ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the progresses of the exploitation initiative in the final chaotic year of the war against Germany. It explores the original germ of the idea to exploit on a large scale and the gradual formulation of policy which arose from the early thinking and the changing military circumstances. Once the war had ended, it became clear that the exploitation activities conducted in the formerly Nazi-occupied territories had been a mere prelude. The process of formulating exploitation policy was accelerated by the impending Allied invasion of Europe under Operation Overlord. While the primary consideration of the Allied forces was obviously to bring the war to a swift end and secure a satisfactory peace in Europe, the exploitation initiative was not neglected. The first Combined Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee-sponsored mission on the European continent was to Paris on 28 August 1944, a mere three days after the French capital had been liberated.
