In June 1940, following the humiliating evacuation from Dunkirk, Britain stood alone against the Nazi juggernaut.
Winston Churchill was determined to maintain an offensive spirit and demanded the creation of special forces capable of harassing German-occupied Europe – both to inflict casualties on the Germans and bolster British morale.
From idea to inception
Initially volunteers were drawn from the British Army – technically they were only on secondment and retained their own regimental cap badges – and carefully selected for their fitness, initiative, and aggression. By the autumn of 1940 more than 2,000 men had volunteered, and quickly expanded into 12 units called Commandos, each with around 450 men.
They underwent a gruelling six-week intensive training regime at Achnacarry in the Scottish Highlands, concentrating on fitness, speed marches, weapons training, map reading, climbing, small boat operations and demolitions both by day and by night. The distinctive green beret became their symbol, a mark of belonging to this elite fraternity.
Some Commandos were designated for specific tasks from the start, such as being a parachute unit or for Arctic warfare. In February 1942 the Royal Marines were tasked to organise Commando units of their own and quickly formed nine such units.
Early raids: hitting back at the enemy
The first Commando operations were small-scale raids, disrupting German shipping and infrastructure. The audacious raid on the French port of Lofoten in 1941, where Commandos destroyed fish oil factories crucial to German U-boat production, marked their arrival. Similar raids followed in Norway, the Netherlands, and St Nazaire, showcasing their tactical prowess and willingness to fight behind enemy lines.
These early commando raids often instilled fear in the enemy. They so enraged Hitler that he issued his infamous ‘Commando Order’ in 1942, which allowed the summary execution of any captured commando.
Evolution and expansion: beyond raiding
As the war progressed, the Commando concept expanded. Volunteers from all branches of the British armed forces, including the Royal Marines, joined the ranks. Additionally, foreign nationals from occupied countries like Poland and Belgium brought their local knowledge and thirst for liberation. This diversified force grew into over 30 individual units and four assault brigades.
Their operations developed from small groups of men landing from the sea or by parachute, to by 1943 being lightly equipped assault infantry which specialised in spearheading amphibious landings. They relied on their training and abilities to overcome difficulties that might have deterred more conventional units.
In Operation Torch, the landings in North Africa, Commandos secured vital ports and installations, paving the way for Allied forces. They played a key role during the D-Day landings in June 1944, where they destroyed gun batteries and seized bridges and other targets.
Fighting on all fronts
The Commandos were not confined to European battlefields. They fought in the harsh terrain of North Africa, the unforgiving jungles of Burma, and the heat of the Mediterranean. In Burma, alongside the Chindits, they conducted guerilla operations against Japanese forces, disrupting supply lines and hindering their advance. In Italy, they spearheaded landings at Anzio and Salerno, breaking German defences and securing beachheads for the Allied invasion.
Legacy
The Commandos pioneered special operations tactics like small-unit infiltration, combined arms operations, and amphibious landings. Their success inspired the creation of similar elite units across the Allied forces, like the US Army Rangers.
After the war, the Commando units were largely disbanded. However, their spirit lived on. The Royal Marines’ 3 Commando Brigade continues their tradition, while the Parachute Regiment and SAS trace their lineage directly to the Commandos.
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