In the desperate winter of 1944, as the Allied forces pushed deeper into Europe, Adolf Hitler conceived a bold and risky plan: the Ardennes Counteroffensive, famously known as the Battle of the Bulge. A critical element of this ambitious strategy was speed, aiming to split the Allied armies and seize Antwerp. Central to this plan was the capture of bridges over the Meuse River. To ensure this, Hitler entrusted a daring mission, Operation Greif, to Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny, relying heavily on the element of surprise and deception, notably involving the use of Wwii German Soldier Uniforms disguised as American ones.
Hitler summoned Skorzeny in October 1944 to outline Operation Greif. Skorzeny, already known for audacious exploits like rescuing Benito Mussolini, was tasked with forming a special commando unit. This unit would operate ahead of the 6th Panzer Army, the spearhead of the German offensive. Their objectives were to capture vital Meuse bridges and create havoc in the Allied rear through espionage and sabotage. The key to Skorzeny’s plan was a calculated deception: deploying German soldiers disguised in WWII German soldier uniforms modified to resemble US Army uniforms and equipment. Hitler believed this tactic, mirroring alleged Allied practices, was permissible as long as combat was avoided while in disguise.
Grafenwöhr, Germany, became the hub for Skorzeny’s preparations, with a mere six weeks to ready his force. Despite Hitler’s promises of unlimited resources, support fell short. Skorzeny received limited American equipment – a few jeeps, trucks, halftracks, and a single Sherman tank. To compensate, Panzerbrigade 150, Skorzeny’s main combat unit, was equipped with approximately 70 German tanks cleverly camouflaged to mimic American armored vehicles.
Image: Ersatz M10 Panther in Battle of the Bulge. German Panther tank disguised as an American M10 tank destroyer, displaying US markings on its hull and turret, used during the WWII Ardennes Counteroffensive.
Security was alarmingly breached when Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel issued a Wehrmacht-wide appeal for English-speaking volunteers for Skorzeny’s unit. Around 2,000 men responded, but few were truly proficient in English. Only a handful were fluent, with slightly more able to manage basic conversation. Skorzeny formed Einheit Stielau from the best English speakers—reconnaissance teams of 2-6 men with jeeps, radios, and demolition gear. Commando experience was lacking for most, and training was rushed due to the tight timeframe.
Rumors of assassinating General Eisenhower spread among the commandos, despite Skorzeny’s attempts to suppress them. American intelligence also picked up on this, ironically contributing to the mission’s unintended success. As the offensive commenced on December 16, 1944, reports of disguised German soldiers behind Allied lines surged. Exaggerated numbers of commandos were reported, yet enough were captured to make the threat palpable. Captured commandos spoke of assassination squads targeting Allied leaders, causing Eisenhower and Bradley to limit their movements and remain in headquarters. This significantly hampered the Allied command’s responsiveness to the German assault.
While the assassination threat was overstated, Einheit Stielau successfully sowed confusion. One team misdirected a whole regiment at a road junction. Another severed communications to Bradley’s headquarters. Though their numbers were small, the perceived and real sabotage actions disrupted the American response and heavily impacted morale. The WWII German soldier uniforms, though limited in number, played a crucial psychological role.
The initial German surprise was soon met with fierce Allied resistance, slowing their advance. Panzerbrigade 150’s effectiveness depended on rapid breakthroughs, allowing disguised units to infiltrate. This didn’t materialize. By the second day, Skorzeny shifted the brigade to conventional operations, attaching it to the 1st SS Panzer Corps. Skorzeny himself was wounded near Ligneuville, Belgium, ending his direct command.
Image: Captured German Soldiers in US Uniforms, Battle of the Bulge. Wilhelm Schmidt, Günther Billing, and Manfred Pernass, German soldiers of Operation Greif captured while wearing US Army uniforms during the Battle of the Bulge.
Skorzeny’s commandos continued, but most were captured or killed by American forces. Only one team returned to German lines. On December 18, 1944, US troops apprehended three Einheit Stielau members in Awaille, Belgium: Günther Billing, Wilhelm Schmidt, and Manfred Pernass. A military commission convened on December 21, finding them guilty of violating the laws of war by wearing American uniforms in combat zones and espionage while disguised. The recommended sentence: death.
Image: WWII German Soldiers Execution for Uniform Disguise. German soldiers in US uniforms, convicted by a US military court, awaiting execution by firing squad for wearing enemy uniforms during the Battle of the Bulge, December 23, 1944.
Colonel E.M. Brannon and Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges upheld the verdict, and the execution was carried out on December 23, 1944. The swift trial and execution highlighted the tense atmosphere and the perceived threat posed by soldiers in disguised WWII German soldier uniforms.
Skorzeny’s accountability came post-war. He surrendered in May 1945 and faced trial in Dachau in 1947. He admitted his role but argued his commandos were ordered to remove US uniforms before combat, and cited instances of American soldiers using German uniforms. Wing Commander Forest Yeo-Thomas, a British agent, provided crucial testimony, recounting his own escapes in German uniform, arguing no distinction from Skorzeny’s tactics existed if combat in disguise was avoided. The court, applying international laws of war, acquitted Skorzeny and his co-defendants, focusing on combat engagement while disguised as the key criterion for war crime.
Image: Otto Skorzeny Post-WWII. Otto Skorzeny pictured with Juan Perón, President of Argentina, after the Second World War, reflecting his controversial post-war life.
Skorzeny later escaped prison in 1948, reportedly with US assistance. His post-war life was shrouded in intrigue, involving alleged CIA recruitment, advising Juan Perón in Argentina, and even collaboration with Mossad. He died in 1975, a figure of enduring controversy – a war criminal to some, a commando pioneer to others. Operation Greif and the use of WWII German soldier uniforms remain a stark example of wartime deception, highlighting the ethical and practical complexities of military conflict.
