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Quiz about American Special Forces WW2
Quiz about American Special Forces WW2

American Special Forces WW2 Trivia Quiz


The elite units of the Airborne, Rangers and 1st Special Service Forces were used to spearhead difficult attacks and stalemates throughout the war. This quiz is a broad history and a look at some major campaigns.

A multiple-choice quiz by Bertho. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Bertho
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
97,780
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
10 / 15
Plays
5155
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 91 (12/15), Guest 99 (7/15), Guest 75 (12/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. In which year was the Airborne program introduced? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. The newly formed 'Rangers' were named as such because 'Commandos' was already being used by the British.


Question 3 of 15
3. 1st Special Forces, nicknamed the 'North Americans', was an elite allied unit formed with men from the Rangers, the Airborne and the British SAS.


Question 4 of 15
4. Africa: Rangers and Paratroopers would first see action together in the spearhead attack on axis forces in Africa. The attack was given which codename? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. Sicily: The Airborne Forces had a terrible entry into Sicily. They were dropped all over the place! What was the cause of the poor drop? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Italy: Early German successes in protecting the Italian beachhead were pushed back by reinforcments from the Airborne divisions. The Germans fell back to a series of fortified positions known as what? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Italy: The 1st Special Forces were brought in to crack the German fortifications and bust the German defences. How did they penetrate the line? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. The 'Triple Nickels' 555th Airborne, an attachment of the 82nd were highly trained and exceptionally motivated troops. What was the 555th's distinction? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. D-Day: Utah beach was far less 'bloody' than Omaha due to the 82nd Airborne taking this town and the 101st holding surrounding causeways, preventing German reinforcements from reaching the beachheads. Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. D-Day: Sections of Rangers had the unenviable task of securing well fortified sections between Omaha and Utah beach using amphibious landings. Where were these fortifications? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. Market Garden: The famous Airborne drop into Holland to seize roads and bridges so XXX Corps could advance quickly to Eindhoven was the idea of which general? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. The Bulge was a massive spearhead counter attack by the Germans that cost both sides dearly. One million German troops poured into which area? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Why were the allies so concerned about defeating the Germans in the Hurtgen Forest when casualties were so high, when the main thrust had so much momentum further south? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Both the Airborne and Rangers led the advance through Germany after the Siegfried Line was broken. Elements of the 5th Rangers, 101st and the 82nd saw things that few would mention but none would forget. What were these things? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. Which elite force was first to enter Berchtesgaden, a town on the Austrian border where many of the high ranking Nazis had holiday homes, including Hitler? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In which year was the Airborne program introduced?

Answer: 1940

The Americans saw the early success of the Soviet Airborne and especially the German Paratroopers who were dropped on specific targets in Norway and Belgium. The American Army went forward with the airborne program. A test platoon of 50 men was formed on June 25, 1940.
2. The newly formed 'Rangers' were named as such because 'Commandos' was already being used by the British.

Answer: True

The Ranger units were actually based on the British commando units. The men were hand picked from two divisions that were already in the UK. The 1st Armoured and the 34th national Gaurd. The Rangers were formed in the summer of 1941.
3. 1st Special Forces, nicknamed the 'North Americans', was an elite allied unit formed with men from the Rangers, the Airborne and the British SAS.

Answer: False

1st Special Forces was a purpose designed outfit. It was made up of men who could survive in the cold outdoors - lumberjacks, game wardens, prospectors, etc. The unit was a mix of Americans and Canadians which is how they got their nickname the 'North Americans'. Their first deployment in the war was to break the winter line in Italy.
4. Africa: Rangers and Paratroopers would first see action together in the spearhead attack on axis forces in Africa. The attack was given which codename?

Answer: Torch

Torch was a diversion that the American army didn't want. They were eager to commence the liberation of Europe. However, the British persuaded the Americans to land amphibious forces in Africa. The Brits were keen to have their Eighth Army relieved who were battle fatigued and at a stalemate.
5. Sicily: The Airborne Forces had a terrible entry into Sicily. They were dropped all over the place! What was the cause of the poor drop?

Answer: All of these

The Airborne forces did a great job behind enemy lines even though they were badly separated. They cut German and Italian communication lines and accomplished missions that were scheduled for much larger forces. They created a sense of confusion for the enemy and kept larger forces from getting to the beachhead.
6. Italy: Early German successes in protecting the Italian beachhead were pushed back by reinforcments from the Airborne divisions. The Germans fell back to a series of fortified positions known as what?

