The early Commando raids 1940-1942

The early commando raids in World War II were small-scale, targeted military operations carried out primarily by British and Allied special forces. These raids occurred in the initial years of the war (roughly 1940–1942) and were aimed at harassing German forces, gathering intelligence, and demonstrating the ability of the Allies to strike back after early setbacks such as the fall of France and the evacuation from Dunkirk.

Background and Formation

Inspiration and Creation: After the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill wanted to maintain an offensive spirit. He ordered the formation of specialized units that could “set Europe ablaze” through raids and sabotage.
Formation of British Commandos: The first commando units were formed in 1940 under the direction of the War Office and were composed of volunteers from various British Army regiments. The units were trained in amphibious landings, sabotage, demolition, and guerrilla warfare.
Special Training: Commandos trained at Achnacarry in Scotland, a remote and rugged location where they underwent intense physical and tactical training.

Objectives of Early Raids

Disrupt and destroy key German installations (communications, ports, railways).
Capture prisoners for intelligence.
Force the Germans to divert troops from the frontlines to defend coastal areas.
Boost Allied morale at home and abroad.

Operation Collar (June 24/25, 1940)

First commando raid of WWII.
Targeted Boulogne, France.
Small-scale and largely symbolic, intended to test the concept of amphibious raiding.
No major damage inflicted, but it paved the way for further operations.

Operation Ambassador (July 14/15, 1940)

Targeted the German-occupied Channel Island of Guernsey.
Poorly executed due to bad planning and logistical issues.
Achieved little militarily, but lessons were learned.

Operation Claymore (March 4, 1941)

Successful raid on the Lofoten Islands, Norway.
Destroyed fish oil factories and supplies crucial for German explosives.
Captured 228 German prisoners and valuable intelligence, including parts of an Enigma machine.

Operation Archery (December 27, 1941)

Raid on the Norwegian island of Vågsøy.
Carried out by British Commandos and Royal Navy forces.
Successfully destroyed German garrisons and infrastructure.
Resulted in a significant propaganda victory and caused Hitler to reinforce Norway.

Operation Chariot (St. Nazaire Raid, March 28, 1942)

One of the most daring and celebrated raids.
Objective: destroy the Normandie dry dock at St. Nazaire, France, which could accommodate Germany’s largest battleship, the Tirpitz.
British rammed the dry dock gates with a ship packed with explosives.
The dry dock was rendered unusable for the rest of the war.
High casualties, but strategically significant.

Smaller Raids and Reconnaissance

Dozens of other smaller raids were launched on the coasts of occupied France, Norway, and the Low Countries.
These often included sabotage missions, prisoner captures, and diversionary attacks.

Impact and Significance

Strategic Disruption: Forced the Germans to spread their forces thin along the Atlantic Wall and coasts.
Psychological Impact: Boosted Allied morale and demonstrated offensive capability.
Development of Special Forces: Proved the value of elite, highly-trained units and led to the formation of other forces like the U.S. Rangers and the Special Air Service (SAS).
Lessons Learned: Experience in these early raids contributed to improved planning for larger operations, including the Dieppe Raid (1942) and eventually D-Day (1944).

Limitations and Criticisms

Some early raids were criticized for high casualty rates with limited strategic return.
Intelligence and coordination issues hampered operations.
Nevertheless, they served an important role in the evolution of Allied special operations.