During World War II, Special Forces units were instrumental in shaping the future of elite military organizations. One prominent example is the First Special Service Force (1SSF), widely known as the “Devil’s Brigade,” which made a big impact through its operations in the European Theater from 1942 to 1944.
This joint Canadian-American unit played a central role in defining the future of Commando forces in both nations, directly inspiring the creation of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR), Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM), and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne).
Although it operated for only two years, this trailblazing Special Forces group left an enduring and influential legacy on the war and on later military developments.
Project Plough and the formation of the First Special Service Force
Geoffrey Pyke, working with the British Combined Operations Command, is credited as the mastermind behind the First Special Service Force. His vision was to create a specially selected, elite unit trained to operate in harsh winter environments and execute missions deep behind enemy lines in areas such as Norway, Romania, and the Italian Alps.
In March 1942, Pyke proposed Project Plough, a plan to establish a Commando base on a glacial plateau in Norway. While the concept was met with interest, the many resource requirements it demanded from the Combined Operations Headquarters led officials to transfer it to the United States. Gen. George Marshall, Chief of Staff of the US Army, embraced the project with enthusiasm.
To facilitate the mission, the US government undertook the development of a specialized vehicle—a tank with spiked treads—designed to enable the unit to navigate snowy terrain effectively. This initiative resulted in the creation of the M29 Weasel, a tracked vehicle capable of crossing diverse terrains, including snow, desert, and mud, and hauling loads where traditional wheeled vehicles struggled.
A new commanding officer
Despite the Americans accepting responsibility for Project Plough, there was one person who was unhappy about the idea: Maj. Robert T. Frederick of the Operations Division of the US General Staff. He thought the proposed unit wouldn’t do enough damage to warrant its use on the frontlines. He was also concerned that:
- The US Army had established unrealistic objectives for the size of the force.
- A small force would be easily outnumbered.
- There was no way to get the troops out once their mission was complete; all equipment would have to be abandoned.
- There weren’t enough aircraft available to drop the men into Norway.
- Aircraft would constantly need to drop supplies for the men.
Despite his objections, Frederick’s superiors were unwilling to deviate from the original plan, and, instead, put him in charge of raising and commanding the force, now with the rank of colonel. He wasn’t the first to take control of Project Plough. Lt. Col. Howard R. Johnson had been removed from the position after arguing with his superiors over the unit’s feasibility.
Recruiting Canadian and the American soldiers
Robert Frederick quickly assumed leadership, and by July 1942, he had relieved Geoffrey Pyke from his role in planning Project Plough, proceeding with recruitment for what would eventually become the First Special Service Force.
Originally envisioned as a joint Canadian-American operation, the plan initially aimed to include Norwegian Commandos due to their skills in covert winter warfare. However, the shortage of qualified Norwegian soldiers resulted in Canadians stepping into the second-in-command role, with half of the officers and a third of the enlisted personnel coming from their ranks.
Recruits thought they were joining a parachute unit
Recruits from both nations believed they were enlisting in a parachute unit and were meticulously chosen. Tom Gilday, the Canadian Army’s sole ski instructor at that time, was appointed as one of the battalion commanders and tasked with recruiting volunteers. He selected “trappers and hunters, bushmen, farmers’ sons, all good individual outdoor types who would know their way around in the woods and in the country and in all kinds of weather conditions.”
The Americans circulated recruitment letters, looking for “single men, aged 21–35 with three or more years of grammar school. Occupations preferred: rangers, lumberjacks, northwoodsmen, hunters, prospectors, explorers and game wardens.” They also explored camps in the west for potential recruits.
Volunteers underwent intensive training
The First Special Service Force underwent rigorous training in Helena, Montana, with a pressing deployment deadline. In just 48 hours from the start, volunteers were already engaged in parachute drills. They received comprehensive training in firearms, explosives, small unit tactics, and demanding physical conditioning. The program also included problem-solving exercises, rock climbing, skiing, familiarization with the M29 Weasel vehicle, and acclimatization to cold environments.
The training placed heavy focus on combat readiness and physical endurance.
Soldiers routinely completed 97-kilometer marches, developed expertise in enemy weaponry, honed hand-to-hand combat skills, practiced amphibious operations, and underwent advanced ski training with Norwegian instructors until their proficiency matched that of the Norwegian Army.
By their first mission, every member of the 1SSF was a qualified parachutist and reportedly surpassed the capabilities of even the elite units of the US Marine Corps in drills.
The First Special Service Force arrives in Italy
The First Special Service Force engaged in four operations during the Second World War, totaling 22 battles, all of which they emerged victorious from. Initially deployed to aid in the invasion of Kiska, as part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign, they discovered upon arrival that the Japanese had already vacated the area, prompting their return to the US.
In the same year, despite being trained for the task, the decision was made not to deploy the 1SSF to Norway. Instead, the unit was sent to Italy in October 1943, joining the US Fifth Army. The men arrived on November 19, 1943 and integrated into the US 36th Infantry Division. They were tasked with taking the German positions at Monte La Difensa and Monte La Remetanea, controlled by the 104th Panzergrenadier Regiment, as no one else had been able to do so.
Between December 3-6, the 1SSF successfully captured Monte La Difensa, followed by the seizure of Monte La Remetanea between December 6-9. By early January 1944, they had secured Monte Sambúcaro and Monte Vischiataro, solidifying their reputation as an elite force. However, these victories came at a heavy cost, with a staggering 77 percent casualty rate endured by the unit.
Fighting along the Anzio beachhead
The First Special Service Force stayed in Italy for their initial major offensive, arriving at the Anzio beachhead on February 1, 1944, to replace the 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions, which had endured heavy casualties during the Battle of Cisterna. The unit’s members were tasked with holding the position and conducting raids when possible, a task at which they excelled.
The Germans struggled to engage the 1SSF and even withdrew their units in the Mussolini Canal sector due to the force’s aggressive patrols. The relentless night raids compelled the enemy to fortify their positions more than anticipated, with unit members sometimes penetrating up to 1,500 feet behind the German lines.
“The worst is yet to come”
The 1SSF made even more of a name for themselves during this time period, particularly among the Germans. They acted as though they were a much larger force than they actually were, a strategic maneuver ordered by Robert Frederick.
The “Black Devils,” as they were called by the enemy, carried stickers with their unit patch and the slogan – “the worst is yet to come” – written in German. They stuck these on the bodies of those they killed, as well as on German fortifications. The 1SSF’s reputation was so fierce that, prior to engaging with the group, the German soldiers were informed they would be “fighting an elite Canadian-American Force. They are treacherous, unmerciful and clever. You cannot afford to relax.”
At Anzio, the 1SSF fought for 99 days before being relieved, only to move on to Monte Arrestino and Rocca Massima. At the beginning of June 1944, they were one of the first Allied units to enter Rome.
Disbandment of the First Special Service Force
The final fight of the First Special Service Force was in France as part of Operation Dragoon. At the beginning of August 1944, the unit captured five fortifications on the island of Port-Cros, after which they were attached to the 1st Airborne Task Force, US Seventh Army to defend the border between France and Italy.
On December 5, 1944, the 1SSF was disbanded in Villeneuve-Loubet, France. The unit consisted of approximately 1,800 men, and was credited with roughly 12,000 German casualties and the capture of around 7,000 enemy prisoners. It also had an attrition rate of over 600 percent. Many of the men, including Canadian Tommy Prince, were honored for their service.
The legacy of the 1SSF
After the 1SSF came to an end, the group’s members were redistributed. The Canadians were moved back to their national units (primarily the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion), while the Americans were split between airborne divisions and the newly-formed 474th Infantry Regiment.
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Following the war, the lessons learned from the unit were applied to American and Canadian Special Forces, including the US Navy SEALS and US Army’s Green Berets. Each year on December 5, the 1SSF is remembered by Special Forces units in both the US and Canada, who perform a pass in review, a parachute jump and hold a formal ball.