In WW2, did the Germans had there own elite special forces? Were they good compare to the British SAS in WW2?

Answer 1

The Germans in WW2 made use of many types of specalist

troops in their military such as the following

Brandenburgers,

Combat-Pioneers,

Army Paratroopers,

Air-force Para troopers

and a very small unit of SS- Paratroopers.

Mountain Warfare Troops such as the Gebergsjägers.

Anti-Partisan Squads, etc .. etc..

They tended to rely on combinations drawn from the different

units to form Battle-Groups for the specific task in hand.

It was all very much a learning curve for the Germans as well as the Allies.

The British had the S.A.S.

the Special Raiding Force,

the S.B.S.

The Long Range Desert Group.

Royal Marine Commandos,

as well as a few unorthodox units like

Popski Private Army.

And for Jungle Warfare in the Far East were the Chindits.

All of these formations were the fore-runners of what today

are known as Special Forces, many things were tried in

WW2 and if they failed they tried new tactics until they got it

right.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
In WW2, did the Germans had there own elite special forces? Were they good compare to the British SAS in WW2?

Answer 3

The Germans had special forces within the Waffen SS for unconventional attacks or raiding. They ere, like the majority of the Waffen SS and other elite units, deployed primarily on the Eastern front and were used for pilot rescue and raids against comm centers and high priority targets. The most famous use of them was the attempted rescue of Mussolini on the Western are of operations. The Germans also deployed the German paratroopers in somewhat of the same role during the invasion of Holland and later in the war. As a note the Germans used helicopters on the Eastern front late in WW2 to insert the special forces personnel and to rescue downed pilots and other "high value" personnel in danger of being trapped ot captured by the Russians. The Russians also used helicopters though even more limited numbers then the Germans for the same purposes. The German Special were mainly Waffen SS troops and were hand selected for this role; they were very well trained, equipped and fanatical about success so they were very good and as good as any other countries special forces/operations units.

Answer 4

German Special Forces Ww2

Answer 5

"The German army had the Brandenburger Regiment, which was originally founded as a special forces unit used by the Abwehr for infiltration and long distance reconnaissance in Fall Weiss of 1939 and the Fall Gelb and Barbarossa campaigns of 1940 and 1941. Later during the war the SS- Jagdverbände, a unit within the Waffen SS commanded by Otto Skorzeny, also conducted many special operations."

Brandenburger Regiment & SS- Jagdverbände

Answer 6

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avn3g

Most of them would prefer to be taken prisoner by the British or Americans because they knew that they would stick to the Geneva Convention (usually), although there were 'some' ocassional atrocities carried out by the British and Americans, the Germans knew that their chances of survival were good if they surrendered to them. They knew that the Russians didn't stick to the GC, mainly because the German invasion of Russia was extremely cruel and barbaric, where millions of Rusians had been executed and lives and livelihoods ruined by the fanaticism of the Germans. the Germans viewed the Soviets as less than human and had treated them as such, so they knew they would be treated the same way.

Answer 7

The German SS were the toughest and most battled hardened troops of the German Army during WWII.
It's tough to say how they would stand up against other elite forces from anywhere else. It has been reported that the SS were most feared in combat.

Answer 8

Don't forget The Germans had advanced scouts in all units. Their military developed and defined airborne tactics. All other paratroop were patterned after German. As always US military commanders rejected the concept. The Germans were inserted in places where regular army couldn't be readily deployed, or where massive firepower by small units could suppress and destroy. Greece, Malta, Sicily, and many other places. There was also an OSS type organization responsible for clandestine operations in neutrals, such as Sweden, Switzerland, Africa, South America, and Middle-east.
I'm only giving the history, not applauding it. SO PLEASE!!!!

Answer 9

I know there were SF troops in the German military. You can try a google or yahoo search for "Brandenburg Commandos" That will get you something. I dont know enough to compare the two services
The SS would not be considered SF they were elite but they were just like the Old Guard of Napoleons Arme. they were battle hardened and political troops. just elite ground troops but not SF.

Answer 10

The SS got special treatment ( like blood transfusions, the best gear available etc )but were not really trained for specialist roles beyond that of the normal Weremacht troops.

They were tough, committed and determined, almost suicidally so, like the "Hilter Jugend" around Normandy in 1944, but not really special forces.

The British had a real need for small specialist units before the second front opened up- SOE spies and trainers for partisans, commandos and my favourite, the long range desert group.