Properly designated as the 1st Special Service Force
The Devils Brigade was a joint World War II American-Canadian commando unit trained at Fort Harrison near Helena, Montana in the United States. The volunteers for the 1600 man force consisted primarily of enlisted men recruited by advertising at Army posts, stating that preference was to be given to men previously employed as lumberjacks, forest rangers, hunters, game wardens, and the like. The 1st Special Service Force was officially activated on July 20, 1942 under the command of Lt. Colonel Robert T. Frederick. Force members received rigorous and intensive training in stealth tactics, hand-to-hand combat, the use of explosives for demolition, amphibious warfare, rock climbing and mountain fighting, and as ski troops. Their formation patch was a red arrowhead with the words CANADA and USA. They even had a specially designed fighting knife made for them called the V-42.

Their first scheduled operation was code-named “Project Plough,” a mission to parachute into German-held Norway to knock out strategic targets such as hydroelectric power plants. This operation had to be abandoned but in October of 1943 the commander of the US Fifth Army, Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, brought the 1st Special Service Force to Italy where its members demonstrated the value of their unique skills and training. At Monte la Difensa they immediately earned a reputation for being able to take impenetrable objectives when no one else could. Here, in the dead of winter, the Special Force wiped out a strategic enemy defensive position sitting high atop a mountain surrounded by steep cliffs. Previously, American forces had suffered many casualties in futile attempts to take the important target. This incident was the basis for the 1968 motion picture titled “The Devils Brigade.”
During Operation Shingle at Anzio, Italy, 1944, the Special Force were brought ashore on February 1st, after the decimation of the U.S. Rangers, to hold and raid from the right-hand flank of the beachhead marked by the Mussolini Canal/Pontine Marshes, which they did quite effectively.
It was at Anzio that the enemy dubbed the 1st Special Service Force as the “Devils Brigade.” The diary of a dead German soldier contained a passage that said, “The black devils (Die schwarze Teufeln) are all around us every time we come into the line.” The soldier was referring to them as “black” because the brigade’s members smeared their faces with black boot polish for their covert operations in the dark of the night. Canadian and American members of the Special Force who lost their lives are buried near the beach in the Commonwealth Anzio War Cemetery and the American Cemetery in Nettuno, just east of Anzio.
The first unit sent into Rome, the Devils Brigade were given the assignment of capturing seven essential bridges in the city to prevent the Germans from blowing them up. During the night of June 4th, members of the Devil’s Brigade entered Rome. After they secured the bridges, they quickly moved north in pursuit of the retreating Germans. The following morning, throngs of grateful Romans lined the streets to give the long columns of American soldiers passing through the city a tumultuous reception. War photographers captured the scenes of joy on film to be seen back home, but the soldiers who actually liberated the city had passed through Rome during the early morning hours in darkness and near silence and were again in fierce combat with the Germans along a twenty-mile front on the Tiber River.
Following the taking of Italy, on August 14, 1944 the Brigade was shipped to Iles d’Hyères in the Mediterranean Sea just off the coast of Southern France. As part of the U.S. 7th Army, they fought again with distinction in many battles. On September 7th, they moved to the Franco-Italian border in what is called the “Rhineland Campaign.” Members of the Brigade, usually traveling by foot at night, made their way behind enemy lines to give intelligence on German positions. This operation not only contributed to the liberation of Europe, but the information Brigade members were able to pass back to headquarters saved many Allied soldier’s lives.

The Devils Brigade, a one-of-a-kind military unit that never failed to meet its goal, was disbanded by the end of the War. However, in 1952 Col. Aaron Bank would create another elite unit using the training, the strategies, and the lessons learned from the Devil’s Brigade’s missions. This force would evolve into specialized forces such as the Green Berets, Delta Force, and the Navy SEAL. In Canada, today’s elite and highly secretive JTF2 military unit is also modeled on the Devil’s Brigade. Like World War II, Canadian JTF2 members and American Deta Force members were united again into a special assignment force for the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
In September of 1999, the main highway between the city of Lethbridge, Alberta Canada and Helena, Montana in the United States was renamed the “First Special Service Force Memorial Highway.” This highway was chosen because it was the route taken in 1942 by the Canadian volunteers to join their American counterparts for training at Fort Harrison.
