British Commando operations during the Second World War information
Commandos
The Commando Memorial
Active
1940–1946
Country
United Kingdom
Allegiance
United Kingdom
Branch
British Army Royal Marines Royal Navy Royal Air Force
Type
Commando
Role
Coastal raiding Assault infantry Special operations
Part of
Combined Operations
Engagements
Second World War
Decorations
Battle honours
Adriatic
Alethangyaw
Aller
Anzio
Argenta Gap
Burma 1943–45
Crete
Dieppe
Dives Crossing
Djebel Choucha
Flushing
Greece 1944–45
Italy 1943–45
Kangow
Landing at Porto San Venere
Landing in Sicily
Leese
Litani
Madagascar
Middle East 1941, 42, 44
Monte Ornito
Myebon
Normandy Landings
North Africa 1941–43
North-West Europe 1942, 1944, 1945
Norway 1941
Pursuit to Messina
Rhine
St. Nazaire
Salerno
Sedjenane 1
Sicily 1943
Steamroller Farm
Syria 1941
Termoli
Vaagso
Valli di Comacchio
Westkapelle
Commanders
Notable commanders
Roger Keyes Louis Mountbatten Robert Laycock John Durnford-Slater Peter Young Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat Ronnie Tod Augustus Charles Newman Jack Churchill
Insignia
Combined Operations Shoulder Patch
Military unit
The Commandos formed during the Second World War, following an order from the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in June 1940 for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe. Churchill stated in a minute to General Ismay on 6 June 1940: "Enterprises must be prepared, with specially-trained troops of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror down these coasts, first of all on the "butcher and bolt" policy..."[1] Commandos were all volunteers for special service and originally came from the British Army but volunteers would eventually come from all branches of the United Kingdom's armed forces and foreign volunteers from countries occupied by the Germans. These volunteers formed over 30 individual units and four assault brigades.
The commandos would serve in all the theatres of war from the Arctic Circle, to Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific. Their operations ranged from small groups of men landing from the sea or by parachute to a brigade of assault troops spearheading the Allied invasions of Europe and Asia.
After the Second World War most of the commands were disbanded leaving just the Royal Marine 3 Commando Brigade but their legacy is the present day Royal Marines Commandos, the Parachute Regiment, Special Air Service and the Special Boat Service who can all trace their origins to the commandos.[2] Their legacy also extends to mainland Europe, the French Naval commandos, the Dutch Korps Commandotroepen and the Belgian Paracommando Brigade can all trace their origins to men who volunteered to serve with the British Commandos.[3][4][5]
^Churchill, Winston (1949). The Second World War, Vol II, Their Finest Hour. Cassell & Co Ltd. p. 217.
^Dunning, p. 109
^"Centre d'Entraînement de Commandos". Ministère de la Défense,la Composante Terre. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
^"The history of the Commando Foundation". Korps Commandotroepen. Archived from the original on 2010-10-31. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
^"Les fusiliers marins et les commandos". Ministère de la Défense. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
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