The Devil's Brigade: How an Elite Allied Commando Unit Was Born from a Failed Plan
In short: Born from a discarded British proposal to sabotage Nazi heavy water plants, the First Special Service Force became a legendary joint American-Canadian commando unit. Though its original mission was scrapped, the force evolved into a fearsome mountain-warfare team that struck terror into German lines across Italy and France.
The First Special Service Force (FSSF) originated from 'Project Plough,' a 1942 proposal by British inventor Geoffrey Pyke. Pyke envisioned a specialized unit capable of winter sabotage against hydroelectric plants and oil fields in Norway, Romania, and the Italian Alps. He even requested a custom tracked vehicle for snow travel, which eventually inspired the M29 Weasel. However, Major Robert T. Frederick, who took command of the project in May 1942, argued that the plan was militarily unfeasible, citing unrealistic objectives, lack of troop lift, and the impossibility of evacuating soldiers after a mission.
Despite Frederick's skepticism, American and Canadian leadership proceeded with the unit's formation to maintain an Allied presence in Europe. Activated on 9 July 1942, the FSSF was a unique joint force of 1,800 men, split evenly between American and Canadian soldiers. Training took place at Fort William Henry Harrison in Montana, where the men endured a brutal schedule of parachuting, rock climbing, and hand-to-hand combat. Instructors like Dermot O'Neill taught lethal techniques, while Norwegian experts provided ski training. To foster cohesion, Frederick homogenized marching commands and standardized uniforms, successfully merging two distinct military cultures into a single, elite fighting machine.
The FSSF eventually proved its worth in the Italian campaign, notably during the assault on Monte La Difensa in late 1943. By scaling a near-vertical escarpment, the force bypassed traditional defensive lines that had repelled previous Allied attacks. Known as the 'Black Devils' or 'Devil's Brigade,' the unit utilized psychological warfare, leaving behind cards with the message 'The worst is yet to come' on fallen enemies. While some modern historians debate whether the unit's staff manufactured the 'Black Devil' nickname to intimidate the Germans, the FSSF's reputation for stealth and ferocity remains a cornerstone of modern special operations heritage, leading to the unit receiving the Congressional Gold Medal in 2013.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: First Special Service Force
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