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Hitler's Brandenburgers: The Third Reich's Elite Special Forces
Hitler's daring and pioneering Brandenburgers special forces served in every German theatre of action. This is the most comprehensive account of an unusual and profoundly successful band of men.
Lawrence Paterson traces the origins of the small unit, before the outbreak of war in 1939, as the brainchild of Admiral Canaris and part of his Abwehr intelligence unit through through to its breaking up in 1944 when it was largely converted to a, conventional Panzergrenadier division. At that point, many Brandenburgers transferred to Otto Skorzeny's SS Jagdverbande. It is well-known that German troops disguised themselves as Allied troops for the Battle of the Bulge - but less well known the Brandenburger operations used such disguises - more effectively -in in advance of the Blitzkrieg in 1939-41.
Despite their profound success as commando raiding troops their history has been overshadowed by equivalent Allied units and largely ignored. However, within North Africa the Brandenburgers employed similar techniques to the SAS and LRDG, at first earning Erwin Rommel's disapproval for their unorthodox methods until he began to feel the effect of similar Allied raids. Paterson details the roles of key individuals, such as Theodor von Hippel, along with forensic details of key operations. He explodes many of the myths about the unit and provides a clear and comprehensive history of this key part of the Wehrmacht.
Lawrence Paterson traces the origins of the small unit, before the outbreak of war in 1939, as the brainchild of Admiral Canaris and part of his Abwehr intelligence unit through through to its breaking up in 1944 when it was largely converted to a, conventional Panzergrenadier division. At that point, many Brandenburgers transferred to Otto Skorzeny's SS Jagdverbande. It is well-known that German troops disguised themselves as Allied troops for the Battle of the Bulge - but less well known the Brandenburger operations used such disguises - more effectively -in in advance of the Blitzkrieg in 1939-41.
Despite their profound success as commando raiding troops their history has been overshadowed by equivalent Allied units and largely ignored. However, within North Africa the Brandenburgers employed similar techniques to the SAS and LRDG, at first earning Erwin Rommel's disapproval for their unorthodox methods until he began to feel the effect of similar Allied raids. Paterson details the roles of key individuals, such as Theodor von Hippel, along with forensic details of key operations. He explodes many of the myths about the unit and provides a clear and comprehensive history of this key part of the Wehrmacht.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2018
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89 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Paterson
32 books19 followersBorn and raised in New Zealand, but now living in southern Italy. I've been interested in history, particularly WW2 history, since I can remember.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 1, 2019
A very well researched and written book, in true Lawrence Paterson style. The book is filled in great detail with all known Brandenburger operations during World War 2. Highly recommended for all special operation readers.
November 18, 2018
Hitler’s Brandenburgers – The first comprehensive history of their exploits.
Unless you are a historian, with a speciality in either Military or Second World War history, many outside that realm may never have hear of the Brandenburgers. Lawrence Paterson has written the first comprehensive history of them, in the English language that I know of. This book shines a light on an important, and the world’s first military special forces. Winston Churchill did not come up with the SOE in isolation, he knew the Brandenburgers were a force, especially by the time he had become Prime Minister.
Lawrence Paterson provides a full portrait of this special forces’ unit, from its creation in 1939 to its merging with another division in 1944. They were not a creation of the Wehrmacht but the Abwehr, with the aim of working behind enemy lines and sabotage work. Members of the unit took part in seizing important targets and infiltration. Foreign German nationals who were convinced Nazi volunteers, constituent members had lived abroad and were proficient in foreign languages as well as knowing the way of life in the area of operations where they were deployed.
This book fortunately does not go down the deep dark black hole that is Germany’s many far-flung and often unsuccessful, intelligence missions. What Paterson has done so that the reader can understand the full genesis of this unit, he traces it back to the Great War.
What one does learn is that the history of the Brandenburgers is complex and is interwoven with the Wehrmacht, Abwehr and Waffen SS operations. The founders and leaders of this unit are also examined in some detail, so as be able to understand how it grew, and how its stature grew.
To aid our understanding Paterson has translated from German both the primary source material as well as the reliable secondary sources. So, what we get is a broader history, that is not seen through eyes of the ‘winners’ but those of the Germans. So, we get a fair and honest examination, that aids our understanding of the military tactics used by the Germans during the War.
