Most admired military unit? (1 Viewer)

[larso]

I'm interested in hearing what units members have admired or found fascinating? I've tried to leave the title broad so that it can be a battalion/regiment/division, squadron or whatever. Is it the general history, a specific battle or campaign, or even uniform/practices?

 

[jager7080]

I'm interested in hearing what units members have admired or found fascinating? I've tried to leave the title broad so that it can be a battalion/regiment/division, squadron or whatever. Is it the general history, a specific battle or campaign, or even uniform/practices?

For me since I was around ten , I was mystified by the Deutsches Afrika Korps ( DAK )...
There was a Sunday afternoon show called Frazier's Classics & on one given Sunday I watched The Desert Fox starring James Mason as Erwin Rommel...After that I was hooked , started to read up on Rommel & the desert war , his leadership , daring & sense of the battle field was amazing...
The DAK forces themselves grew to become an elite force fighting in a harsh unforgiving enviornment that was North Afrika , they were always short of supplies & outnumbered in their battles with the 8th army...

Joe

 

[Mitch]

would undoubtedly be the Waffen SS. I have interviewed many over the years and worked with HIAG and they are just remarkable people. They hold words like Honour, oath and loyalty dear and are still proud to have served their country.

They attained almost mythical status on the battlefield commanding respect however forced, from friend and foe alike. The true depiction of fire brigade units and everything a commander would want (on any side) in his formations going into battle.

It goes beyond the three premier units that most have heard from LAH, Das Reich, Totenkopf the Waffen SS was a unique formation in almost every respect.

However, closely behind and with an enourmous amount of prejudice would be the RAF of fighter command and Bomber command.
Mitch

 

[Jack]

Anyone who fought the SS.

 

[waynepoo]

The Australian Imperial Force of both world wars, R.A.A.F, R.A.N and anyone who fought the SS.
Wayne.

 

[larso]

It'll take me a while to think about answers to my own thread. At this point I'll stick to WW2 and almost inevitably that means we're talking divisions. My favourite is 9th Australian (Tobruk, Alamein, New Guinea, Borneo) but others, in no particular order are -

1st Marine
101st Airborne
7th Armoured
15th Panzer
5th SS Panzer (I liked their anti-communist creed)
Panzer Lehr

 

[wayne556517]

5/7 Royal Australian Regiment.

Duty first.

 

[larso]

I also second the Battle of Britain fighter pilots. It's hard to think of a group that made a greater difference?

 

[Warrior]

I'd go with the following;

WWII British Airborne
Napoleonic French Imperial Guard
ACW Union Iron Brigade
French Foreign Legion

For FFL, it would be the Beau Geste version, although the Dien Bien Phu version had brass balls.

 

[Poppo]

would undoubtedly be the Waffen SS. I have interviewed many over the years and worked with HIAG and they are just remarkable people. They hold words like Honour, oath and loyalty dear and are still proud to have served their country.

They attained almost mythical status on the battlefield commanding respect however forced, from friend and foe alike. The true depiction of fire brigade units and everything a commander would want (on any side) in his formations going into battle.

It goes beyond the three premier units that most have heard from LAH, Das Reich, Totenkopf the Waffen SS was a unique formation in almost every respect.

However, closely behind and with an enourmous amount of prejudice would be the RAF of fighter command and Bomber command.
Mitch

I prefer the " Nordland", because it was a european unit, and beacause they committed no war crimes.

 

[lancer]

I have always admired the United States Marine Corps. A long history of hot actions, going where and doing what was necessary. In particular at Belleau Wood, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and ALL the other Pacific islands that had to be taken from a vicious and desperate enemy. Semper Fi! -- Al

 

[Louis Badolato]

The pilots and aircrew of the 8th and 9th Airforce, and RAF Fighter and Bomber Commands throughout WWII. The sustained some of the highest casualty rates of any units in WWII, but always did their duty, by day and by night, often against superior numbers and better aircraft. Without their sacrifices, we could not have won the war in Europe.

 

[jazzeum]

Except for George no one has mentioned a pre WW II regiment.

For me, you would need to include British regiments like

Seaforth Highlanders
Black Watch
Buffs
Cameronians
Cold Stream Guards
Lifeguards

This is a tremendous resource, http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units

 

[Mitch]

Larso's thread is not about war crimes and not wanting to take it down a different route feel free to PM me as they did Not maybe to the extent that other German and allied troops did but, there is evidence that they shot a number of civilians and POW
Mitch

I prefer the " Nordland", because it was a european unit, and beacause they committed no war crimes.

 

[Dragoon]

If forced to keep it a very short list, I would look to the ACW and choose the Iron Brigade (Army of the Potomac) and the Texas Brigade (Army of Northern Virginia).

 

[Leadmen]

I choose the 1st Marine Division in the Chosin Reservoir.

The Iron Brigade and Hood's Texas Division

 

[marco55]

Army of Northern Virginia.Not what they fought to preserve but has a fighting unit.
Mark

 

[4th Hussar]

Except for George no one has mentioned a pre WW II regiment.

For me, you would need to include British regiments like

Seaforth Highlanders
Black Watch
Buffs
Cameronians
Cold Stream Guards
Lifeguards

This is a tremendous resource, http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units

Brad, you missed the best of the Scots, The Gordon Highlanders IMHO

 

[zulucollector]

24th of Foot of course.........

 

[jazzeum]

Brad, you missed the best of the Scots, The Gordon Highlanders IMHO

You're right, there are just so many great British regiments.

Brad