A large number of the Devils Brigade members were honored for their acts of valour, including Tommy Prince (on right in the image at left), Canada’s most decorated aboriginal soldier of WW II.
Battles of the First Special Service Force :
Aleutians Campaign, 1943 :
Kiska & Little Kiska – August 15-August 19, 1943
Segula Island – August 17, 1943
Italian (Naples-Foggia-Rome) Campaign 1943-1944
Monte la Difensa – December 3-December 6, 1943
Monte la Remetanea – December 6-December 9, 1943
Monte Sammucro – December 25 (Christmas Day), 1943
Radicosa – January 4, 1944
Monte Majo – January 6, 1944
Monte Vischiataro – January 8, 1944
Anzio – February 2-May 10, 1944
Monte Arrestino – May 25, 1944
Rocca Massima – May 27, 1944
Colle Ferro – June 2, 1944
Rome – June 4, 1944
Southern France, (Alpes-Maritimes) Campaign, 1944
Iles d’Hyères – August 14-August 17, 1944
Grasse – August 27, 1944
Villeneuve-Loubet – August 30, 1944
Vence – September 1, 1944
Drap – September 3, 1944
L’Escarène – September 5, 1944
La Turbie – September 6, 1944
Menton – September 7, 1944
Rhineland Campaign, 1944
Franco-Italian border – September 7 – November 30, 1944

Here is another article on the 1st Special Service Force:
One of the most unique combat units in Italy was the First Special Service Force, a bi-national group consisting of elite Canadian and American fighters. The Canadian part was originally the 2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion, then renamed the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion. In June 1942, when it joined with US Army troops and became the First Special Service Force, Canadians comprised 1/4 of its strength, 47 officers and 650 other ranks.
Training was arduous — parachuting, skiing, and mountain climbing. Everything was done “at the double” and their physical conditioning was aided by calisthenics, obstacle courses, and long marches with hundred-pound packs. Each man learned how to handle explosives and to use every weapon in the Force’s extensive arsenal. Hand-to-hand combat, night fighting, and use of captured weapons rounded out the training program. These specialized skills were necessary, for the Force members were to become shock troops, frequently raiding strategic positions and often parachuting behind enemy lines. Their effectiveness would earn them the nickname, “the Devil’s Brigade”.
The First Special Service Force arrived in Italy in November 1943, as the 5th U.S. Army was preparing to capture the mountains that guarded Cassino to the south. Its first task was to throw the Germans off two of the highest peaks, Monte la Difensa and Monte la Remetanea. Climbing ropes in the dense fog, the Force took the Germans by surprise on Difensa. Following a bloody, six-day battle, Monte la Remetanea was captured. Its first involvement in the Italian campaign cost the First Special Service Force 511 casualties, including 73 fatalities.
A month later, the Force equaled its earlier accomplishment by taking Monte Majo and several other ridges controlling the Via Caslina, the main Naples-Rome road. In terrible weather and even harsher conditions, the Germans were forced back across the Rapido River valley to their main defences, the Gustav Line. Sixty-seven Canadian members of the Force were either killed or wounded on Monte Majo.

By the time the First Special Service Force was pulled out of the line in the middle of January, it had an impressive record. After securing Majo, it drove the enemy from Hills 1109 and 1270, and other Fifth Army formations cleared the Germans from east of Cassino. Due in large part to this elite Canadian-American unit, the Fifth Army was finally ready to launch its long-awaited offensive on Rome. The Force was now sent to Anzio.
The First Special Service Force arrived at the beachhead on February 1. A few reinforcements left it with a combat strength of 1,233, all ranks. Only one of its regiments was intact, the other two were at half-strength. The Force promptly took over one-quarter of Anzio’s thirty-mile-long front, and in a week forced the Germans to withdraw more than a mile from the Mussolini Canal, which was situated at the right flank of the bridgehead.
Performing night raids, scouting and reconnaissance, one of the most successful Force soldiers was 28-year-old Canadian Tommy Prince from Manitoba, who became one of Canada’s most-decorated Aboriginal soldiers, with the Military Medal and the U.S. Silver Star for bravery in action. One of his most famous exploits, earning him the Military Medal, occurred near Anzio, where he calmly placed himself in great danger to report enemy artillery positions. Despite outstanding performances like this, the Force’s casualties at Anzio, while not heavy, mounted steadily. By the time it came out of the line on May 9, it had lost 384 men, killed, wounded, or missing, 117 of which were Canadian.