This is one of the most interesting military history books for a long time that has been designed to open up German sources and historical knowledge to the English speaker. A must for all those wishing to understand German operational tactics during World War 2, as well as those who thirst for more knowledge of the War.
Unless you are a historian, with a speciality in either Military or Second World War history, many outside that realm may never have hear of the Brandenburgers. Lawrence Paterson has written the first comprehensive history of them, in the English language that I know of. This book shines a light on an important, and the world’s first military special forces. Winston Churchill did not come up with the SOE in isolation, he knew the Brandenburgers were a force, especially by the time he had become Prime Minister.
Lawrence Paterson provides a full portrait of this special forces’ unit, from its creation in 1939 to its merging with another division in 1944. They were not a creation of the Wehrmacht but the Abwehr, with the aim of working behind enemy lines and sabotage work. Members of the unit took part in seizing important targets and infiltration. Foreign German nationals who were convinced Nazi volunteers, constituent members had lived abroad and were proficient in foreign languages as well as knowing the way of life in the area of operations where they were deployed.
This book fortunately does not go down the deep dark black hole that is Germany’s many far-flung and often unsuccessful, intelligence missions. What Paterson has done so that the reader can understand the full genesis of this unit, he traces it back to the Great War.
What one does learn is that the history of the Brandenburgers is complex and is interwoven with the Wehrmacht, Abwehr and Waffen SS operations. The founders and leaders of this unit are also examined in some detail, so as be able to understand how it grew, and how its stature grew.
To aid our understanding Paterson has translated from German both the primary source material as well as the reliable secondary sources. So, what we get is a broader history, that is not seen through eyes of the ‘winners’ but those of the Germans. So, we get a fair and honest examination, that aids our understanding of the military tactics used by the Germans during the War.
This is one of the most interesting military history books for a long time that has been designed to open up German sources and historical knowledge to the English speaker. A must for all those wishing to understand German operational tactics during World War 2, as well as those who thirst for more knowledge of the War.
December 7, 2021
Once again author Lawrence Paterson brings an excellent and very well researched book. Well written, concise and fluid reading. He demystifies some legends about the regiment and confirms others. World War II produced several special units, as fashionable these days as the SAS, SBS and Brandenburg Regiment fit this profile. Interesting for those who appreciate this type of unit.
January 16, 2020
Very interesting piece on history
April 15, 2023
The “Commando” designation is derived from the teams of Dutch Afrikaner that fought the British during the Boer war. Historically, militaries have created specialized and Elite units. For Germany, the terms of the Armistice were highly restrictive, and the Germans rebuilt the military in secret. What became Germany’s first special forces group originated within the Ministry of Defense, Abwehr section responsible for sabotage.
Initially established in company strength, just after the 1939 Polish Campaign, The Brandenburger’s were incrementally expanded in size as they operated in an increasing scope of operations, roles, and responsibilities. The Brandenburger’s operated in advance of the conventional forces on both the Eastern and Western front, North Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Africa, and the Balkans.
This book is both a small unit action study that provides key details of unit organization, roles, responsibilities and actions, as well as providing a look at the higher-level politics and strategy within the OKW and the Army Groups.
Of Particular interest to me was chapters 4 and 10, which covered the Partisan and Anti-Partisan operations in the Balkans. The last Chapter, 11, covers the deactivation of the Brandenburger’s and immediate reactivation as a conventional unit assigned to the Grossdeutschland Division. The Brandenburger’s ultimately operated in the Balkans and in the East until the very end
This book is a key and instrumental history of Special Operations in the German Army from 1939 to 1945. It provides a clarifying look at a complex and murky subject and provides a comprehensive in-depth look of the formation’s origins, organization, and actions – this history is a complex weave of Wehrmacht, Abwehr and SS Operations. It provides an essential look at the officers and characters that provided its genesis. It provides the original motivation behind the creation of this unit and then it becomes apparent how far from its original purpose and scope it strayed as its reputation grew in stature that was almost directly inverse proportion to its diminishing usefulness.
There are many pictures, and the only drawback is there are no maps. I used WW II atlas Maps to gain context of where the Unit was organized, trained, and operated. I highly recommend this book – it is outstandingly detailed and based on primary source documents.
