Why Is The Devil's Brigade An Important Part Of World War II?
The Devils Brigade was an important part of World War II because, during that time they were known to complete almost impossible missions that other units could not. After their disbandment in 1944 the Force was awarded heavily for their great heroism, and later in 2015 they were awarded further by the American Congress. Even just twenty five years after the disbandment of the Force, there was a movie dedicated towards the unit, and later on many documentaries and books were written about their services in World War II. The Devil’s Brigade, being the 1st Special Service Force, set up the foundation for all future Special Forces throughout the world.
The Devil’s Brigade was an elite Canadian – American combat unit of three regiments and a service battalion, consisting of eighteen hundred men. Most of the men who were recruited were men previously employed as Lumberjacks, Forest Rangers, Hunters, and Game Wardens. Training was held at Fort Harrison near Helena, Montana, where force members were trained in hand-to-hand combat; explosives; rock climbing; parachuting; amphibious warfare; mountain warfare. The force was then officially activated July 20, 1942.
In October of 1943, the First Speacil …show more content…
Force was moved across America and boarded the Empress of Scotland in Vergina. They sailed and docked in Casablanca, Morocco. On November 14, 1943 the troop ship left Oran, Africa, and docked in Naples, Italy the afternoon of November 17. The unit saw their first action in December, 1943. This was the first time anyone in the unit had been in combat before.
“Our unit, the First Speacil Service Forse, saw its first action in December of 1943. Although we were highly trained, we had never been in combat; neither had our officers.”
The force was given orders to take Monte LaDifensa, one of the many mountain tops held by the Germans near Naples. They were given this task because this mountain top had a perfect view of the surrounding countryside and the main highway. With the Germans occupy this mountain they could shoot any troops coming up or down the highway. The Force was also given this task because the strategists thought that since the force was new and well trained, could move the Germans off the mountain.
At night the unit made their way up the mountain in the rain and the cold. In the middle of their climb, the Germans started bombing the unit, forcing them to retreat off the mountain and take cover in the trees below.
“Suddenly there was a great flash of light and a tremendous explosion. I looked in horror as bodies, and parts of bodies, were flung skyward…”
The next night their company commander gave the unit orders that they were going back up the mountain, but on the other side. The Second Regiment of the unit made it to the top and seceded in pushing the Germans off the mountain after a short battle. The First Regiment was left in charge at the top, as the Second Regiment made their way down the mountain.
“This was my first good look at their uniforms-with the distinctive helmets and high black boots. What really caught my attention, and then deeply disturbed me, were their belts. The buckle had an eagle on it, and the inscription ‘Gott Mit Uns.’ ‘God is with us.’ Such absolute assurance shocked me….”
The Force then went to attack Monte la Remetanea on December 6, 1943 to December 9. They also captured Monte Sambucaro on December 25 and Monte Vischiataro on January 8, 1944. During these attacks the force suffered 77% loss of their men.
February 1, 1944 the Force arrived at a beachhead at Anzio, Italy. Their goal was to hold and raid from the right-hand side of the beach. Shortly after the Force occupied the Mussolini Canal sector the Germans pulled back half a mile into the mountains surrounding the beach head. During this four month time, the Unit’s Lieutenant and Sergeant set traps in the No-Man’s-Land and captured a hundred and eleven German soldiers, who were preparing an attack on the small village the Unit was using as their base. The Force did constant night raids into enemy lines as far as 1,500 ft. into enemy territory.
On August 4, 1944, the Force went to the islands of Port Cros and Îles de Hyères for the Invasion of Southern France. They fought in the battle of Fort Cros and captured five forts from the Germans.
“And the war itself had changed in the interim. The Force had come to the southern coast of Italy to prepare for the invasion of southern France, and Allied stab into the French Riviera that was scheduled to take place in six weeks’ time...”
They were then moved with the 1st Airborne Task Force to defend the Franco-Italian border.
Throughout their time participating in the War, the Force was accounted for 12,000 German casualties and 7,000 German prisoners. On December 5, 1994 the Force was disbanded near Menton on the southeast Mediterranean Coast of France. The Canadians of the Force were sent to other Canadian units such as the 1st Canadian Parachute battalion. The Americans were also sent to other units such as the airborne divisions, Ranger Battalions, while others formed the 474th Infantry Battalion.
The Devils Brigade set the foundations for the future of Special Forces across the world. Their basis of special tactics and weapons in World War II, helped future special forces set and develop their own special tactics and weapons. For example, one of their special weapons was the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun. While the rest of the U.S. Army used the Browning BAR M1918 Machine Gun, the Devil’s Brigade used, the more effective M1941 Johnson LMG, which was said by Melvin Johnson, who created the machine gun felt his weapon was superior to the BAR. The stock was designed to reduce the muzzle rise in the weapon’s recoil, making it easier for a soldier to handle. Therefore, this set a trend in future special forces to use more superior weapons to their regular counterparts.