While the Canadian army was not directly involved in the liberation of Rome, there was a Canadian presence. Members of the First Special Service Force were the first liberators to enter the city. The Force had spent nearly a hundred days in continuous action and so when it came out of the line at Anzio, was given an opportunity to rest and reorganize. Reinforcements strengthened the unit, including 15 Canadian officers and 240 other Canadian ranks.
In late May, the Force headed toward Appian Way, one of the two highways to Rome from the south. Once again the members found themselves in the mountainous terrain in which they excelled and soon seized Monte Arrestino at the entrance to the valley leading northwards to Valmontone, then took Artena, near Valmontone. The approach to Rome began early morning on June 3 and by midnight, the Force had reached Rome’s suburbs. An hour later the Force commander was ordered to seize the Tiber bridges into the capital. The next day, they entered Rome, fanning out across the capital to seize key locations in Rome’s center.
Soon after, before the end of the Italian campaign, the First Special Service Force left Italy to fight in southern France and was disbanded in December that year.
By the time the “Devils Brigade” secured Rome, Canadian casualties alone totalled 185, or about one-third of the Force’s Canadian contingent. Sixty-two of them lie among the 2,313 war dead at Beach Head War Cemetery in Anzio on Italy’s west coast.
There has been a “controversy” raging in the media of late. Apparently, CND will not let out any information, under the Access law, about the FSSF, a joint Canadian-US special force from WWII. Here is the FSSF’s story including their campaign stops.
Barry Rhindress
My Uncle Ken Chapman was in that unit and survived the war, he never would discuss what he did with me I was a pre teen . He passed away years ago from cancer .
Sheri Wright
Awesome guys!…Yo…they deserve to be remembered.
Rick Clark
My Great uncle Jim Playford was in the Devils Brigade, who now rests in Dauphin Manitoba, my mom & dad placed a copy of the bronze star on his head stone, Jim was my mothers uncle and Margaret Finnen’s brother.
Sheri Wright
Wowsers!! I love what your mom and dad did. Awesome!
Geoffrey Grey
I met your Father at one of the many reunions when I was quite young. I think he was also at the 1967 reunion in Ottawa. My Father Ben Grey was a Sgt. Major during most of the campaigns. A lot was made of Prince, and rightly so, but my Dad accompanied General Fredericks on numerous night time recon missions… one of the many reasons Fredericks was so loved by the brigade.
Andrew Magee
My grandfather William ‘Sam’ Magee was in the force. I was lucky enough to grow up listening to his stories. Although he passed a few years ago I’m still able to listen to his stories. He spoke alot about his experiences and they were even recorded and posted online. I see a few comments on here about wanting to hear more about their experiences and my grandfather would want nothing more than his stories to be heard. Not all of the clips are specific to the force but he speaks about everything, fishing, christmas, training etc.
Please note that some of these do include combat stories and may not be for everyone.
There are also some stories from other veterans on there.
https://oshawaremembers.wordpress.com/william-sam-mcgee/
Joshua Taylor
Hi Andrew,
I grew up in Oshawa and had the great honour of meeting your grandfather at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day, 2006. I got his contact information and passed it along to my 10th grade, Canadian History teacher; your grandfather visited our class and it was a privilege being there to hear him talk about his life. I’ll never forget his ‘prescription’ of a glass of warm water -not cold, not room temperature- for a girl who had a bit of a coughing fit and how that was his trusted solution for so much.
He was a great man and, while I’m saddened to think of his passing, his service (both military and the education of the younger generations) will no doubt leave a lasting legacy.
Cheers,
Joshua
Norm Madaon
My brother Clarence Madson was in the devils bregade! I’ve never seen any pictures of him there. I was wondering if anyone else has any?
Dan Buckley
Rick Shaddock- there were man Forcemen whose names did not make it into Burhans. The original Blue Burhans was published in 1947 and a supplement was released in 1949. There were approximately 3690 men in the Force which included replacements from the US and Canada, most of those trained at Fort Ethan Allen in Vermont and members of the US Rangers unit who were folded into the Force in Italy. There are about 40 books specifically about the 1st SSF and the link you included has many of them in the reference section.
