 7 / Space Delta 18)
* Coast Guard Intelligence (Homeland Security)

|

Civilian|

* Bureau of Intelligence and Research (State)
* Central Intelligence Agency
* Directorate of Operations
* Special Activities Center
* Open Source Center
* Directorate of Science and Technology
* CIA University
* DEA Office of National Security Intelligence (Justice)
* FBI Intelligence Branch (Justice)
* Office of Intelligence and Analysis (Homeland Security)
* Office of Intelligence and Analysis (Treasury)
* Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (Energy)

Director of
National
Intelligence|

* Director of National Intelligence
* National Counterterrorism Center
* National Counterproliferation Center
* National Counterintelligence and Security Center
* Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center
* National Intelligence Council
* Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity
* Joint Intelligence Community Council
* Chief Information Officer

Executive Office
of the President|

* National Security Advisor
* National Security Council
* President's Intelligence Advisory Board
* Homeland Security Council
* Homeland Security Advisor
* President's Daily Brief

Other|

* Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
* Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
* National Security Division (Justice)
* Army Intelligence Support Activity
* Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System
* Intellipedia
* National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations

Oversight|

* Senate Intelligence Committee
* House Intelligence Committee
* Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
* Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
* Office of Management and Budget
* Information Security Oversight Office
* Intelligence Oversight Board

Defunct|

* Contingency Fund for Foreign Intercourse
* Counterintelligence Field Activity
* Military Information Division
* Military Intelligence Division
* Military Intelligence Service
* Office of Strategic Services
* Office of Special Plans
* Ritchie Boys
* Strategic Support Branch

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