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A variety of different specialized units appeared during World War II. Probably the most innovative were airborn assault units (paratroops and gliders). They were introduced by the Germans in their Western Offensive (1940). They proved successful, the greatest achievement was taking the Belgian fort at Ebon-Emal. While the performance of the Luftwaffe and Panzers was the key factors in the German success, the world was starteled by the new airbotn soldiers. The German parattroops were used in the conquest of Crete (1941), although at great cost. This prevented Hitler from using them again. America and Britain after the appearance of the German paratroops, decided to create their own airborn troops. They played a major role in both the invasion of Sicity and D-Day and used as infantry played a key role in blunting the German Bulge offensive. Another important specialized unit was the commandos. Commandos were used in both the European and Pacific theater. American Army Rangers took Pont-du-Hoc on D-Day (1944). American and British commandos played an important role in Burma. Montain (ski) units were organized by the Americans and Germans. Finnish ski soldiers played an important role in the Winter war (1939-41). An American Mountain Division played an important role in Italy (1944). Red Army units of course led two massive winter offensives against the Germans. Ski troops were involved, but I do not know if they had actual mountain divisions. Another specialized group was air attack squadrons. The best know were the Japanese Kmakazis organized to attack U.S. Navy ships after the distruction of the Imperial Fleet at the the Battel of Leyte Gulf (1944). There were also submarine commandos. The Japanese deployed midget submarines at Pearl Harbor (1941). The Italians achieved some success with manned tprpdoes. Several countries organized marine units. The best known is the U.S. Marine Corps which played a central role in the Central Pacific campaign. The British nd Japanese also had marine units.
Another specialized group was air attack squadrons. The best know were the Japanese Kmakazis organized to attack U.S. Navy ships after the distruction of the Imperial Fleet at the the Battel of Leyte Gulf (1944). The Kamakazis were one of the few options availavle to the Japanese in the last year of the War. The Imperial Fleet was destroyed and their air force hoplessly outclassed. The Japanse strategy became to make the invasion of Japan so costly that the Americans would be willing to make peace without occupying the country. The Germans at the end of the War orhanized an air attack unit. It was not a suiside jnit as that was alien to German military culture. It was, however, close to it. They were organized to ram Allied bombers, but then to bail out.
A variety of different specialized units appeared during World War II. Probably the most innovative were airborn assault units (paratroops and gliders). They were introduced by the Germans in their Western Offensive (1940). They proved successful, the greatest achievement was taking the Belgian fort at Ebon-Emal. While the performance of the Luftwaffe and Panzers was the key factors in the German success, the world was starteled by the new airbotn soldiers. The German parattroops were used in the conquest of Crete (1941), although at great cost. If the Germans had used their airborn to assault Malta it could hve significantly affected the North African campaign. The losses on Crete horrified Hitler and he never used them again in an aerial assault. America and Britain after the appearance of the German paratroops, decided to create their own airborn troops. The units became some of the most storied in the European campaign. They played a major role in both the invasion of Sicity and D-Day and used as infantry played a key role in blunting the German Bulge offensive. The Japanese also had paratroop units which they used in the Dutch East Indies. The Germans and Japanese were unable to used their airborn units once the Allies won air superority.
Another important specialized unit was the commandos. Commandos were used in both the European and Pacific theater. American Army Rangers took Pont-du-Hoc on D-Day (1944). American and British commandos played an important role in Burma.
Military contruction was a very important aspect of World War II. The Japanese lost Guadacanal in large measure because they took too long to build the airstrip there. The Japanese tended to use Korean and other slave labor for their construction projects. They committed terrible attrocities working POWs and local slave laborers relentlessly without providing proper food or medical care. The best known construction unit was probanly the American Navy Seabees. They did an amazing job landing after the Marines, they often had landing strips operational before islands were actually secured. The Germans used Organization Todt and youths in the Reich Labor Service. Organization Todt and other German military inits relied on slave labor for much of their construction efforts. The largest construction project of the War was Hitler's Atlantic Wall. Despite the huge resources devoted, it suceeded in slowing up the Allied invasion force for only about 6 hours.
The German SS organized killing units--the Einsatzgruppen squads. They were first deployed in Poland (1940). They were most notiriously deployed in Operation Barbarossa to murder political commisars in the Red Army, Communist functionaries, and Jews (1941). Most of their victims were Jews who they murdered in horrific actions during the summer of 1941 before the NAZI killing operations were ikndustrialized in the death camps. The Soviet NKVD was also deployed in killing actions as well as horific depprtations in which msany of the depoertees perished. The Japanese conducted horrendos killing operations in China. These operations seem to have been condicted by regulsar units of the Imperial army and not by specially consituted killing squads.
The marines originated as infantry units anoard ships. In the days of sail, naval compbat often involved boarding the enemy ships. Marines were deployed in the rigging to target sailors and especially officers on the ememy ships. This was how Admiral Nelson was killed at Trafalgur. In the 20th century, marines reinvented themselves as ampgibious landing troops. Several countries organized marine units. The best known is the U.S. Marine Corps. The largely green First Marine Division launched the first American offensive of the War when they landed t Guadcanal, months before the Japanse thought an American offensive possible (1942). The Marines went on to play a central role in the Central Pacific campaign. The British and Japanese also had marine units.
Montain (ski) units were organized by the Americans and Germans. Finnish ski soldiers played an important role in the Winter war (1939-41). An American Mountain Division played an important role in Italy (1944). Red Army units of course led two massive winter offensives against the Germans. Ski troops were involved, but I do not know if they had actual mountain divisions.
There were also submarine commandos. The Japanese deployed midget submarines at Pearl Harbor (1941). The Italians achieved some success with manned torpdoes.
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