Rick Shaddock
Thanks Dan, we just found out Ted was 6-1 1st platoon and he has a “0” in front of his name in Burhans. That puts that to rest lol
Rick Shaddock
If you are wondering if a relative was in FSSF you should look up Burhan’s Roster and review the list. If the name is not in there then he was not a member or follow the link.
http://www.firstspecialserviceforce.net/fssf-roster-of-men.html
Rita Hoffart
I am trying to find out more about my father’s involvement…. he never spoke much of his time in the war, but what little he did say has led us to believe he was in the SSF. He also told my nephew once and his brother (my godfather) once that he was special forces…. but his cover story was that he was a swimming instructor. As he grew up in rural Saskatchewan, and no one else in his family is a swimmer, yet he did swim like a fish, one has to wonder. He was also fluent in German, and he once told me (the night before I went into the military myself) about parachuting at night and walking with a full pack on, down a stream in Italy.
So, any information anyone can give me, pictures, etc…. it would be greatly appreciated. I have his records from Ottawa, but they are incomplete and very vague…. they don’t tell me a lot.
His name was Joe Hoffart… often called “Big Joe” as he was a very large man, stood 6’3″ and was fluent in German and English.
Patricia Jones
Your last comment in the article about the CND not releasing information on the FSSF intrigues me. What is this about?
My family and I have been trying to sort out the conflicting information regarding my father’s time with the FSSF and the odd military records of his time in the army. You may be able to shed some light on why we are not getting anywhere with this!
Pat
Tom LeBlanc
Hi Patricia What is your fathers name? I am on the FSSFA Board trying to locate family!
Mob
Thank you for sharing this, my grandfather passed away a few years ago and I am currently embarking upon the journey to get him a tombstone. He was in the same Troop as sgt. Tommy Prince, I have several hundred photo’s of them in his collection and I will be doing a book in order to try to scrape together enough money for a tombstone. My Grandfather turned down medals, I do not know which ones, so I have been in contact with Ottawa trying to get that corrected so that I can inscribe them on his tombstone.
Mark Kuntz
am doing research on FSSF, writing a musical about their accomplishments featuring Tommy Prince. The pictures would be a treasure for this research. Please respond!
Tom LeBlanc
Hi My dad served in the FSSF in 2-3 HQ . I am also on the FSSFA Board of directors .I am curious to your grandfathers name?
Vic paradis
My uncle, my father’s youngest brother, Laval Paradis was in the Devil’s Brigade. He died taking either Monte Casino of Mount Difensa? Italy..he was only 23 years old.
If anyone can tell me anything more about him I sure would appreciate it.
Vic Paradis
Tom LeBlanc
Hi Vic : My dad was also in the FSSF
Mob
Do you have pictures of your dad? If he was Canadian I am\\may have pictures of him and I want to identify people in the troop photo’s I have.
Joy (McVeigh) Maze
joymaze7@gmail.com
Hugh McVeigh was my father’s cousin. He joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers and was part of The Devil’s Brigade. He survived the war and died in 1992 (in Winnipeg.) His wife and daughter have also passed away but he does have grandchildren (surname Simpson, in Calgary?) and I would like to get in touch with them.
Laurie Lblanc
My father in law served in the Carrier wing 6 th course S/0 C.G.D.S. We have a picture
of him and his group in Vernon BC Sept 1943. Was this part of the Devils Brigade?
My brother in law seems to think it was as the were told stories of the Brigade.
Christy Linn
My grandfather was FSSF, Sgt. George W Carroll from Vancouver, BC. After the disband of the unit he was attached to Force 136 British Intelligence and sent to Burma. I am researching his FSSF service and would love to find someone that may have known him.
Mob
Do you have pictures of him? If he was Canadian I am\\may have pictures of him and I want to identify people in the troop photo’s I have.
katherine finlayson
My Uncle was in the FSSF he was in 2-2. He was MIA Presumed Dead yet in the Burhans he is listed as deceased. He had two brothers and two sisters also in the Canadian forces. He was the youngest enlisted sibling and was only 17 when MIA Presumed Dead. If anyone who has info on 2-2 it would be appreciated.
