Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre
Encyclopedia
The term Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre (CSDIC) was used for facilities in the UK, the continent (Belgium
and Germany
) between 1942 and 1947, the Middle East, and South Asia. They were run by the British War Office
on a joint basis involving the British Army
and various intelligence agencies, notably MI5
and MI9
. The CSDICs on the European mainland were:
They were originally established to interrogate detainees, defectors, and prisoners of war who were known or suspected to be working for Nazi Germany
and Japan. After the war, suspected Soviet
agents were also held for interrogation. The last CSDIC facility, the Bad Nenndorf interrogation centre
, was closed down in June 1947.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) between 1942 and 1947, the Middle East, and South Asia. They were run by the British War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
on a joint basis involving the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and various intelligence agencies, notably MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
and MI9
MI9
MI9, the British Military Intelligence Section 9, was a department of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence, part of the War Office...
. The CSDICs on the European mainland were:
- a CSDIC at DiestDiestDiest is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Situated in the northeast of the Hageland region, Diest neighbours the provinces of Antwerp to its North, and Limburg to the East and is situated around 60km from Brussels. The municipality comprises the city of...
in Belgium - the Bad Nenndorf interrogation centreBad Nenndorf interrogation centreThe Bad Nenndorf interrogation centre was a British Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre in the town of Bad Nenndorf, Germany, which operated from June 1945 to July 1947. Allegations of mistreatment of detainees by British troops resulted in a police investigation, a public controversy...
at Bad NenndorfBad NenndorfBad Nenndorf is a small town in the district of Schaumburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Its population is 10,210 . It is situated approx. 12 km east of Stadthagen, and 25 km west of Hanover, at the southern edge of the North German Plain and the northern edge of the Deister ridge...
in Germany.
They were originally established to interrogate detainees, defectors, and prisoners of war who were known or suspected to be working for Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and Japan. After the war, suspected Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
agents were also held for interrogation. The last CSDIC facility, the Bad Nenndorf interrogation centre
Bad Nenndorf interrogation centre
The Bad Nenndorf interrogation centre was a British Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre in the town of Bad Nenndorf, Germany, which operated from June 1945 to July 1947. Allegations of mistreatment of detainees by British troops resulted in a police investigation, a public controversy...
, was closed down in June 1947.
Further reading
- Oliver Hoare (ed.) Camp 020: MI5 and the Nazi Spies. Public Records Office. ISBN 1-903365-08-2