"German Commando's or OSS ?" Topic

Did the Germans run the equivalent of Commando/OSS/LRDG type units in WW2? If so, what were their names and where could I find some information on their missions. Thanks.

search under
Brandenburger
or
Skorzeny

Evan

A while back I read about a few raids launched from the Channel Islands against the French coast. I don't remember much. I think it was 50 or so guys in a fast boat. They snuck past some British destroyers and siezed supplies, damaging some ship in the process.

Those were just (very hungry) standard Kriegsmarine sailors Bob .

IIRC the raid was in 1944 against an American held port (Granville ?) from Jersey. I'd have to look up which one . I think a US MTB was sunk , A coal frieghter captured (they were after food !) , and (reputably ),the American CO was shot while in bed with the Mayors wife !

I attended a talk given by a German veteran of the raid about Twenty years ago . All I can remember now was how funny he was !

Yes it was Granville. I remember the name now that you mention it.

There was a German unit that spoke Russian and dressed in Russian uniforms. I forgot the name of the unit but it might have been part of the Brandenburgers. They conducted intel gathering and acts of sabotage early in the war. I think there were reports of them taking bridges during Barbarosa in front of advancing German forces. Please correct me if I am wrong.

A good book resource is Brandeburgers by Ian Westwell part of the Spearhead series by Ian Allen Publishing.

Thought of another thing, Maj Franz Bäke captured Rzhavetz with some decoy tanks dressed up to look like T-34s. It was a night battle, I recall the Germans drove through some Russian units and were discovered. They won the ensuring battle. It's described in the book "Citadele, the Battle of Kursk" by Robin Cross if you want more information.

Thanks for the tips everyone. Doesn't seem that the Germans went into this sort of thing as much as the Allies. So much for my idea of doing a series of games..half RPG/ half miniatures on German "Kommandos". Such is life

Dont see why the game wouldnt be just as good if it focussed on allied special ops?

Do have a look to German Fallschirmjaegers. Besides of great operations like Crete and more or less normal infantry work like the defence of Cassino, they did many commando - like actions like seizing bridges (Netherlands 1940, Korinth I think 1941) taking an artillery fort (Belgium 1940), freeing Mussolini (1944) (together with a ad hoc Commando under Scorzeny) and so on.

It was mentioned before there was a special German Commando Unit called "Brandenburgers" too.

Please execuse probably english errors which is not my own language

Werner Elb alias Samurai Elb

They did many , many raids in WW2.Brandenburgers fought in all theatres, including Africa and the Med.They conducted dozens of missions on the Russian front.Skorzny, though clearly on the wrong side, conducted what were arguably the finest , most significant commando style raids of WW2,his rescue of Mussolini is a Boys Own adventure that is a gift to wargame.....They planned an assault on Malta, and Gibralter(using captured KV2s!).Tito was very nearly captured in a do or die glider operation.The "Grief" operation in the Ardennes with German Commandoes dressed as GIs is a classic.
There were operations in Iraq,and other countries in the middle east.Brandenburgers were used as anti commando units in the Aegean,fighting SAS and SBS, and helped take Leros and Kos(s).

German commandoes kidnapped the Regent of Hungary and kept them in the war. There were innumerable behind the lines actions of German units.Many bridges were siezed by disguised units in Russia, and many too in Holland and Belgium.They even used float planes to sieze bridges! And there were dozens of frogmen attacks , eg at Remagen bridge, and mini subs, radio controlled motor boats in the Med.....

Suffice to say there were many, many actions where "special forces"(ghastly term) were used by the Germans in ww2, so get gaming them if thats your thing.

there was also a whacky op to kill Stalin involving a Gotha Glider and a motorbike,,,,but thats another story...

Brandenburgers
Kustenjagers
Marine Einsatz Kommando (Early component of Kleinkampfemittelverband)
Abwehr
And of course, Skorzeny's organizations.

Just a start.