Research
S.P.E.C.T.R.E
The members of S.P.E.C.T.R.E are known to each other only by their code numbers. The numbers carry no significance other than a secure method of identification, and for added security are advanced two places round the rota each month. All members have a clear police record, even after a life devoted to crime, this being the highest qualification for S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
Most of the Special Executive consist of cells of three, each cell consisting of former members of criminal or subversive organisations, from distinct national groups. In addition, there is Blofeld, his right-hand man, and at the time of Plan Omega, two scientists. Originally, the cells were:-
- Sicilians from the Mafia,
- Corsican Frenchmen from the Unione Corse,
- Russians from SMERSH,
- Germans from the Sonderdienst of the Gestapo,
- Yugoslavs from Marshal Tito's Secret Police,
- Highland Turks.
When S.P.E.C.T.R.E was reformed after
'Thunderball', it was apparently with only five cells, including the
Corsicans, the Russians, the Germans, and at least one of the Yugoslavs or
the Turks. S.P.E.C.T.R.E also employs a number of sub-operators.
Finally, the organisation is run by Blofeld with ruthless discipline. The
members show absolute faith and trust in Blofeld. Any misconduct is dealt
with by swift execution.
The founder and chairperson of
S.P.E.C.T.R.E was Ernst Stavro Blofeld, no. 2. He was born
in 1908, in Gdynia, of a Polish father and a Greek mother. Given a good
education, he obtained a job in the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs, with
access to all information which passed through. With the outset of WWII,
he invented a network of agents, and approached Germany and later America
to sell the information he had access to. It was at around this time that
he returned to his birthplace and destroyed all records of his birth.
After the War, it was his criminal genius that devised S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
He died with James Bond's hands around his throat - retribution for the
death of his wife.
Blofeld's original right-hand man was Emilio Largo, no. 1. Blofeld himself named him as his successor, should anything happen to him. An accomplished athlete, he began a life of crime after WWII, as head of the black market in Naples. He then spent five years smuggling in Tangier, a further five masterminding a wave of jewel robberies on the French Riviera, before joining S.P.E.C.T.R.E. He joined before it became active, and was presumably involved in setting up the organisation with Blofeld. During Plan Omega (Thunderball), he was given the position of deputy Supreme Commander of S.P.E.C.T.R.E, and granted full authority in the field. He was killed by his lover Domino, whose brother he'd had murdered.
Irma Bunt seemed to replace Largo in the organisation, and also became Blofeld's wife. She tried to take revenge for her husband's death, but was shot dead by Bond.
Marius Domingue, no. 7, was one of the former members of the Unione Corse.
Pierre Borraud, no. 12, as one of the Corsicans in charge of kidnapping Magnus Blomberg's daughter, made a fatal error. The girl claimed to have been sexually abused, and Blofeld dealt with his misconduct severely. At their next meeting, his chair was rigged to deliver a massive electric shock.
Fonda, (no. 4 at the time of Petacchi's recruitment), was one of the Sicilians, formerly Mafia. It was he who hired Guiseppe Petacchi to deliver the NATO aircraft with its two atomic weapons.
The spokesperson for the Sicilian members was Fidelio Sciacca, formerly a schoolmaster with communist ideals.
Strelik, no. 10, had once been a notorious SMERSH terrorist. He was shot by Emilio Largo, for insubordination.
Bruno Bayer was one of the Germans, formerly of the Gestapo.
A German, Vargas Brandt, was assigned to kill Guiseppe Petacchi after his usefulness ended. He was probably one of the ex-Gestapo in the Special Executive.
A Turk, Youssef Vinstration, no. 14, was sent to meet 006 on the When Faces meet Mission, he was later shot dead by 006.
Maslov, no. 18, was a Polish electronics expert who had resigned and disappeared around 1956.
Kotze, no. 5, was an East German physicist who had defected. He survived the Thunderball affair, but was captured and told all he knew about S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
Horst Uhlmann was a member of the reformed S.P.E.C.T.R.E, following Plan Omega. He arranged the murder of a Russian defector, but was captured, heavily wounded, by Bond. He revealed nothing under interrogation, and died the next morning.
Count Lippe was sub-operative G, and was given the simple task of posting letters to the Prime Minister and the US President. He proved unreliable and caused a setback in Plan Omega. He was assassinated by No. 6.
Sub-operative 52, who remains unnamed, had a relatively minor role in Plan Omega, but is described by Sciacca as a most capable man.
Sub-operator 201 had the important role in Plan Omega of disposing of the bullion. Blofeld knows him well and considers him entirely trustworthy.
- Ernst Stavro Blofeld Profile
- Emilio Largo Profile
- Irma Bunt Profile
- Plan Omega (Thunderball)
