Operational Group Command

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Operational Group Command
Active23 December 1942 (1942-12-23)
Disbanded1945 (1945)
Country United States
RoleAnti-tank warfare
Artillery observer
Clandestine operation
Close-quarters battle
Combat search and rescue
Covert operation
Direct action
Guerrilla warfare
Jungle warfare
Maneuver warfare
Military aid
Military communications
Military intelligence
Military logistics
Military operation plan
Mountain warfare
Parachuting
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Tracking
Urban warfare
Part ofOffice of Strategic Services
NicknameThe OGs
MottoThe Glorious Amateurs
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
ChiefAlfred T. Cox
ChiefColonel Russell B. (“Russ”) Livermore
English: General William J. Donovan reviews the Operational Groups (OGs) at Area F, the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, prior to their departure for China.

Operational Group Command (OG), was a branch of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II that specialized in clandestine and covert operations, combat search and rescue POWs and allies spies captured in areas occupied by the Axis powers, commando style raids on key targets, frontline military intelligence gathering, guerrilla warfare, independent operations against designated Axis powers targets, maneuver warfare, providing military assistance to resistance movement groups in areas occupied by the Axis powers, special reconnaissance, and support military strategy and tactical operational plans.[1]

The original A Teams of United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets), Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA), are modeled after the successes of Operational Group Command and its groups.[2]

William Donovan and Millard Preston Goodfellow were concerned with creating guerrilla commando units within SA/G as early as December 1941.[3]

Operational Group Command was made up of Operational Groups (OGs), which were originally created on 23 December 1942 as a division within the OSS Special Operations Branch (SO), before achieving Branch status.[4]

One key distinction between SO units and the OGs might be the fact that OGs were always dressed in military uniform, and were deployed within the military command structure, whereas SO units were civilian units, often assuming cover identities.[2]

Command structure

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The OGs had a dual leadership command structure.[3] While OGs were deployed in the field, they were under the tactical planning authority of the Theatre Commander, and the strategic planning authority of the Director of the OSS, William Donovan.[3]

Areas active

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It was active in Burma, China, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, and Yugoslavia.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "HyperWar: Office of Strategic Servcices (OSS) Organization and Functions". www.ibiblio.org. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  2. ^ a b c "Operational Groups". www.soc.mil. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  3. ^ a b c History Project, Strategic Services Unit, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War, War Department (1976). "WAR REPORT OF THE OSS (Office of Strategic Services)" (PDF). Washington D.C.: Walker and Company.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Special Operations". www.soc.mil. Retrieved 2024-06-26.