Examples of using special tactics that modern Special Forces use today are night raids. During Operation Project Plough the Americans and British regular forces were trying to take Monte LaDifensa from the Germans, yet were receiving too many casualties. The Devil’s Brigade was sent in to take the mountain as the British and American’s could not. They attempted twice to raid the mountain over the course of two nights. The second time they succeeded. Therefore, night raids were seen as a useful tactic to future special forces to take heavily guarded positions.
By studying the Devil’s Brigade you will see that World War II was extremely difficult and challenging for the allies. For example, during Operation Project Plough, the Force had to attempt to raid the mountain twice over the course of two nights due to the Germans heavily bombing them on their first attempt, forcing them the retreat so not to lose too many men. Therefore, it showed even a Special Forces unit, like the Devil’s Brigade had difficulties in completing their missions.
Twenty Five years after the Devil’s Brigade there was a movie dedicated to the Force, focusing on the Force’s training and their deployment to Italy.
Throughout the years there have also been many books and documentaries written about the Devil’s Brigade, like The ‘LightHearted Soldier’, a biography by Her Peppard who served as a soldier in the Devil’s Brigade. And ‘A Perfect Hell’ by John Nadler. Many other books about the Devil’s brigade are now no longer in print and can only be found in personal collections. An episode in History Channel’s TV series of “Dangerous Missions” called “Black Devils” was made in honor of the Devil’s Brigade, in 2000, which was directed by Darryl Rehr. There have been many documentaries made about the Devil’s Brigade over the last few
years…
Just after the Force was disbanded in 1944, they were heavily honored for their great heroism by receiving the French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, and the Distinguished Unit Citation. Even now, the Devil’s Brigade is still a huge part in the Canadian and American military history. On February 2, 2015, the American Congress recognized and honored more than 40 surviving veterans of the Devil’s Brigade with the Congressional Gold Medal, which is an extremely high distinction for American’s and even more important and rare for Canadians to receive.
Now, Alberta Highway 4 and Interstate 15 in Montana, that runs between Lethbridge, Alberta and Helena, Montana has been renamed as the “Special Service Force Memorial Highway” to honor the memory of the Devil’s Brigade this was also the highway that the Canadian members of the Force took to join their American comrades for training in Fort Harrison.
Even though the Devil’s Brigade seemed to play just a small part in World War II, what they achieved during their missions had a huge impact. Now, we remember them in many ways and their tactics and strategies still stay with us through the Special Forces we have today.
The Devil’s Brigade was an elite Canadian – American combat unit of three regiments and a service battalion, consisting of eighteen hundred men. Most of the men who were recruited were men previously employed as Lumberjacks, Forest Rangers, Hunters, and Game Wardens. Training was held at Fort Harrison near Helena, Montana, where force members were trained in hand-to-hand combat; explosives; rock climbing; parachuting; amphibious warfare; mountain warfare. The force was then officially activated July 20, 1942.
In October of 1943, the First Speacil …show more content…
Force was moved across America and boarded the Empress of Scotland in Vergina. They sailed and docked in Casablanca, Morocco. On November 14, 1943 the troop ship left Oran, Africa, and docked in Naples, Italy the afternoon of November 17. The unit saw their first action in December, 1943. This was the first time anyone in the unit had been in combat before.
“Our unit, the First Speacil Service Forse, saw its first action in December of 1943. Although we were highly trained, we had never been in combat; neither had our officers.”
The force was given orders to take Monte LaDifensa, one of the many mountain tops held by the Germans near Naples. They were given this task because this mountain top had a perfect view of the surrounding countryside and the main highway. With the Germans occupy this mountain they could shoot any troops coming up or down the highway. The Force was also given this task because the strategists thought that since the force was new and well trained, could move the Germans off the mountain.
At night the unit made their way up the mountain in the rain and the cold. In the middle of their climb, the Germans started bombing the unit, forcing them to retreat off the mountain and take cover in the trees below.
“Suddenly there was a great flash of light and a tremendous explosion. I looked in horror as bodies, and parts of bodies, were flung skyward…”
The next night their company commander gave the unit orders that they were going back up the mountain, but on the other side. The Second Regiment of the unit made it to the top and seceded in pushing the Germans off the mountain after a short battle. The First Regiment was left in charge at the top, as the Second Regiment made their way down the mountain.
“This was my first good look at their uniforms-with the distinctive helmets and high black boots. What really caught my attention, and then deeply disturbed me, were their belts. The buckle had an eagle on it, and the inscription ‘Gott Mit Uns.’ ‘God is with us.’ Such absolute assurance shocked me….”
