Elite Forces of WWII
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: General History
Forum Name: Military History
Forum Discription: Discussions related to military history: generals, battles, campaigns, etc.
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14072
Printed Date: 29-Apr-2024 at 13:10
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Elite Forces of WWII
Posted By: BlackRaven135
Subject: Elite Forces of WWII
Date Posted: 16-Aug-2006 at 10:40
| Which of these units are the most elite? There are many elite forces of WWII. Add some comments if interested. |
Replies:
Posted By: akritas
Date Posted: 16-Aug-2006 at 10:49
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I vote for two units.The SAS and the US Rangers.Both of them make great works regarding the unorthodox war. ------------- 
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Posted By: Desperado
Date Posted: 16-Aug-2006 at 11:12
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Was the soviet Spetz naz available in WW2?
I think the soviet elite of WW2 were the Guards and NKVD. Anyway my vote goes for Waffen SS-combination of superior equipment, moral and tactics. |
Posted By: Temujin
Date Posted: 16-Aug-2006 at 14:50
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yeah, Red Guards if anyhting. AFAIK NKVD troops were border guards, not elite troops.
most elite German troops was a unit called Brandenburger, they were similar to todays Navy SEALS and i don't think anyone else had something comparable back then except for the British SAS. their exploits durign the war are completely shorud in legend, even their whole existence is one of the bgigest secrets even today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburgers - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburgers ------------- |
Posted By: Kalevipoeg
Date Posted: 16-Aug-2006 at 16:44
If i remember a documentary i saw, the roots of the Spetsnaz go as far as the Spanish civil war where they mingled in as one of their first missions.
------------- There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible than a man in the depths of an ether binge... |
Posted By: BigL
Date Posted: 16-Aug-2006 at 19:58
| Gross Deutchland Division |
Posted By: Maharbbal
Date Posted: 16-Aug-2006 at 21:04
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While the German did have the Skorzeny commando and some very good units (paratroopers for instance) and the Soviet had their marine special forces, those that are the closest from modern day elite in my sens are british SAS, SBS, special paratroopers, commando, Poski's private army, chindits and so on. The American had almost always the equivalent in their army. Both also had OSS type of soldiers to fight along the guerillas. Yet, for once, in my opinion the palm defently goes to the Italian divers how were most likely the first and defently among the best in their hit and run ops. They were very sucessful in the Mediterranean and were the nightmare of the Royal Navy. Soon after, the Brits actually create their own diver units. ------------- I am a free donkey! |
Posted By: Renegade
Date Posted: 27-Aug-2006 at 16:26
The Spetsnaz back then were only peasants and civilian guerrilas who fought behind German lines. The WW2 Russian guerrilas were the ones who were the inspiration of Spetsnaz, I think. ------------- "I kill a few so that many may live." - Sam Fisher |
Posted By: mcnish
Date Posted: 31-Aug-2006 at 19:59
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British special air service made a great job during WWII behind German lines.
------------- The power you need is current in your veins. |
Posted By: rock strongo
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2006 at 14:59
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You have the Waffen SS but the most effective of their elite units was the Brandenbergers Commandos. Check out a book by the same name, The Brandenbergers Commandos: Germany's Elite Warrior Spies of World War Two.
Publisher comments:
"Very few books have been written about this clandestine operations unit, which was run by the German Army's intelligence service. Trained to be quick, mobile, and self-reliant and steeped in local customs and languages, the Brandenburgers operated behind enemy lines around the world. From Western Europe to Romania, Russia, Egypt, Afghanistan, and many other countries, they seized bridges and other strategic targets and engaged in sabotage, espionage, and other daring missions, often bending the rules of war in the process. Although the unit was dissolved in 1944, its tactics influenced special forces around the world."
I've read a little more than half of this so far and many of the easy breakouts during the initial blitzes of Poland, Holland, Denmark France and the USSR were products of Brandenbergers seizing key bridges, railroad junctions, etc..
Another interesting thing about this group is that their prime speciality was capturing all of the documents of the enemy's secret services intact before they could be destroyed.
This goup thwarted English and French attempts at sabotaging the Romanian oil wells. They also kept the Danube open when plans were to dam it up.
Overall a very important and overlooked group. This group was also known to be unconventional to the point of employing Jews. ------------- Alcohol and night swimming, its a winning combination. |
Posted By: Dampier
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2006 at 18:21
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You are missing a few- OSS, SOE, SBS, Army and Navy Commandos, Chindits, Popskis private Army, Merills Marauders to name a couple. ------------- 
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Posted By: Paul
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2006 at 18:36
You beat me to it. I was going to mention the Chindits and Merill's Marauders. ------------- Light blue touch paper and stand well back http://www.maquahuitl.co.uk - http://www.maquahuitl.co.uk http://www.toltecitztli.co.uk - http://www.toltecitztli.co.uk |
Posted By: Maharbbal
Date Posted: 06-Sep-2006 at 19:39
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Special mention for the indegenous troops. I mean the dreadful Gurkhas and the Maroccan Tabors more feared than any other units and who managed to accomplish some tremendous things.
------------- I am a free donkey! |
Posted By: Dampier
Date Posted: 08-Sep-2006 at 10:25
Love those two units. Merills lads and the Chindits basicly kept that whole Chinese front going... -------------
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Posted By: Exarchus
Date Posted: 11-Sep-2006 at 13:52
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The Division Charlemagne didn't do bad at all during the Battle of Berlin. ------------- Vae victis! |
Posted By: Tyrannos
Date Posted: 13-Sep-2006 at 14:50
| Fascist Italy's The Decima Flottiglia MAS was one of the greatest and set many standards. |
Posted By: Paul
Date Posted: 13-Sep-2006 at 16:38
Love those two units. Merills lads and the Chindits basicly kept that whole Chinese front going... [/QUOTE]
More like, unapreciated by Slim and incompetantly used by Stilwell and all died. ------------- Light blue touch paper and stand well back http://www.maquahuitl.co.uk - http://www.maquahuitl.co.uk http://www.toltecitztli.co.uk - http://www.toltecitztli.co.uk |
Posted By: JD00000
Date Posted: 26-Jan-2018 at 12:28
| No spetsnaz was not available during ww2. They were introduced in the mid 1950's. Sorry spetsnaz people. |