During the tumultuous period of World War II, military strategy often extended beyond conventional combat, delving into the realms of espionage and psychological warfare. One audacious example of this was Operation Greif, conceived by Adolf Hitler during the Ardennes Counteroffensive, famously known as the Battle of the Bulge. This operation hinged on a daring tactic: deploying German soldiers disguised in German Military Ww2 Uniforms of the Allied forces. While the phrase “german military ww2 uniforms” typically evokes images of Wehrmacht soldiers in Feldgrau, in this context, it takes on a paradoxical twist, highlighting the intricate and often deceptive nature of wartime operations.
The objective of Operation Greif was strategically vital to Hitler’s Ardennes offensive. His plan was ambitious: to drive a wedge between the Allied armies, cross the Meuse River, and advance towards Antwerp. Speed was paramount. A critical element of this plan was securing intact bridges over the Meuse. Failure to do so would allow the Allies to regroup and thwart the German advance. To ensure the swift capture of these bridges and to sow confusion behind enemy lines, Hitler entrusted Lieutenant Colonel Otto Skorzeny with a highly secretive and unconventional mission.
Skorzeny, a veteran of daring special operations, was summoned by Hitler in October 1944 to receive his personal orders. Operation Greif was to be Skorzeny’s most ambitious undertaking yet. He was tasked with forming and training a special commando unit that would operate ahead of the 6th Panzer Army, the spearhead of the German offensive. Their mission was multifaceted: seize crucial Meuse bridges, and conduct espionage and sabotage operations, all while masquerading in german military ww2 uniforms – specifically, those of the US Army.
Hitler’s rationale for using enemy uniforms was based on the premise that the Allies themselves had employed similar tactics. He assured Skorzeny that wearing American uniforms would only constitute a violation of the laws of war if German soldiers engaged in combat while still disguised. This distinction, while legally debatable, provided the operational framework for Operation Greif.
Skorzeny established his command post at Grafenwöhr, Germany, facing a daunting six-week deadline to prepare his unit. Despite Hitler’s promises of unlimited support, the reality fell short. The promised American equipment was scarce, consisting of only a few jeeps, trucks, halftracks, and a single Sherman tank. To compensate, Skorzeny’s Panzerbrigade 150, the main combat force, was equipped with approximately 70 German tanks, ingeniously camouflaged to resemble American armored vehicles. These “Ersatz M10s,” Panther tanks disguised as American M10 tank destroyers, became a symbol of the operation’s deceptive nature.
A knocked out Ersatz M10 with both its hull and turret American markings displayed.
Adding to the operational challenges, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel inadvertently compromised the mission’s secrecy. His call for English-speaking volunteers for a special unit under Skorzeny reached not only the Wehrmacht but also Allied intelligence. While around 2,000 men responded, fluency in English was rare. Only a handful were truly fluent, and most had minimal conversational skills. Skorzeny selected the best English speakers to form Einheit Stielau, a reconnaissance element composed of small teams equipped with jeeps, radios, and demolition charges. However, these men lacked commando experience and received only basic training in the limited preparation time.
During training, rumors circulated among the commandos about a mission to assassinate General Dwight Eisenhower. Despite Skorzeny’s attempts to dismiss these rumors, they persisted and even reached American intelligence. Ironically, this unfounded rumor became Operation Greif’s most significant, albeit unintended, success. When the Ardennes Offensive commenced on December 16, 1944, reports of German soldiers in german military ww2 uniforms of the US Army operating behind Allied lines spread rapidly. These reports, often exaggerated, created widespread panic and paranoia. Captured commandos, under interrogation, often repeated the assassination rumors, further fueling Allied fears. Consequently, Generals Eisenhower and Bradley significantly limited their public appearances, hindering their command effectiveness during the critical early stages of the German offensive.
While the threat to Allied generals was overstated, Einheit Stielau did manage to sow considerable chaos. Disguised teams disrupted traffic flow, misdirecting units, and even severed communication lines between command posts. Although their numbers were too small to execute all the sabotage attributed to them, the perception of widespread infiltration and deception significantly impacted Allied morale and response capabilities. The very sight of what appeared to be german military ww2 uniforms (but were actually US uniforms worn by Germans) created confusion and distrust.
However, the German offensive soon faltered due to unexpectedly strong Allied resistance. Panzerbrigade 150’s effectiveness depended on a rapid breakthrough, which never materialized. By the second day, Skorzeny recognized the operation’s original premise was untenable and repurposed his brigade as a conventional unit within the 1st SS Panzer Corps. Skorzeny himself was wounded shortly after, effectively ending his direct involvement in the Battle of the Bulge.
Wilhelm Schmidt, Günther Billing, and Manfred Pernass, after their capture by American troops. Courtesy of The National World War II Museum.
Meanwhile, the fate of Skorzeny’s commandos was grim. Most were either killed or captured. One team managed to return to German lines, but the rest were apprehended. On December 18, 1944, three members of Einheit Stielau – Günther Billing, Wilhelm Schmidt, and Manfred Pernass – were captured in Awaille, Belgium. A US military commission swiftly convened and, on December 21, found them guilty of violating the laws of war by wearing german military ww2 uniforms (specifically, US uniforms) in the combat zone and acting as spies. They were sentenced to death.
German infiltrators lined up for execution by firing squad after conviction by a military court for wearing U.S. uniforms during the Battle of the Bulge. December 23, 1944. Photo: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/german-commandos-captured-american-uniform-1944/
The sentences were upheld, and the executions were carried out on December 23, 1944. This event underscored the severe consequences of operating in disguise during wartime, despite Hitler’s attempts to justify the tactic.
Skorzeny himself was captured in May 1945 and faced trial at Dachau in 1947. He admitted to his role in Operation Greif, but his defense, aided by his lawyer, Colonel Robert Durst, argued that the use of enemy uniforms was not a war crime unless combat occurred while disguised. Crucially, testimony from a British agent, Wing Commander Forest Yeo-Thomas, who had himself used disguises to escape captivity, swayed the court. Yeo-Thomas argued that Skorzeny’s actions were similar to legitimate acts of wartime deception. The court ultimately acquitted Skorzeny and his co-defendants, based on the interpretation of international laws of war.
Skorzeny (left) with President of Argentina Juan Perón (center). Photo: Wikimedia Commons
After escaping denazification custody in 1948, Skorzeny’s postwar life was shrouded in intrigue. He was linked to various intelligence agencies and political figures, living in Spain and Argentina before his death in 1975. Otto Skorzeny remains a controversial figure, a symbol of daring commando operations and wartime deception. Operation Greif, with its reliance on german military ww2 uniforms as a tool of disguise, stands as a stark reminder of the complex and often morally ambiguous nature of warfare, where even the familiar symbols of identity, like military uniforms, could be manipulated for strategic advantage.