The Force then went to attack Monte la Remetanea on December 6, 1943 to December 9. They also captured Monte Sambucaro on December 25 and Monte Vischiataro on January 8, 1944. During these attacks the force suffered 77% loss of their men.
February 1, 1944 the Force arrived at a beachhead at Anzio, Italy. Their goal was to hold and raid from the right-hand side of the beach. Shortly after the Force occupied the Mussolini Canal sector the Germans pulled back half a mile into the mountains surrounding the beach head. During this four month time, the Unit’s Lieutenant and Sergeant set traps in the No-Man’s-Land and captured a hundred and eleven German soldiers, who were preparing an attack on the small village the Unit was using as their base. The Force did constant night raids into enemy lines as far as 1,500 ft. into enemy territory.
On August 4, 1944, the Force went to the islands of Port Cros and Îles de Hyères for the Invasion of Southern France. They fought in the battle of Fort Cros and captured five forts from the Germans.
“And the war itself had changed in the interim. The Force had come to the southern coast of Italy to prepare for the invasion of southern France, and Allied stab into the French Riviera that was scheduled to take place in six weeks’ time...”
They were then moved with the 1st Airborne Task Force to defend the Franco-Italian border.
Throughout their time participating in the War, the Force was accounted for 12,000 German casualties and 7,000 German prisoners. On December 5, 1994 the Force was disbanded near Menton on the southeast Mediterranean Coast of France. The Canadians of the Force were sent to other Canadian units such as the 1st Canadian Parachute battalion. The Americans were also sent to other units such as the airborne divisions, Ranger Battalions, while others formed the 474th Infantry Battalion.
The Devils Brigade set the foundations for the future of Special Forces across the world. Their basis of special tactics and weapons in World War II, helped future special forces set and develop their own special tactics and weapons. For example, one of their special weapons was the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun. While the rest of the U.S. Army used the Browning BAR M1918 Machine Gun, the Devil’s Brigade used, the more effective M1941 Johnson LMG, which was said by Melvin Johnson, who created the machine gun felt his weapon was superior to the BAR. The stock was designed to reduce the muzzle rise in the weapon’s recoil, making it easier for a soldier to handle. Therefore, this set a trend in future special forces to use more superior weapons to their regular counterparts.
Examples of using special tactics that modern Special Forces use today are night raids. During Operation Project Plough the Americans and British regular forces were trying to take Monte LaDifensa from the Germans, yet were receiving too many casualties. The Devil’s Brigade was sent in to take the mountain as the British and American’s could not. They attempted twice to raid the mountain over the course of two nights. The second time they succeeded. Therefore, night raids were seen as a useful tactic to future special forces to take heavily guarded positions.
By studying the Devil’s Brigade you will see that World War II was extremely difficult and challenging for the allies. For example, during Operation Project Plough, the Force had to attempt to raid the mountain twice over the course of two nights due to the Germans heavily bombing them on their first attempt, forcing them the retreat so not to lose too many men. Therefore, it showed even a Special Forces unit, like the Devil’s Brigade had difficulties in completing their missions.
Twenty Five years after the Devil’s Brigade there was a movie dedicated to the Force, focusing on the Force’s training and their deployment to Italy.
Throughout the years there have also been many books and documentaries written about the Devil’s Brigade, like The ‘LightHearted Soldier’, a biography by Her Peppard who served as a soldier in the Devil’s Brigade. And ‘A Perfect Hell’ by John Nadler. Many other books about the Devil’s brigade are now no longer in print and can only be found in personal collections. An episode in History Channel’s TV series of “Dangerous Missions” called “Black Devils” was made in honor of the Devil’s Brigade, in 2000, which was directed by Darryl Rehr. There have been many documentaries made about the Devil’s Brigade over the last few
years…
Just after the Force was disbanded in 1944, they were heavily honored for their great heroism by receiving the French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, and the Distinguished Unit Citation. Even now, the Devil’s Brigade is still a huge part in the Canadian and American military history. On February 2, 2015, the American Congress recognized and honored more than 40 surviving veterans of the Devil’s Brigade with the Congressional Gold Medal, which is an extremely high distinction for American’s and even more important and rare for Canadians to receive.
Now, Alberta Highway 4 and Interstate 15 in Montana, that runs between Lethbridge, Alberta and Helena, Montana has been renamed as the “Special Service Force Memorial Highway” to honor the memory of the Devil’s Brigade this was also the highway that the Canadian members of the Force took to join their American comrades for training in Fort Harrison.
Even though the Devil’s Brigade seemed to play just a small part in World War II, what they achieved during their missions had a huge impact. Now, we remember them in many ways and their tactics and strategies still stay with us through the Special Forces we have today.