Teach About Special Agent Training at Camp X

Spies Trained in Canada Undermine German War Effort in World War II

Oct 12, 2009 Lynda Allison

Students love the intrigue of espionage and sabotage. Recruit them as "German spies" to investigate the Allied spies who trained at Camp X during the Second World War.

Establish Axis special operations training in which students learn secrets about the historical significance of the paramilitary training installation, Camp X, located in Whitby, ON. According to Lynn-Philip Hodgson, author of Inside-Camp X, "Camp X trained over five hundred Allied secret agents... in a variety of special techniques such as silent killing, sabotage, Partisan work and recruitment methods for the resistance movement, demolition, map reading, weaponry, and Morse code." Their efforts shortened the war and saved lives.

Teachers can use the following activities to learn about the Special Agent Training School found at Camp X. Provide students with the covert mission document as "trainees" who undergo a special mission to obtain top secret data about Camp X to report to headquarters.

Resources for Camp X Project

• ID and Passport – student card and handout Covert Mission.
• Technology – computers in the classroom, lab or library, internet access
• Media – Camp X video cued at 22.25, VCR, television
• Documentation – copy of the text, Inside–Camp X, by Lynn-Phillip Hodgson
• Decoding – prepare hieroglyphics chart

Covert Mission to Secure Intelligence

As recruited of the Nazis, enter the spy school near Berlin and participate in a secret mission investigating reports of a Special Agent Training School located near Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Special Operatives Use of Sabotage

Log in to a computer station using the secret password (student login). Visit the Camp X website and go to the Student photo gallery of pictures of Camp X during World War II, scan the photographs and secure the following information for headquarters:

1. What type of gun is used extensively at Camp X?
2. List two household items used to disguise compasses used by Allied agents lost behind German lines?
3. What is the name of the short wave transmitter/receiver (communications system) used at Camp X?
4. Who is the chief explosives instructor in 1943-1944?
5. Who is the signals instructor?
6. What is unique about the motorcycle that agents take behind German lines?

Media Portraying Secret Agent Training

Watch film footage from Camp X, and secure the following information:

1. Why was Camp X established?
2. Camp X was kept a secret from what politician?
3. What is a vital dimension of warfare?
4. What fictional character did Ian Fleming create?

Top Secret Documentation

In order to infiltrate behind enemy lines, contact double agent (name of secretary, resource teacher or other designate) who has secured evidence about a camp training operatives, spies and saboteurs for the Allies. In order to obtain this top secret document about the nature of spying operations, present a passport (student card) and provide the code word Geheimagent.

Once the document has been secured, answer the following questions and report the answers to headquarters.

1. What did William Stephenson discuss with Winston Churchill and Franklin Rossevelt, in 1941? Pgs. 42-43
2. Which is the most successful group of agents? What are they accomplishing? pg. 107
3. What is D’Artois’ mission? How many battalions of Resistance fighters does he lead? What else is he instrumental in accomplishing? Pg. 109
4. Where was Sabourin dropped? What information did the Gestapo discover from him? What is his outcome? Pg. 111
5. Where was Benoit deployed? What is he successful in accomplishing? Pg. 113-114

Code Breakers – Decoding

Using the hieroglyphics code posted on the wall outside the (name the location), decode the message and report it to headquarters.

1. Sir Winston Churchill instructed Sir William Stephenson, “to create‘ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __’ to the Axis powers. One of Stephenson’s successes was Camp X.” Inside-Camp X
2. Unscramble the letters to determine what Geheimagent means in English?__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ C T R S T E E N A G E

Utilize interest in espionage to engage students in learning about Canadian involvement in training Allied spies during WWII.

Sources:

Hodgson, Lynn Philip. Inside–Camp X. Port Perry: Blake Books Distribution, 1999.

Camp X video. Toronto: Magic Lantern Communications Ltd, 2001.

Hodgson, Lynn Philip. Camp X Official Website.

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Intelligence Secured for Headquarters – Answer Key

Special Operatives Use of Sabotage

1. sten gun
2. button, comb
3. Hydra
4. Major James (Paddy) Adams)
5. Hamish Pelham Burn
6. The motorcycle could be folded for transport behind enemy lines

Media Portraying Secret Agent Training

1. Train US secret intelligence
2. Prime Minister, Mackenzie King
3. Propaganda
4. James Bond

Top Secret Documentation

1. Secret Warfare
2. The Yugoslav Partisans destroyed German railway tracks, trains, roads, telephone cables. Turned Nazis’ bombs and guns back on themselves.
3. D’Artois’ met up with Resistance leaders. Led three battalions and captured over one hundred Nazi collaborators.
4. Sabourin was dropped directly into the hands of the Gestapo. He did not share information with them, was put in isolation and was hung on a hook while being strangled with piano wire.
5. Benoit was deployed on the fields of France. Twice he cut the Reims-Berlin telephone cable by soaking it with toxic substance. He blows up supplies for the Normandy front, organizes Resistance cells, trains them in the operation of rifles and weapons and advised the British on the location of a cluster of V-1 rockets ready to deploy against Britain, which were subsequently destroyed by the Royal Air Force.

Code Breakers - Decoding

1. “the clenched fist that would provide the knockout blow,” Inside Camp X
2. secret agent.

The copyright of the article Teach About Special Agent Training at Camp X in Middle/High School is owned by Lynda Allison. Permission to republish Teach About Special Agent Training at Camp X in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Camp X Memorial, Whitby	Camp X, Museum, Oshawa	Camp X, Whitby
Training at Camp X, Hiding in Haywagon	Lynn-Philip Hodgson, Author of Inside-Camp X

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