SAS Ghost Patrol: The Ultra-Secret Unit That Posed as Nazi Stormtroopers by Damien Lewis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The backdrop to this story is the British attempt to mount a large military operation comprising Special Forces coming from the desert plus a sea-borne force of marines, navy and air force to retake the important port of Tobruk (located in Libya, North Africa) and release 30,000 POW’s during WW2. The author’s focus is the success and bravery of the motley crew of Special Forces – comprising army commandos, the SAS (Special Air Service), the SBS (Special Boat Service) and the SIG (Special Interrogation Group). SIG was a specialist group of German speaking Jews from Palestine who wore German uniforms to allow them to penetrate the German/Italian/Arab units entrenched around Tobruk.
Unfortunately, despite the brilliant success of the Special Forces Tobruk remained in the enemies’ possession. The major force of regular troops aboard British ships could not land due to inferior equipment, lack of air superiority and shortages of ammo etc. However, the partial British successes did weaken the Axis powers and enabled them to kick the Germans and Italians out of North Africa for good later that year.
This is the first book by Damen Lewis that I’ve read and I found it somewhat confusing. Was I reading a novel? Or an accurate work of non-fiction? Neither, I concluded. There was little dialogue all thru the story and zero character development. 99% of the book is written in the third person so it came across as dry. The author did complete extensive research so it must be historical? No, because he admits he fictionalized people and events to make the story flow.
The most impressive and interesting part of Lewis’ work is the beginning and conclusion. The author describes in some humorous detail the differences between the SAS and the commandos – the SAS lived and operated in the desert where water is scarce, clothing is what works for you in the heat and food is rationed; in comparison the commandos though rough and tough were regular soldiers wearing proper uniforms, were well shaved and just couldn’t understand how such a ragtag bunch of gaunt, hairy, disheveled guys could achieve any military success. At the conclusion Lewis describes what happened to all the leading characters after the British withdrew. Most of them were wounded, some badly. Most escaped capture, some wandered the desert for months living off the kindness of Arabs. A few died but many survived, received medical treatment, got medals for their gallantry and returned to fight in Europe. I found the conclusion to be most moving part of the story as the will to live, get better and then carry on fighting is a true example of British fortitude.




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SAS Ghost Patrol: The Ultra-Secret Unit That Posed As Nazi Stormtroopers