American Special Forces WW2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1940

The Americans saw the early success of the Soviet Airborne and especially the German Paratroopers who were dropped on specific targets in Norway and Belgium. The American Army went forward with the airborne program. A test platoon of 50 men was formed on June 25, 1940.

Answer: True

The Ranger units were actually based on the British commando units. The men were hand picked from two divisions that were already in the UK. The 1st Armoured and the 34th national Gaurd. The Rangers were formed in the summer of 1941.

Answer: False

1st Special Forces was a purpose designed outfit. It was made up of men who could survive in the cold outdoors - lumberjacks, game wardens, prospectors, etc. The unit was a mix of Americans and Canadians which is how they got their nickname the 'North Americans'. Their first deployment in the war was to break the winter line in Italy.

Answer: Torch

Torch was a diversion that the American army didn't want. They were eager to commence the liberation of Europe. However, the British persuaded the Americans to land amphibious forces in Africa. The Brits were keen to have their Eighth Army relieved who were battle fatigued and at a stalemate.

Answer: All of these

The Airborne forces did a great job behind enemy lines even though they were badly separated. They cut German and Italian communication lines and accomplished missions that were scheduled for much larger forces. They created a sense of confusion for the enemy and kept larger forces from getting to the beachhead.

Answer: The Winter Line

By this stage of the campaign, most airborne troops had been pulled back to England for Overlord, leaving behind the 504th and the 509th. These units joined forces with Darby's Rangers and were used as heavy combat troops as the allies tried to breach the Winter Line. Casualties were enormous with little to no gain.

Answer: By scaling a mountain deemed impassible by the Germans

This was the first combat action of the 1st Special Forces and they excelled. In the cover of darkness and with a diversionary arty attack, the North Americans scaled a 70 degree slope and attacked German positions on the mountain top. A few days later they crossed a saddle and defeated the Germans on a second mountain top and the Winter Line was cracked.

Answer: They were the first African-American paratroopers

Do to racial segregation, the 555th trained harder than any Airborne company in order to prove to their white counterparts and themselves that they were capable Airborne soldiers. Their contribution to the war effort was considerable. The Japanese were floating incendiary balloons over North America in order to create fires.

The government was keen to keep a lid on the threat and the 555th were deployed to jump on the resulting fires at exceptional risk. They excelled in their duty and clocked up over 1200 jumps.

The men marched with and were awarded the same battle field decoratons as the 82nd.

Answer: Ste. Mere-Eglise

Again the Airborne drop was a disater and few units were dropped near their targets. With Paratroopers everywhere in Normandy, the Germans were very confused as to where to focus their attacks. The Paratroopers cut communications and did exceptionally well to meet their main objectives.

Answer: Pointe du Hoc

The Rangers suffered massive casualties from machine gun and mortar fire from the well protected cliff top fortifications. Their objective was to remove the threat of artillery that was believed to be placed on the cliff top. After taking the high ground it was discovered that the arty had been moved inland.

A small group of Rangers moved inland, found the artillery and destroyed the breech blocks thus preventing further landing casualties. The Rangers were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions on the beach head.

Answer: Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery

Every year a runner brings a torch from Normandy to Eindhoven to commemorate Liberation Day. Many veterens from the 101st have returned to march in the Liberation Parade over the past 50 years.

Answer: Ardennes

As the Airborne units were currently in reserve, they were deployed quickly into some crucial areas of the buldge and cut the German advance to Antwerp. The came up against some of the most proficient- crack troops of the German Army and held fast preventing a further German breakout.

Answer: To take control of the dams on the Roer River

While 'no good reason' is true in hindsight, there was a huge risk of the Germans flooding the areas adjacent to the Roer and Rhine Rivers and literally washing away the advancing allies. The Rangers fought hard and at great loss to take Castle Hill (Hill 400) which was crucial for the relieving 517th Airborne force to launch a diversionary attack from.

They kept the Germans busy while the 78th took the dams. The Germans still blew the Dam valves and flooded the Roer Valley delaying the Allies 2 weeks.

Answer: Concentration camps

The shock of stumbling across the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps was a lot for these men to handle. They thought that no one would believe them if they told the story, so most men didn't say anything about the camps to the folks back home. Maybe the memory was one that they just could not relive.

The soldiers offered what rations they had to the human skeletons they found alive only to see them die before them as their fragile bodies could not handle the food. Mass pits with thousands of bodies, it was too much.

Answer: The 101st Airborne

The contribution made by Ranger and Airborne divisions was considerable, as was the horrific casualty rate they experienced. These soldiers returned to America and became the most highly educated and successful of all combatants.