“The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The True Story Behind Churchill’s ‘Rogue Squad'”

“Set Europe ablaze.” – Winston Churchill
That wasn’t a line from the movie; it was a real command. And it led to the creation of one of the most mysterious, daring, and lesser-known forces of World War II: the Special Operations Executive (SOE)—or, more accurately, Britain’s “Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.”

When The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare directed by Guy Ritchie hits the big screen with explosive action scenes, charismatic characters, and a plot straight out of a comic book, audiences may think it’s purely fictional. But the truth is just as thrilling as the cinema.

Gus March-Phillipps – The Real Man
Henry Cavill plays Gus March-Phillipps, the leader of a bold special forces unit that raided Nazi bases from the sea. In history, March-Phillipps was a true British gentleman—but also a daring warrior, a co-founder of the No. 62 Commando, also known as the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF). This was the precursor to modern special forces units like the SAS and Navy SEALs.

He commanded night sabotage missions against German bases, with a small force and light weapons, but with astonishing effectiveness. One of his famous operations—Operation Postmaster—was a daring “ship heist” right in a neutral port in West Africa.

The Special Operations Executive – SOE
Formed in 1940 under Churchill’s orders, the SOE brought together spies, saboteurs, eccentric scientists, and even… illusionists. They trained agents to parachute into France, plant time bombs in briefcases, and use the most advanced espionage technology of the time.

Churchill called them “ungentlemanly”—those who “no longer kept the appearance of gentlemen”—because they fought by any means necessary, including deception, assassination, and sabotage.

The Difference Between History and Cinema
Under Guy Ritchie’s direction, this true story transforms into a Hollywood epic—with Henry Cavill’s charm, Alan Ritchson’s muscle, Eiza González’s sharp wit, and Henry Golding’s cold demeanor. While the film doesn’t capture every historical detail with precision, the spirit of “doing what others wouldn’t dare” that defined the SOE still shines through.

The film combines the irreverent action-comedy style of Inglourious Basterds with the suave spy energy of James Bond—and interestingly, Ian Fleming (the creator of 007) also served in the SOE!

Conclusion
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is more than just an entertaining film. It serves as a reminder that behind history’s victories are those who dared to play the most dangerous games—and won. Though they aren’t widely acknowledged in textbooks, they changed the course of the war in ways no one could have anticipated.

They didn’t wear uniforms.
They didn’t follow the rules.
But they were the ones who set Europe ablaze—literally.