The unbelievable SAS mission that remained secret for 80 years

SAS above any other unit. Intelligence with action gave incredible success!!!

This story reminds me so much of the old 1965 film Von Ryan's Express, starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard. Although it's a very different story, it does involve the escape of Allied prisoners of war from a detention camp in Italy using a commandeered train running through Nazi-controlled territory. I wonder if someone involved in this raid worked on the script or whispered some secrets to one of the writers.

My Dad was in the 2nd SAS and served in Italy, he never spoke much about his missions but did say he was a part of a group sent to pick up Mussolini. when they got to the hotel it was surrounded by Germans.

All credit to Damien Lewis for his research and writing this story which needs to be told, I am ordering my copy, Damien's book are excellent

If one takes into consideration the insanely disproportionate ratio of unit size to range of missions - achievements - impact on enemy morale and how Stirling's 'baby' essentially became a role model for all the special forces that followed in many countries, I think it's safe to say that the SAS is the most iconic, legendary and impactful unit not only of WWII but of warfare since the dawn of time...

They were the Greatest Generation... we stand on the shoulders of giants. 🇬🇧

This is another in the list of distinguished acts of inventive heroism in the history of The SAS. In re not getting even the famous 'little oak leaf badge' for the effort, at least my old dad, being a staff sergeant in a less glamorous outfit but the same Italian show, got his, for nagging his world-weary captain into letting him drag a Bren gun in a canvas bag a distance forward by night, digging himself in and, with the aid of an improvised (premeditated) blind periscope, shooting up a square encampment of white tents containing some 50 or so each Hitler Youth & Waffen SS officers.. Interestingly, I've seen a photo of the world weary captain, who was my dad's good friend and he looked a lot like E. Blackadder 😅.. Thanks for posting this. I bet those lads, had it been possible, would've been pleased with a Mention In Dispatches, these were highly prized. The gallantry of The SAS is conspicuous, even if the gongs aren't. To all present serving members and all, a belated Happy New Year. ⭐👍

I think the reason this was kept secret is that if you broadcast the success of the mission, then the enemy will take precautions to prevent similar missions in the future. Unfortunately they kept this one so secret that they forgot about it.

Not British, but I've always had massive respect for the SAS.

Incredible that this remained buried for so long. I was a voracious reader when I was young and I used to get a carefully chosen hardcover book from my father on every birthday. For my 12th (just looked at the inscription - Oct, 1962) he gave me "The Phantom Major", by Virginia Cowles. It tells the story of David Stirling and the formation of the SAS. I almost never reread a book, but I did for that one.

My father was in the Desert and he said the Higher ups had no time for the SAS and listening to this I think he was correct If this had been the paras or the Commandos the story would have been told long before now

Keeping the SAS, SBS, reconnaissance or any other special forces group secretive is pretty important and the British seemed to have sussed this. Nobody had really heard of the SAS until the Iranian hostage seige for instance

There have been so many full feature films depicting heroic events during WWII both purely fictional and based on true events but this one was apparently swept under the carpet, or at least into a corner and forgotten about. It's time this was mission is filmed and the true story shown to the whole world. In a world where fascism and authoritoryism is on the uprise it must be shown to be possible that a small unit of heroes can make an enormous impact. The heroic efforts of Ukrainians during this ongoing war with Russia are starting to be filmed now , so someone has to get in quick, verify the mission, collect the history and data, write a script and produce the film. Events like these should never be forgotten.

Just when you think your sick of Britain and what its become...... you here tale like this..... makes you proud to be british again. It makes me think we can be that proud nation we once was. Regardless of your race we stand united and this tiny island will overcome anything!

Operations are often classified for periods of 50, 80 or 100 years not just for National Security but often for the safety and security of those who took part and their families, children and grandchildren for years after.

But why was this raid carried out? The SAS were used to attack targets of military value. This raid is very different indeed. There must have been people in this concentration camp who had real value for the war effort. That's the real gem of information and it's missing. What was the purpose of the raid? If it was purely humanitarian, then it would have been publicized.

I tried reading the book, and it meanders around so much, that it was difficult to find out what the raid actually was/was about. Gave up. So nice to get this where it is all described succinctly.

Great men of our time!

it's one thing not giving medals at the time - but surely medals should have been awarded at the end of the war?

This needs to be done as a movie. It'll give the chaps involved the recognition that they so thoroughly deserve.