Service de Documentation Exterieure et de Contre-Espionage

The Service de documentation extérieure et de contre-espionnage (SDECE), curiously pronounced [zdɛk], was the French civilian intelligence and counterintelligence organization, from 6 November 1944 to 2 April 1982. After the Second World War, and until 1962, it reported to the Prime Minister, and was principally involved with the Algerian War.

After it was involved in some Algeria-related political embarrassments, it was, while still civilian-staffed, reorganized to report through the Defense Minister. It was replaced by the current organization, Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE).