The British Commandos of World War II were the strike force soldiers that every enemy rightfully feared.
In June, 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill requested the formation of an elite special unit to covertly infiltrate enemy lines and carry out raids across Europe. Initially picked from the men who volunteered for the British Special Service Brigade, becoming a Commando required strength, discipline, and the completion of a brutal training course. These men fought on the beaches of Normandy, in the cities of Italy, all the way through Germany, and wherever else their country needed them.
Witness the brave men in berets who were the best fighters the British had to offer.
1
Men from No. 9 Commando the morning after Operation Partridge near the Garigliano river
December, 1943
2
Commandos in training on an assault course obstacle
1942
3
Two Vickers machine guns of a heavy weapons troop in the outskirts of Wesel
1945
4
Commandos in training simulate an amphibious landing by disembarking from a dummy landing craft into a shallow pit filled with water
1944
5
Commandos demonstrate a technique for crossing barbed wire during training in Scotland
February, 1942
6
Crossing a river on a toggle rope bridge under simulated artillery fire
1944
7
Commandos wearing the green beret and carrying the Bergan rucksack during the Normandy landings
June, 1944
8
Commandos during Operation Archery. The man on the left is armed with a Thompson submachine gun
1941
9
A wounded Commando being helped towards a Landing Craft Assault (LCA) during Operation Archery
1941
10
Royal Marines Commandos on their way to relieve the 6th Airborne Division at Pegasus Bridge
June, 1944
11
Special Service troops of 47 Royal Marine Commando land at Gold Beach near Le Hamel on D-Day
June, 1944
12
Men of the 1st Commando Brigade in Osnabrück
April, 1945
13
3rd Commando Brigade coming ashore from landing craft during the Burma Campaign
1941
14
Paratroops of 1st Airborne Division take cover in a shell hole at Arnhem
1944
15
Crossing a river on a single rope at Achnacarry
1942
16
Commandos march through Flushing during the capture of Walcheren
1944
17
Commandos near damaged tanks and landing craft
1942
18
Army Commandos land on the Normandy beaches
June, 1944
19
Men of 40 Royal Marine Commando leave a power plant they destroyed at Lake Comacchio, Italy
1945
20
Polish members of the Number 10 Commando participating in a training exercise in England during World War II
1942
