|
Home > Units > Detachment A
Detachment A (39th SFD) 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. it would later transition to
PSSE-B (410th SFD) in the years 1984 to 1990.
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.
Websites about Det A
https://detachment-a.org
Videos about Det A
DET-A Berlin, Detachment A 39th Special Forces Berlin and
the MAC-V SOG Connection, August 2024.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WsUjUllM-M
Deutsche Welle, January 4, 2023. Why Berlin is Still the Spy Capital.
Its history as a spy-craft hotspot began after World War 2. The
Allies ended Nazi rule and divided the capital into four
sectors. Nowhere else did the superpowers of West and East meet
as closely as in the divided city, making it a perfect place for
spies. No mention of Det A in this 26 minute video, but useful
for context in understanding Berlin during the Cold War.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUB6MxvGTxU
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.
|
