Gladio and the stay-behind networks
Partly establishedPart confirmed, the rest not yet
The claim
Western European states were said to have kept secret armed networks against a Soviet invasion, and to have used them in domestic politics.
Where it started
Italian prosecutors uncovered traces of such a network in 1990, and the Italian government confirmed its existence in parliament that year. Similar networks were then confirmed in other countries.
Where it stands
What is established is that the networks existed and that governments knew of them. The European Parliament adopted a resolution in November 1990 condemning them and calling for national inquiries. What is not established is involvement in particular terrorist attacks; national inquiries reached different conclusions, and we do not record that part as confirmed.
Primary sources
- 유럽의회, 1990년 11월 결의europarl.europa.euOfficial source
checked 2026-09-07
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