Initially established in company strength, just after the 1939 Polish Campaign, The Brandenburger’s were incrementally expanded in size as they operated in an increasing scope of operations, roles, and responsibilities. The Brandenburger’s operated in advance of the conventional forces on both the Eastern and Western front, North Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Africa, and the Balkans.
This book is both a small unit action study that provides key details of unit organization, roles, responsibilities and actions, as well as providing a look at the higher-level politics and strategy within the OKW and the Army Groups.
Of Particular interest to me was chapters 4 and 10, which covered the Partisan and Anti-Partisan operations in the Balkans. The last Chapter, 11, covers the deactivation of the Brandenburger’s and immediate reactivation as a conventional unit assigned to the Grossdeutschland Division. The Brandenburger’s ultimately operated in the Balkans and in the East until the very end
This book is a key and instrumental history of Special Operations in the German Army from 1939 to 1945. It provides a clarifying look at a complex and murky subject and provides a comprehensive in-depth look of the formation’s origins, organization, and actions – this history is a complex weave of Wehrmacht, Abwehr and SS Operations. It provides an essential look at the officers and characters that provided its genesis. It provides the original motivation behind the creation of this unit and then it becomes apparent how far from its original purpose and scope it strayed as its reputation grew in stature that was almost directly inverse proportion to its diminishing usefulness.
There are many pictures, and the only drawback is there are no maps. I used WW II atlas Maps to gain context of where the Unit was organized, trained, and operated. I highly recommend this book – it is outstandingly detailed and based on primary source documents.
December 9, 2025
Detalladisimo estudio acerca de las fuerzas especiales creadas por el servicio de inteligencia militar alemán (Abwehr) durante la 2a Guerra Mundial dedicado inicialmente a realizar operaciones de sabotaje e insurgencia tras las líneas enemigas, en muchas ocasiones bajo uniformes enemigos (algo muy arriesgado ya que la captura suponía la ejecución inmediata), para facilitar el desarrollo de las operaciones ofensivas de la Wermacht, el ejército alemán. Y posteriormente a realizar operaciones de limpieza y neutralización de las fuerzas partisanas en los territorios ocupados, hasta acabar siendo integrada como una división más en la estructura del ejército alemán hacia la última parte de la guerra.
Resulta muy interesante conocer como se formó y organizó esta unidad, los entrenamientos especializados, el reclutamiento de sus miembros entre las distintas etnias y naciones de los teatros en los que operaba o tenía previsto operar el ejército alemán, aunque en algunas ocasiones no llegará a hacerlo.
También lo es saber que una de las funciones secretas que esperaba de este cuerpo el máximo responsable de la Abwehr, el almirante Canaris, firme opositor de Hitler, era utilizarlo como fuerza de choque para tomar el poder cuando la situación se presentara propicia. Algo que como sabemos nunca llego a ocurrir.
De todas formas adolece de un enfoque quiza excesivamente técnico que hace que te pierdas un poco entre tanta formación, reformación y destino de sus diversas unidades, repartidas por todos los teatros de operaciones. Falta un hilo conductor más nítido aunque no por ello deja de ser una lectura apasionante para los más interesados en la temática.
Resulta muy interesante conocer como se formó y organizó esta unidad, los entrenamientos especializados, el reclutamiento de sus miembros entre las distintas etnias y naciones de los teatros en los que operaba o tenía previsto operar el ejército alemán, aunque en algunas ocasiones no llegará a hacerlo.
También lo es saber que una de las funciones secretas que esperaba de este cuerpo el máximo responsable de la Abwehr, el almirante Canaris, firme opositor de Hitler, era utilizarlo como fuerza de choque para tomar el poder cuando la situación se presentara propicia. Algo que como sabemos nunca llego a ocurrir.
De todas formas adolece de un enfoque quiza excesivamente técnico que hace que te pierdas un poco entre tanta formación, reformación y destino de sus diversas unidades, repartidas por todos los teatros de operaciones. Falta un hilo conductor más nítido aunque no por ello deja de ser una lectura apasionante para los más interesados en la temática.
October 8, 2023
Lawrence Paterson's book addresses a special operations unit within the Third Reich during World War II that I have not heard of before. This is a detailed book and provides in depth information on the Brandenburgers including the fact that German Admiral Conaris (head of intelligence) was an opponent of Hitler and the Third Reich from the beginning.
