8. Operation Greif: Commandos Behind Enemy Lines
During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, German forces initiated Operation Greif, a covert mission led by Waffen-SS commando Otto Skorzeny. The operation involved German soldiers infiltrating Allied lines disguised in captured U.S. Army uniforms and using American vehicles. Their objectives included capturing bridges over the Meuse River and causing confusion by cutting communication lines, misdirecting troops, and spreading false orders. While the primary goal of seizing the Meuse bridges was not achieved, the operation successfully sowed disorder behind Allied lines, leading to heightened security measures and paranoia among American forces. Despite its psychological impact, Operation Greif remains a secondary focus in most historical accounts of the Battle of the Bulge (via Smithsonian).
