Special forces

: For the .38 Special album, see Special Forces (album).

World War II

During World War II in 1940 the British Commandos were formed following Winston Churchill's call for "specially trained troops of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast." The Commandos were selected from volunteers among existing servicemen and went on to spawn a number of other specialist units including the Long Range Desert Group, the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service and the Small Scale Raiding Force of the Special Operations Executive. In the Burma Campaign, the Chindits, whose long range penetration groups were trained to operate from bases deep behind Japanese lines, contained commandos (King's Regiment (Liverpool), 142 Commando Company) and Gurkhas. Their jungle expertise, which would play an important part in many British special forces operations post war, was learnt, at a great cost in lives, in the jungles of Burma fighting the Japanese.

Related Topics:
World War II - 1940 - British Commandos - Winston Churchill - Long Range Desert Group - Special Air Service - Special Boat Service - Small Scale Raiding Force - Special Operations Executive - Burma Campaign - Chindits - Japan - King's Regiment (Liverpool) - Gurkhas - Burma

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In mid-1942, the United States formed the Rangers who were based on and trained by the Commandos. The US and Canada also formed a sabotage ski brigade for operations in Norway who became known as the Devil's Brigade during their eventual service in Italy. Merrill's Marauders were modelled on the Chindits and took part in similar operations in Burma.

Related Topics:
1942 - United States - Rangers - Commandos - Canada - Ski brigade - Devil's Brigade - Merrill's Marauders

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The German army had the Brandenburger Regiment who became a special armored force used by Rommel in the North Africa campaign for long range reconnaissance as well as raids behind enemy lines. A unit within the Waffen SS commanded by Otto Skorzeny also conducted many special operations.

Related Topics:
Brandenburger Regiment - Rommel - North Africa - Waffen SS - Otto Skorzeny

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In Italy, the Decima Flottiglia MAS were responsible for the sinking and damage of considerable Allied tonnage in the Mediterranean. After the division of Italy in 1943, those fighting with Germany retained the original name and those fighting with the Allies retitled as the Mariassalto.

Related Topics:
Italy - Decima Flottiglia MAS - Mediterranean - 1943 - Mariassalto

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