Australasian special operations in the Second World War

Abstract

Unconventional warfare and covert operations have a long history; however, the Second World War marked the first war in which unconventional operations and guerrilla war were incorporated as an integral part of fighting operations on a major scale. The conflict cemented the need for, and viability of, special operations forces amongst the world’s militaries. Many of today’s covert forces had their antecedents during the Second World War. The exploits of the major powers’ special operations during the war have received significant scholarly attention; however, the exploits of similar operations from smaller powers have generally passed unnoticed to wider audiences. This chapter intends to reveal the course and outcome of Australia’s and New Zealand’s special operations activity during the war. Due to their geographic location and colonial ties, the ANZAC nations undertook special operations in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, specifically in North Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific. In analyzing a selection of missions, we see how the contribution from smaller nations to wartime covert operations provided both countries with valuable experience in Special Forces operations across many environments with several partners.