Glaive Gladio (France)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
3
|
| Country: |
France |
| Date formed: |
Jan. 1, 1951 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
decade
|
| Details of Formation: |
The group was set up with assistance from the CIA and British intelligence. |
| Date dissolved: |
Dec. 5, 1990 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
Gladio was disbanded by the President in 1990. |
| Termination Type(s): |
government defects
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
no |
| Former Armed Group? |
no information |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
unclear (type 1 or 2) |
| Created by the Government?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
person/minister
|
| Government Link(s): |
state (institution)
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
unclear |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
unclear |
| Shared Personnel: |
no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
unclear
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
United States
|
| Other Connection(s): |
Nato |
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
The group had connections to other European networks of Gladio in Italy, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland. The network of groups may have some semi-official status within the intelligence community. But the group was hidden even from some domestic governments and prime ministers. The groups were ultimately answerable to NATO-CIA rather than to domestic governments in event of attack by members of the Warsaw Pact. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The group was intended as a fighting force prepared to counter a possible Warsaw Pact invasion. In this case, it was meant to conduct guerilla warfare and sabotage activities. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
faster mobilization; deniability of violence
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
There were allegations that, in some countries, the group was responsible for right-wing terrorist attacks. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
unknown
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
|
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
The group trained with the US Green Berets and the British Special Air Services (SAS) and was equipped from underground arms caches. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The PGM was coordinated by NATO and run by military secret services in close cooperation with the CIA and British Secret Intelligence Service. In France, only the Prime Minister and Defence Ministers were told it existed. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.
Wikipedia. Operation Gladio. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Gladio&oldid=763490893
Evidence
