Which unit caused the most fear in the German soldiers defending Italy, the Gurkha Regiments or the First Special Service Regiment?
None of the above,Which unit caused the most fear in the German soldiers defending Italy, the Gurkha Regiments or the First Special Service Regiment?
I would agree. It was said that no civilian was safe, old men, children, even farm animals risked their "innocence" in their presence.The Goumiers Marocains.
The OP's question seemed quite straightforward,I just felt that the 2 unit choices seemed oddly limited, considering the question was based on 'fear', with no mention of 'respect' at any particular level. The OP'S choices also seemed very limited considering the variety of nationalities fighting the Germans during the Italian campaign. A case could also be made perhaps for the inclusion of U.S. Army artillery as a choice.Perhaps Randy phrased it wrong - when I first read his question, it seemed to ask which of the two given units did the Germans fear/respect more in battle - rather than which unit did they fear the most in the theater of action. I could be , however, mistaken.
I think it would be quite hard to distinguish fact from fiction as far as that goes. Stories of the Gurkhas, Black Devils, Goums etc. have grown in the telling, as has the assumption the Germans were terrified of them. No doubt these Allied 'elites' came by their reputations honestly, but you would need to look at unit records and contemporary accounts to discern what practical effects, if any, this had.Which unit caused the most fear in the German soldiers defending Italy, the Gurkha Regiments or the First Special Service Regiment?