This Simple Sabotage Field Manual Strategic Services (Provisional) is published for the information and guidance of all concerned and will be used as the basic doctrine for Strategic Services training for this subject.
The contents of this Manual should be carefully controlled and should not be allowed to come into unauthorized hands.
The instructions may be placed in separate pamphlets or leaflets according to categories of operations but should be distributed with care and not broadly. They should be used as a basis of radio broadcasts only for local and special cases and as directed by the theater commander.
AR 380-5, pertaining to handling of secret documents, will be complied with in the handling of this Manual.
This historical document was originally published by the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS; now the Central Intelligence Agency) in 1944, for use by OSS agents in motivating or recruiting potential foreign saboteurs. Agents were granted permission to print and disseminate portions of the document as needed. The since-declassified booklet describes ways for civilians to inflict sabotage through ordinary means, so as to minimize undue attention. According to the document, saboteur-recruits were most often U.S. sympathizers keen to disrupt war efforts against the U.S. during World War Two. The booklet contains instructions for destabilizing or reducing progress and productivity by non-violent means. The booklet is separated into headings that correspond to specific audiences, including: "Managers and Supervisors"; "Employees"; "Organizations and Conferences"; "Communications"; "Transportation" (Railways, Automotive, and Water); "General Devices for Lowering Morale and Creating Confusion"; and "Electric Power."