The Brandenberger Commandos: Germany's Elite Warrior Spies In World War II

by Franz Kurowski

Rare look into the secret military operations of Hitler's Germany.
Page-turning narrative detailing the unit's exploits.
Very few books have been written about this clandestine operations unit, which was run by the German Army's intelligence service. Trained to be quick, mobile, and self-reliant and steeped in local customs and languages, the Brandenburgers operated behind enemy lines around the world. From Western Europe to Romania, Russia, Egypt, Afghanistan, and World War II's other fronts, they seized bridges and other strategic targets and engaged in sabotage, espionage, and other daring missions-often bending the rules of war in the process. Although the unit was dissolved in 1944, its tactics influenced special forces around the world both during the war and after.

Genres: History, World War II, Germany

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Bohdan Barylko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but chaotic and poorly translated.

[carl theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a straightforward account of various actions by the
Brandenburg Commandos. It reads like standard army battle reports
that have been dressed up a bit and put in a readable format. The
stories make sense themselves, but the chronology of the whole book
feels disjointed. That is, no Cornelius Ryan prose here.

So I'd say you have to be interested in the subject if you're
going to make it through the whole book. Some missions get only a
line or two, others various details. It seems the smaller the mission,
that is manpower wise, the more information there is on it, for example,
the more spy oriented capers usually have a good story, as opposed
to the dressing in enemy uniforms and taking a bridge.

The chapters on operations in Afganistan, Iran and Iraq are
compelling, gee where have we heard of those countries before?

Afganistan - the Germans understand they must get the trust of
the tribal chiefs to have a successful effort against the British.
Similar stories for Iraq and Iran where the locals hate the
British rulers and are eager to turn on them, if just the right
support can be found.

Names like Sadat, and Nasser show up, who were in the Egyptian
Army at the time and ready to get rid of the British.

Author Kurowski was in the German Army and has dozens of books
on the subject, as well as a dozen pseudonyms. This book is a
good source for material.