The CIA’s 1944 Sabotage Manual: A Declassified Guide to Everyday Disruption

Every so often, I come across something unexpected that is too intriguing not to share. That’s exactly what happened when I stumbled upon the Simple Sabotage Field Manual, a declassified World War II document from the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—the predecessor of today’s CIA.

Unlike the usual espionage thrillers filled with covert agents and high-tech gadgets, this 1944 sabotage manual was designed for ordinary citizens. It outlined how simple, everyday acts of disruption—like acting incompetent, misplacing tools, or slowing down meetings—could be used to undermine enemy operations.

It’s a fascinating read, and surprisingly, many of its principles still resonate today (though hopefully not for sabotage!). Let’s take a closer look at what this manual was all about.

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Sabotage for the Everyday Citizen

Traditional sabotage often involves explosives, covert missions, and trained operatives, but the OSS manual focused on something much simpler: the power of subtle disruption.

It encouraged everyday people—factory workers, office clerks, and even housekeepers—to sabotage the enemy using common household and workplace objects. No special training was needed—just a little creativity and a willingness to “think backwards.”

The manual categorized sabotage into two main types:

🛠 1. Physical Sabotage

Small, seemingly innocent acts that cause actual damage, such as:

Dulling tools so they become ineffective

Misplacing parts or labeling items incorrectly

Cutting power lines or draining fuel tanks

🤯 2. Human Element Sabotage

Using inefficiency and confusion as a weapon, including:

Starting unnecessary arguments to delay work

Slowing down meetings with excessive questions

Following procedures to the letter, even when unnecessary

One of the most interesting insights from the manual was that sabotage wasn’t just about breaking things—it was about breaking efficiency.

The manual encouraged people to reframe their habits:

If you normally keep tools sharp, let them rust 🛠️

If you usually work quickly, be slow and methodical ⏳

If you typically cooperate, argue over trivial things ⚡

A shift in mindset was key. Once someone started looking for ways to disrupt efficiency, opportunities for sabotage were everywhere.

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Examples of Everyday Sabotage

The sabotage tactics in the manual range from subtly annoying to genuinely disruptive. Some of them are so relatable, they almost seem like modern office behaviors!

🗂 Workplace Sabotage

Misfile important documents so they’re hard to find 📂

Insist on following procedures to the letter—even when it makes no sense 📝

Pretend to misunderstand instructions so everything takes twice as long 🤔

🏭 Industrial Sabotage

Let machinery overheat by removing lubrication 🏭

Slow down production by using tools improperly 🔧

Mix up inventory labels to cause confusion 📦

🚗 Transportation Sabotage

Deflate tires slightly to make vehicles less efficient 🚙

Drain fuel tanks or introduce sugar to clog engines ⛽

Argue with transport workers to delay shipments 🛑

👥 Social Sabotage

Spread rumors to decrease morale 📢

Create minor annoyances like leaving doors slightly ajar 🚪

Encourage laziness by telling colleagues to “take it easy” 💤

While these tactics may seem minor, their effectiveness relied on scale and repetition. When carried out by thousands of individuals, they could cripple an enemy’s infrastructure without a single shot being fired.

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The Psychological Warfare Behind Sabotage

They understood human nature well—and this manual was proof of that. It wasn’t just about breaking machines; it was about breaking productivity and morale.

Sabotage worked because it played on things people already did—workplace inefficiencies, misunderstandings, and bureaucratic slowdowns. The difference was intentionality.

Interestingly, the principles of the manual are still surprisingly relevant today—though perhaps not in the way they were originally intended. Many of the “sabotage” tactics resemble common problems in modern workplaces:
✔ Unnecessary meetings that drag on forever
✔ Endless bureaucracy that slows decision-making
✔ Co-workers who “accidentally” misplace important files

They called it sabotage—today, we call it office life.

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Final Thoughts: A Glimpse into Covert Disruption

Reading this manual was both fascinating and amusing. It’s a reminder that warfare isn’t always about guns and bombs—sometimes, it’s about misfiled paperwork and misplaced wrenches.

They took the mundane frustrations of everyday life and turned them into weapons. While this declassified document is now just a historical curiosity, it’s still an eye-opening look into how intelligence agencies approached psychological warfare.

And who knows? The next time you’re stuck in an endless, overly bureaucratic meeting, you might start wondering—was someone following the 1944 sabotage manual? 🤔

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What Do You Think?

Had you heard of the Simple Sabotage Field Manual before? Do any of these tactics remind you of modern workplace habits?
Share your thoughts in the comments! 💬👇