Answer: The Winter Line

By this stage of the campaign, most airborne troops had been pulled back to England for Overlord, leaving behind the 504th and the 509th. These units joined forces with Darby's Rangers and were used as heavy combat troops as the allies tried to breach the Winter Line. Casualties were enormous with little to no gain.
7. Italy: The 1st Special Forces were brought in to crack the German fortifications and bust the German defences. How did they penetrate the line?

Answer: By scaling a mountain deemed impassible by the Germans

This was the first combat action of the 1st Special Forces and they excelled. In the cover of darkness and with a diversionary arty attack, the North Americans scaled a 70 degree slope and attacked German positions on the mountain top. A few days later they crossed a saddle and defeated the Germans on a second mountain top and the Winter Line was cracked.
8. The 'Triple Nickels' 555th Airborne, an attachment of the 82nd were highly trained and exceptionally motivated troops. What was the 555th's distinction?

Answer: They were the first African-American paratroopers

Do to racial segregation, the 555th trained harder than any Airborne company in order to prove to their white counterparts and themselves that they were capable Airborne soldiers. Their contribution to the war effort was considerable. The Japanese were floating incendiary balloons over North America in order to create fires.

The government was keen to keep a lid on the threat and the 555th were deployed to jump on the resulting fires at exceptional risk. They excelled in their duty and clocked up over 1200 jumps.

The men marched with and were awarded the same battle field decoratons as the 82nd.
9. D-Day: Utah beach was far less 'bloody' than Omaha due to the 82nd Airborne taking this town and the 101st holding surrounding causeways, preventing German reinforcements from reaching the beachheads.

Answer: Ste. Mere-Eglise

Again the Airborne drop was a disater and few units were dropped near their targets. With Paratroopers everywhere in Normandy, the Germans were very confused as to where to focus their attacks. The Paratroopers cut communications and did exceptionally well to meet their main objectives.
10. D-Day: Sections of Rangers had the unenviable task of securing well fortified sections between Omaha and Utah beach using amphibious landings. Where were these fortifications?

Answer: Pointe du Hoc

The Rangers suffered massive casualties from machine gun and mortar fire from the well protected cliff top fortifications. Their objective was to remove the threat of artillery that was believed to be placed on the cliff top. After taking the high ground it was discovered that the arty had been moved inland.

A small group of Rangers moved inland, found the artillery and destroyed the breech blocks thus preventing further landing casualties. The Rangers were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions on the beach head.
11. Market Garden: The famous Airborne drop into Holland to seize roads and bridges so XXX Corps could advance quickly to Eindhoven was the idea of which general?

Answer: Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery

Every year a runner brings a torch from Normandy to Eindhoven to commemorate Liberation Day. Many veterens from the 101st have returned to march in the Liberation Parade over the past 50 years.
12. The Bulge was a massive spearhead counter attack by the Germans that cost both sides dearly. One million German troops poured into which area?

Answer: Ardennes

As the Airborne units were currently in reserve, they were deployed quickly into some crucial areas of the buldge and cut the German advance to Antwerp. The came up against some of the most proficient- crack troops of the German Army and held fast preventing a further German breakout.
13. Why were the allies so concerned about defeating the Germans in the Hurtgen Forest when casualties were so high, when the main thrust had so much momentum further south?

Answer: To take control of the dams on the Roer River

While 'no good reason' is true in hindsight, there was a huge risk of the Germans flooding the areas adjacent to the Roer and Rhine Rivers and literally washing away the advancing allies. The Rangers fought hard and at great loss to take Castle Hill (Hill 400) which was crucial for the relieving 517th Airborne force to launch a diversionary attack from.

They kept the Germans busy while the 78th took the dams. The Germans still blew the Dam valves and flooded the Roer Valley delaying the Allies 2 weeks.
14. Both the Airborne and Rangers led the advance through Germany after the Siegfried Line was broken. Elements of the 5th Rangers, 101st and the 82nd saw things that few would mention but none would forget. What were these things?

Answer: Concentration camps

The shock of stumbling across the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps was a lot for these men to handle. They thought that no one would believe them if they told the story, so most men didn't say anything about the camps to the folks back home. Maybe the memory was one that they just could not relive.

The soldiers offered what rations they had to the human skeletons they found alive only to see them die before them as their fragile bodies could not handle the food. Mass pits with thousands of bodies, it was too much.
15. Which elite force was first to enter Berchtesgaden, a town on the Austrian border where many of the high ranking Nazis had holiday homes, including Hitler?

Answer: The 101st Airborne

The contribution made by Ranger and Airborne divisions was considerable, as was the horrific casualty rate they experienced. These soldiers returned to America and became the most highly educated and successful of all combatants.
Source: Author Bertho

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