Vicki
My father in law, Edward Caissie served with the FSSF. He was North Shore regiment, Gloucester. Would love to see any pictures people might have.
Karen Dizak
My father in law fought with the Devils Brigade. Don’t know too much about it as he did not like to talk about it. I know he was in Italy. His name was Nick Dizak.
Gary L. Young
My father served with the First Special Service Force with the 5/3 his name was PFC Clyde John Young. I have been trying to find anyone who might have known him, that might have any pictures or articles about him. I also served with the 173rd Airborne in Vietnam for 2 years. I am trying to make a scrapbook for my kids so they can remember my father.
John
I have no relantionwship with anyone inthe FSSF, however, I have a deep respect for their sacrafice, courage, and intestinal fortitude.
I am traveling near Napoli Italy, and I would like to see some of the sites that has become the halmark of their accomplishments. If there is anyone who can assist with directions, to Monte de Difensi, or others near by please feel free. I would greatly appreciate any assisitance I could get!
John
Judy Woodburn
My father-in-law was a member of the FSSF 4th Co. 1st Reg.-and I have been poring over photographs and newspaper clippings, medals, etc. as I am creating a special book in his memory. He never talked about his experiences. He looked forward to visiting Montana for the Special Forces Reunions. I did not pay much attention to the history, so now as I am reading about their feats of bravery and their incredible success, I feel awe, and great respect. I wish he was here to realize the recent recognition being given him and his brave comrades. He was like a father to me…he passed away in 1987 and his son, my husband passed away 2010. Hence my interest in preserving the information for my children and grandchildren.
Dan
Judy, I would be very interested to see the book that you create. As a member of the of the modern unit that descended from the 1st SSF, I am very interested in the history of the unit, but more specifically the personal experiences. It is something that can be shared in this unit to keep the memory and traditions alive! I plan to get to the reunion this year to honor their service.
Judith Woodburn
Thank you for your interest. The book is not just about the FSSF but a small pictorial biography which includes some of his FSSF activity.
I just saw this reply of yours tonight as I am reviewing my grandson’s article for school on the subject!
I did not put the book online, as I have some things that might be copyrighted material, I made four copies for family.
Jason Fritz
I would also LOVE to see your scrapbook/book. My grandfather served in the FSSF 4-2. He passed away shortly after I was born, so i have no recollection of him. Only through photos and stories. I too am trying to preserve his story for future generations, including my children. My only regret is that I didn’t start this journey earlier in life. His wife, my grandmother, is still alive at 96 but suffers from severe dementia. Unfortunately the days have passed that she would be able to “fill in the blanks” in his story. I find all of it absolutely fascinating.
Daughter of Ed (Tiny) Thon
My dad served with the devils brigade , he was in the first of the first .. sergeant Edwin Thon . Very proud to be the daughter if such a brave & wonderful man . No he never spoke of the goings on of the war, left it where it laid .. Although he really enjoyed the reunions years after the war .. Sadly we lost dad to cancer in 1977.. Great article
B Potts
My dad once mentioned that he had done a bit of training in Montana but was based in Burnaby, BC. The one thing he did mention was when they had finished their training, they still had their full auto machine guns while the Canadians still had their semi auto. My question is how do I find out if he had trained with the Devils brigade? He hardly spoke of it but when the war ended, he was sent to Lethbridge to guard German POWs.
Tom LeBlanc
there is a Potts in the roster from Cloverdale B.C.. Please email me if this is him
Rita Hoffart
Where can a person find this roster of Canadians in the SSF? I have never been able to find one.
Ron Stirling's Granddaughter
A Mystery indeed! My grampa was also awarded the Silver Star as a member of this group. We knew he was awarded for gallantry but noone could get him to talk about what he did. I’d love to know more
Dan
Hi there.
My Dad knew your Grandpa post-war, and held him in high regard. He doesn’t have much information re: his service years, but would b pleased to share what he knows.
Please drop me a line @ fargainbinder@hotmail.com and we’ll get some communication going.
Cheers,
Dan
Tom LeBlanc
My dad was in the FSSF 2-3 Hq Medric LeBlanc please email me thanks