Paterson details operations in the Soviet Union, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Africa. What I found particularly interesting are the links to our times today i.e., Ukraine and the Middle East. As I read the book, I was reminded of how little people know of history and the long-term impacts on today's world and society. Of course, academia and the cancel culture have much to do with suppressing or twisting history. When we read and study history, we can see the connecting threads over time.
Paterson illustrates that not only the Brandenburgers, but other Nazi units, including the SS, incorporated nationals from other countries into their ranks, including people from the Ukraine.
This is an interesting work and well worth the read.
Paterson details operations in the Soviet Union, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Africa. What I found particularly interesting are the links to our times today i.e., Ukraine and the Middle East. As I read the book, I was reminded of how little people know of history and the long-term impacts on today's world and society. Of course, academia and the cancel culture have much to do with suppressing or twisting history. When we read and study history, we can see the connecting threads over time.
Paterson illustrates that not only the Brandenburgers, but other Nazi units, including the SS, incorporated nationals from other countries into their ranks, including people from the Ukraine.
This is an interesting work and well worth the read.
October 27, 2024
Päätin antaa tälle teokselle peräti täydet tähdet, koska kirjoittaja oli todella mennyt aiheeseensa syvälle - aiheen tarkastelu vietiin usein ihan yksittäisten sotilaiden tasolle, eli työtä kirja eteen oli tehty harvinaisen tosissaan. Ja lisäksi kyseessä vielä aihe, johon on liittynyt kaikenlaista salassapidettyä, peitenimiä ja jos minkälaista kirjoittajalta vaikuttavaa salapoliisityötä vaativaa.
Edes sotahistorian harrastajat eivät yleensä ole Brandenburg-joukoista ja heidän teoistaan perillä ollenkaan tai juuri ollenkaan. Itse kuuluin ennen tämän lukemista jälkimmäiseen ryhmään. Nyt tiedän, että näiden pienten miesjoukkojen varassa oli hetkittäin täysin saksalaisten "salamasodan" onnistuminen ja nämä - usein hyökkäyksen kohteena olevan maan kansalaiset - olivat mukana kaikissa Saksan suurimmissa voitoissa, vaikka toki heidän roolinsa hetkittäin jäi marginaaliseksi.
Puuttumaan vielä jäi kirjoittajalta sen esittäminen, että kun näihin joukkoihin tosiaan kuului reilusti naapurimaiden kansalaisia (jotka eivät suinkaan aina olleet sudeetti-saksalaisia), niin mikä motivoi heidät hyvin vaarallisiin tehtäviin ja "maanpetturiksi". Lisäksi olisin kaivannut loppuun sellaista "conclusions"-osiota.
Edes sotahistorian harrastajat eivät yleensä ole Brandenburg-joukoista ja heidän teoistaan perillä ollenkaan tai juuri ollenkaan. Itse kuuluin ennen tämän lukemista jälkimmäiseen ryhmään. Nyt tiedän, että näiden pienten miesjoukkojen varassa oli hetkittäin täysin saksalaisten "salamasodan" onnistuminen ja nämä - usein hyökkäyksen kohteena olevan maan kansalaiset - olivat mukana kaikissa Saksan suurimmissa voitoissa, vaikka toki heidän roolinsa hetkittäin jäi marginaaliseksi.
Puuttumaan vielä jäi kirjoittajalta sen esittäminen, että kun näihin joukkoihin tosiaan kuului reilusti naapurimaiden kansalaisia (jotka eivät suinkaan aina olleet sudeetti-saksalaisia), niin mikä motivoi heidät hyvin vaarallisiin tehtäviin ja "maanpetturiksi". Lisäksi olisin kaivannut loppuun sellaista "conclusions"-osiota.
June 13, 2022
Por fin alguien deja aparte prejuicios ideológicos y habla con justicia de unos hombres,heroicos y especiales, que de haber nacido en Estados Unidos o el Reino Unido, veríamos hasta en la sopa en series y películas.
June 2, 2025
A lot of factology. It is worth reading if you want to see a different perspective of how to organize specially trained, equipped, and selected personnel than the Allies did during WW2.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews