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British Commandos in WWII Trivia Quiz

These remarkable soldiers were one of England's finest during the darkest days of WWII.

A multiple-choice quiz by beterave. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
beterave

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
318,555

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
599

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When were British Commando units formed? Hint

at the start of hostilities

right after Dunkirk

after the fall of Tobruk

during the Battle of Britain

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Question 2 of 10

2. How were the first members of the Commandos selected? Hint

they were conscripted

they were volunteers

the British Admiralty selected them

they were remnants from shattered formations

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Question 3 of 10

3. Where did the name 'Commandos' come from? Hint

the English Civil War

WWI

the Boer War

the Afghan Wars

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Question 4 of 10

4. Where was the first commando operation? Hint

Guernsey

Boulogne-sur-Mer

Lofoten Islands

Crete

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Question 5 of 10

5. What vital item was recovered in Operation Claymore? Hint

encryption devices

looted gold

plans for secret weapons

political prisoners

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who did #11 Commando attempt to kill in a raid behind enemy lines in Libya? Hint

Erwin Rommel

Gastone Gambara

Fritz Bayerlein

Emilio Garavelli

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the importance of the raid on Vaagso, Norway? Hint

Finland changed its policy toward the Allies

German losses in war material

Germany diverted resources to Norway

Sweden entered the war on the side of the Allies

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Question 8 of 10

8. What did #2 Commando use to destroy the drydock at St. Nazaire? Hint

HMS Trident

HMS Campbeltown

HMS Glory

HMS Chariot

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Question 9 of 10

9. Why was the raid on Dieppe a failure? Hint

bad weather changed the plan

untried equipment was used

the Germans knew in advance

it was poorly planned

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Question 10 of 10

10. What did the 'Commando Order' tell the German armed forces to do with captured commandos? Hint

use your discretion

take them prisoner

execute them

treat them as equals

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When were British Commando units formed?

Answer: right after Dunkirk

Winston Churchill called for a striking force to continue the war in Europe against Nazism after the evacuation of the BEF from Dunkirk.

2. How were the first members of the Commandos selected?

Answer: they were volunteers

The Commandos, like all elite special formations, consisted entirely of volunteers.

3. Where did the name 'Commandos' come from?

Answer: the Boer War

The name 'commando' comes from the Boer War. It denotes light infantry using lightning quick raids and assaults.

4. Where was the first commando operation?

Answer: Boulogne-sur-Mer

The first commando operation was code named Collar, an offensive reconnaissance of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

5. What vital item was recovered in Operation Claymore?

Answer: encryption devices

The raid in Norway on March 3 1941 by #3 and #4 Commando not only netted over 200 German POWs and caused destruction of war material, encryption devices along with the code books were also captured. An incredible coup!

6. Who did #11 Commando attempt to kill in a raid behind enemy lines in Libya?

Answer: Erwin Rommel

The November 18 1941 raid by #11 Commando led by Lt.-Col. Geoffrey Keyes was an attempt to kill Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox. There were only two survivors of the raid and Lt.-Col. Keyes was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously.

7. What was the importance of the raid on Vaagso, Norway?

Answer: Germany diverted resources to Norway

The 27 December 1941 raid on Vaagso convinced Hitler that the Allies were planning to invade Norway. Germany diverted 30,000 additional troops to that theatre, upgraded the coastal defences and deployed naval forces there.

8. What did #2 Commando use to destroy the drydock at St. Nazaire?

Answer: HMS Campbeltown

The raid on St. Nazaire is widely considered the greatest raid of all time. HMS Campbeltown was packed with explosives and wrecked the drydock at St. Nazaire, putting it out of commission for the rest of the war. Another incredible coup!

9. Why was the raid on Dieppe a failure?

Answer: it was poorly planned

The August 1942 raid on Dieppe was a dismal failure simply because of poor planning. There were those who speculated that perhaps the Germans knew in advance, but this was never proven. However, there were lessons learned from this operation that made future landings a success, the greatest success being in Normandy less than two years later.

10. What did the 'Commando Order' tell the German armed forces to do with captured commandos?

Answer: execute them

The imfamous Kommando-Befehl, better known as the Commando Order called for the elimination (execution) of all commandos taken in uniform behind the lines. This was a violation of the Geneva Conventions and therefore a war crime.

Source: Author beterave

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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