SPECTRE
Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion (SPECTRE) is a well-financed apolitical terrorist organisation with a low profile. It is equally apt at manipulating governments as gangs and has absorbed many lesser criminal organisations to rise to a state of shadowy supervillainy. No political allegiance or ideological position drives the organisation.
Born at the height of the Cold War, many of its enterprises have concerned the provocation of major geopolitical powers to the benefit of some mysterious business organisation, and almost always for profit for SPECTRE's membership. On other occasions the organisation collaborated with rogue states or developing states with grudges against the Global North. After SPECTRE first came to the attention of MI6 - and 007 successfully assassinated and shut down the operations of Chinese nuclear-terrorist Dr. No - the committee of high-ranking SPECTRE agents turned their resources to discrediting and blackmailing the United Kingdom in general, and MI6 and its 00-unit in particular.
Above: A meeting of SPECTRE members in Paris, France.
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SPECTRE missions have been known to require elaborate planning, major industrial resources and blackmarket acquisitions of anything from helicopters to rocket fuel. The organisation tends to prefer elaborate headquarters in out-of-the-way locales. On other occasions SPECTRE has infiltrated the workings of existing, multi-million dollar business empires and put their resources to work for evil means.
Criminals working for SPECTRE do not often know the extent or reach of the organisation backing their illegal enterprises. Petty smuggling rings are utilised to acquire resources or to shield SPECTRE's more critical operatives from scrutiny. SPECTRE uses a mixture of trained assassins, intellectual geniuses to oversee their projects.
SPECTRE are adept at turning high-ranking military and government agents and entice rogue generals, politicians and mid-level intelligence operatives to betray their nations for great financial gain.
Key Operatives
Ernst Stavro Blofeld :: Number 1 Missions: From Russia With Love, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes Only, Never Say Never Again. Role: Head of SPECTRE Fate: Unknown (presumed dead).
Pleasence
Savalas
Gray
Emilio Largo :: Number 2 Missions: Thunderball. Role: Extortionist Fate: Killed by Domino on the Disco Volante, Bahamas.
Profile
Rosa Klebb :: Number 3 Missions: From Russia With Love Role: Executioner Fate: Killed by Tatiana in Venice.
Profile
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Kronsteen :: Number 5 Missions: From Russia With Love Role: Planner Fate: Killed by Morenzy in Blofeld's office, SPECTRE island.
Profile
Jacques Bouvar :: Number 6 Missions: Thunderball Role: Advisor Fate: Killed by Bond in Anet, France.
Helga Brandt :: Number 11 Missions: You Only Live Twice Role: Assassin/Seductress Fate: Eaten by Piranhas in Bofeld's volcano lair. Profile
Dr. Julius No :: Number ?? Missions: Dr. No Role: Nuclear Scientist Fate: Drowned in his own reactor complex, Crab Key Jamaica.
Profile
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Known Associates
Professor Dent (Dr. No); Miss Taro (Dr. No); Red Grant (From Russia With Love); Fiona Volpe (Thunderball); Count Lippe (Thunderball); Vargas (Thunderball); Mr. Osato (You Only Live Twice); Irma Bunt (On Her Majesty's Secret Service); Bert Saxby (Diamonds Are Forever); Mr. Wint & Mr. Kidd (Diamonds Are Forever).
Above: Ernst Stavro Blofeld in his Swiss mountain lair.
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Missions & Schemes
Related Articles
Villains Index Origins of SPECTRE