THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE HONOURED
Washington will be honouring the approximate 230 remaining elite Canadian and U.S. soldiers known as the Devil’s Brigade. On February 2 they will be presented with a Congressional Gold Medal.
The Devil’s Brigade, founded in 1942, was an elite fighting force that used unconventional tactics during WWII against their enemies. Made up of approximately 1800 U.S. and Canadian’s that were used to get behind enemy lines and target both military and industrial targets. This group of soldiers were made op of many rural rough fellows who had survival skills including lumberjacks and miners.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. It is awarded to persons "who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement." Less than 150 of the medals have been awarded since the first was given to George Washington.
The name given to the Montana-based “First Special Service Force” of the Devil’s Brigade first came from a German Captains written journal where he described the “Black Devils” and stated “We never know where they’re going to hit or strike next”.
The unit, who were trained in unconventional warfare, including parachuting, mountain climbing and survival skills, kept the name the German Captain gave them as they did like to blacken their faces when going on raids.
The Devil’s Brigade took the brazen idea of leaving calling cards for the enemy written in German with their red spearhead logo and emblazed with the words USA CANADA “the worst is yet to come”.
Virtual suicide missions were standard for the Brigade including destroying a German nuclear research facility in Norway. During their two years they never lost a battle and captured 30,000 prisoners while liberating many towns in Italy and France.
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