Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

November 10th, 1943

Captain André Rauscher

Service de Rensignements de l'Air, TUNIS.

History.

i. This officer began working for us in 1940. Civilian status employee of Shell Company, TUNIS. On outbreak of war embodied as Officer of French Air Force and now a member of General Giraud's Forces.

ii. Largely responsible for originating liaison between S.I.S. Malta and 5me Bureau in TUNIS in April 1940. Of great assistance to Lt.-Col. Morris in TUNIS both before and after the fall of France.

iii. A prominent member of the group of Frenchment formed to operate in TUNIS on behalf of this organisation in 1941. After the break-down of this group he remained in the background and avoided all compromise. By close contact with the Americans he found a method of communication with the British and from then until November 1942 he forwarded over two hundred regular and detailed inteligence reports of great accuracy. The extremely close surveillance excercised by Axis and Vichy agents made his actions even more commendable. During this time many pro-Ally agents and sympathisers were arrested, but he managed to instal himself as a "guardian angel" to the young and inexperienced group of Frenchmen, in particular to SAILLARD, whose presence as W/T operator was imperative.

iv. Before the Allied landings in North Africa in 1942 he organised a group led by Captain LACAT, an extremely capable and efficient officer attached to German H.Q. in Tunis. This group produced a continuous flow of accurate reports throughout the Tunesian campaign.

v. Captain RAUSCHER has always been extremely helpful and co-operative, and has never shown any wish to gain kudos. This was particulary noticeable in December 1942, when the success of another S.I.S. group in Tunis depended on his "blessing". It can be said that he was very largely responsible for the general success of all these groups during the Tunesian campaign."