A fatal WWII gambit from 80 years ago
When desperate German soldiers disguised in US uniforms caused chaos in the bloody Battle of the Bulge—but not for long. Plus, an ebook sale.
Some of you longtime readers know this wild WWII story, but many newer subscribers might not.
So here it is one more time — on its 80th anniversary this week.
By December 1944, the German war machine was running on fumes. Allied forces pressed from the west, and Soviet troops encircled from the east. But an increasingly delusional Hitler had one last-ditch throw of the dice.
His secret Ardennes Offensive would punch through weak American lines in Belgium, seize the port of Antwerp, and divide Allied forces. The bloody fight that ensued was known as the Battle of the Bulge.
A bizarre subplot of this massive counteroffensive was Operation Greif, in which Germans disguised as US soldiers infiltrated American lines, some driving captured Jeeps, and sowed chaos behind Allied lines.
Led by their Nazi propaganda-fueled, daredevil commander Otto Skorzeny, it sounded like the type of bold and cunning ruse you only get in thrillers. In reality, it was a bumbling and hopeless operation that would probably make a decent Coen Brothers movie.
Not exactly the best-laid plans
Recruits came from across the German military, many responding to a vague call for English-speaking volunteers. And many exaggerated their English ability, assuming they’d be performing harmless duties such as interrogating POWs. Few were actual commandos capable of posing as enemy soldiers. But it was too late — they couldn’t get out once they were in.
They spent hours practicing strange American slang and relaxed gestures, watching Betty Grable movies to learn how Americans spoke and moved. But knowing phrases like “Okay, Joe,” “what’s your hurry?” and “gung-ho” weren’t going to help them.
Even basic logistics posed problems. Their captured American uniforms often had POW markings or bloodstains. The operation was so short on US vehicles that mechanics had to modify German tanks to look like US ones by slapping on sheet metal, which tricked no one at close range.
Meanwhile, of the roughly 2,000 volunteers, only 10 spoke fluent English, and fewer still could imitate an American accent. Skorzeny himself admitted they “would certainly never dupe an American, even a deaf one,” as he wrote later.
A bold launch soon fizzles
On December 16, as the Ardennes Offensive stormed into US-held Belgium, Skorzeny sent Operation Greif’s Jeep teams across enemy lines.
They misdirected American convoys, cut communication cables, and spread rumors of impending German attacks. One team posing as MPs redirected an entire US regiment, causing a critical delay in reinforcements. Another reported the location of an Allied fuel depot to advancing German panzers. But the cracks soon showed.
In the Belgian village of Aywaille, three of the fake Americans driving a captured Jeep tried passing through an American checkpoint. They showed forged US Army paybooks, but their accents and behavior raised suspicions. When asked for the day’s password, they stammered and admitted they didn’t know it.
The American sentries searched the Jeep and found explosives, grenades, and cyanide capsules hidden in cigarette lighters. They arrested the German spies, who soon confessed their mission.
That discovery and others sparked waves of suspicion deep behind the US lines. American sentries started asking questions of anyone they encountered, no matter the uniform. GIs had to name baseball teams, state capitals, or Sinatra’s first name to prove their identity. At least one fake American referred to fuel as “petrol,” a dead giveaway.
The paranoia reached its peak when rumors spread of a German plot to assassinate General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Although no evidence supported the claim, Eisenhower was placed under heavy guard, effectively confined to his headquarters for weeks. But the boost in security across the board likely helped US efforts in the long run by making soldiers more aware.
By then, Operation Greif was falling apart. Most teams were captured or killed, undone by their lame English and poor disguises, limited training and lack of resources. Only a handful of commandos made it back to German lines. Many of the captured were soon tried by US military tribunal and executed. By December 21, Skorzeny called the whole thing off.
The little guy gets screwed again
After the war, the Allies tried Skorzeny for war crimes. But the conviction didn’t stick, and he lived on for years hyping his daredevil reputation in Fascist Spain and South America. It’s yet another case of the little guy getting screwed while the bigshot walks.
Something about this deadly footnote in history had captured my imagination. Maybe it’s the pathetic futility of this whole gambit.
Whatever the reason, this story plays a part in my novels The Losing Role and Under False Flags as well as in my nonfiction Kindle Single Sitting Ducks.
You can also read more in these earlier posts:
“Never Had a Chance: German Spies in US Uniform”
“When Underdogs Refuse to Fight”
“79 Years Ago: A Doomed WWII Spy Mission”
Speaking of Under False Flags...
Years ago, I thought I’d finished writing about the Greif debacle when the story found me again. Acting on a tip from a friend, I had the honor of interviewing an elderly American, loved and respected in his community, who had a secret to tell me.
Back in 1944, he revealed, the US Army called on him to take part in intelligence missions. In one, he went on a frightening recon patrol disguised as German soldiers that somehow ended up far behind enemy lines, in bombed-ravaged Cologne. In another mission, they hunted down the Germans disguised as Americans roaming behind US lines in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge.
He told me the missions were classified and he needed to remain anonymous. I searched for records of such operations nevertheless, and kept finding dead ends. My contact may have had details mixed up in his old age, but one thing was clear — the emotions he expressed to me lay bare horrid memories. I knew I’d never know the whole truth.
But that led me to write Under False Flags, in which “two soldiers on opposing sides find the courage to desert when their honor is betrayed.”
This week, the Kindle version is on sale for only $2.99. The offer’s good through Friday only.
Here’s a tip: For any upcoming deals on all my books, you can always get notified by following me at my publisher here.
Happy holidays to you! I hope you’re doing well.
Steve