OSS Agent Personal Collection

This rare collection offers an unprecedented glimpse into the secretive life of Eli Popovich, an engineer, master parachutist and friend and collaborator to one of the most influential underground leaders during WWII, Josip Broz Tito. Despite his significant contributions to the war effort, he rarely spoke of his time as an operative. This collection includes Popovich’s military insignia, personal photographs and critical documents, each acting as a key to understanding this enigmatic individual.

Popovich was one the nation's first OSS (Office of Strategic Services) members working in southern Europe. The OSS, the predecessor to the CIA, was a top-secret organization dedicated to undermining Axis powers through clandestine efforts. Through close coordination with Tito, Popovich was instrumental in crucial resistance operations in Yugoslavia between 1943 and 1945, including the arming and supplying of Yugoslav Partisan units, the tracking of German troop movements and the evacuation of Allied airmen. Popovich was also privy to top-secret meetings with Tito and other wartime leaders in the region, and his involvement in this pivotal Yugoslavian front undeniably diminished Axis strength in the region and shaped the post-war political landscape and humanitarian efforts.

Popovich's story was remarkable, with the unassuming engineer from Chicago remaining an active and distinguished member of the OSS and its successor, the CIA, until his retirement in 1969. Featured in multiple publications, including the 1975 bombshell Esquire article titled "Six Good Spies" by Lenn Davis and The Secret War by George C. Chalou, the details of his operative career remain largely unspoken, as Popovich was not one to disclose such information. Beyond his spike weapons cane from his estate going up for auction a few years ago, we can only speculate and continuously seek to uncover the depths of this important man’s bravery.

The collection contains:
Military-Issued Jacket Patches and Pins:
Foreign jump wings
Basic Parachutist Sew on Patch
Basic Parachutist Badge
Army Corps of Engineers Badges
US Army Airborne Artillery Badge
US Army Airborne Artillery Patch
United States Army Airborne Glider Operations Command Patch
China, Burma, India (CBI) Patch
US flag patch for left shoulder
U.S. Military pins (2)
Gold oak leaf pin denoting the rank of Major
Rank insignias
Campaign Ribbons and Stars
Military ID card (pink, indicating reserves)
ID card
Peking Club membership card (exclusive private society in Beijing, China) with a note indicating monthly membership was $2000/month
Training photo