|
Home > Units > Detachment A
Detachment A of the Berlin Brigade was a small 90 man element
of Special Forces Soldiers stationed in Berlin, Germany. They
were members of a classified unit, wore civlian clothes, and
spoke fluent German. The unit, in existance from August 1956 to
December 1984, was involved in some of the most classified and
sensitive missions of the Cold War.
The men were carefully selected from the ranks of Special
Forces - usually from the 10th Special Forces Group. Many were
immigrants from Germany or eastern Europe - enlisted into the
U.S. Army under the Lodge Act for their language and cultural
background. At the beginning of the units existence six
Operational Detachment Alpha teams and a staff element were
transferred from Bad Tolz, Germany to Berlin.
Det A's mission included unconventional warfare, sabotage,
intelligence, guerrilla operations, anti-terrorism, sniper and
SWAT operations. One team from Det A participated in Operation
Eagle Claw - the failed attempt to rescue hostages held by Iran
in 1980. The men would stage from Berlin and conduct clandestine
missions into East Germany.
Det A also worked closely with the Central Intelligence
Agency and other U.S. intelligence agenices and organizations.
Videos about Det A
USASOC PAO, Det A, January 14, 2015. A memorial
stone dedication ceremony at Fort Bragg, NC for Detachment A,
Berlin.
https://youtu.be/hULpec59FtE
News Reports about Detachment A
aUGUST 9, 2020.
"Spies in Uniform: The US Military Liaison Mission in East
Germany", by Justin Black, SpyCraft101.
January 31, 2012.
"Formerly clandestine unit of Green Berets from Cold War gets
public recognition", Fayetteville Observer.
January 31, 2012.
"Detachment A recognized for Cold War efforts in commemorative
stone laying ceremony". army.mil.
|
