German fifth columnists and special forces

Thomas McCall · 26-05-2004, 06:20 PM

Does anybody know of the Germans using special forces or fifth columnists operating behind Soviet lines throughout the war on the Eastern Front and what damage they did to the Red Army?

Thanks.

Kiwiwriter · 21-08-2004, 04:41 AM

A book on the "Brandenburgers" should help you out on this. Given the size of the Russo-German war, they did not amount to much.

Most of the Russians in German service were Hilfswilligen, the "Hiwis," who started off as cooks, grooms, horse drivers, supply carriers, and so on, and wound up as combatant soldiers in "Ost Battalions," which filled up the TOE tables of infantry divisions. Many of these battalions fought in the West or the Balkans. The best-known outfit of "renegades" was the 162nd Turkoman Division, which fought in Italy, mostly against 2nd New Zealand Division.

laufer · 24-08-2004, 01:37 PM

I believe that "Nachtigal" battalion recruited from ukrainian volunteers before invasion of Soviets was a sort of special and diversionary unit.
They were attached to Brandenburger's.
see: http://home.comcast.net/~furrylogic/brandenburg.html

Thomas McCall · 24-08-2004, 02:22 PM

Very intersting link thank you!

26-05-2004, 06:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Thomas McCall Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carmarthen, Wales Posts: 131	Does anybody know of the Germans using special forces or fifth columnists operating behind Soviet lines throughout the war on the Eastern Front and what damage they did to the Red Army? Thanks. __________________ Gadair unig ei drig draw!- Ei dwyfraich, Fel pe'n ddifrif wrandaw, Heddiw estyn yn ddistaw Mewn hedd hir am un na ddaw. gan, R.Williams Parry

21-08-2004, 04:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kiwiwriter Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Newark, NJ, and Christchurch, NZ Posts: 2,431	A book on the "Brandenburgers" should help you out on this. Given the size of the Russo-German war, they did not amount to much. Most of the Russians in German service were Hilfswilligen, the "Hiwis," who started off as cooks, grooms, horse drivers, supply carriers, and so on, and wound up as combatant soldiers in "Ost Battalions," which filled up the TOE tables of infantry divisions. Many of these battalions fought in the West or the Balkans. The best-known outfit of "renegades" was the 162nd Turkoman Division, which fought in Italy, mostly against 2nd New Zealand Division. __________________ "My intensity is intense." -- Roger Clemens "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." -- Winston Churchill. "I am not a hero. The heroes are all dead. I am a survivor." -- Sgt. William Guarnere, Easy Company, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Check out my little contributions to World War II history at my web pages: World War II Plus 55 or http://davidhlippman.wildbillguarnere.com

24-08-2004, 01:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
laufer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lublin Posts: 197	I believe that "Nachtigal" battalion recruited from ukrainian volunteers before invasion of Soviets was a sort of special and diversionary unit. They were attached to Brandenburger's. see: http://home.comcast.net/~furrylogic/brandenburg.html __________________ "It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it." Robert E. Lee "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept my faith" 2 Timothy 4:7

24-08-2004, 02:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
Thomas McCall Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carmarthen, Wales Posts: 131	Very intersting link thank you! __________________ Gadair unig ei drig draw!- Ei dwyfraich, Fel pe'n ddifrif wrandaw, Heddiw estyn yn ddistaw Mewn hedd hir am un na ddaw. gan, R.Williams Parry

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