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What was the Commando Order?

Introduction The Commando Order (German: Kommandobefehl) was issued by the OKW, the high command of the German armed forces, on 18 October 1942 (refer to World War II). This order stated that all Allied commandos captured in Europe and Africa should be summarily executed without trial, even if in proper uniforms or if they attempted… Read More

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An Overview of the Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee

Introduction The Defence and Security Media Advisory (DSMA) Committee oversees a voluntary code which operates between the government departments which have responsibility for national security and the media. DSMA is an ad-hoc advisory group of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). 1912 Origins In 1912, the Admiralty and the War Office concluded that they needed some… Read More

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What is a Clandestine Cell System?

Introduction A clandestine cell system is a method for organising a group of people, such as resistance fighters, sleeper agents, mobsters, or terrorists, to make it harder for the police or military to catch them. In a cell structure, each of the small groups of people in the cell know the identities of the people… Read More

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What was a Japanese Holdout?

Introduction Japanese holdouts (Japanese: 残留日本兵, romanised: Zanryū nipponhei, lit. ’remaining Japanese soldiers’) were soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during the Pacific Theatre of World War II who continued fighting after the surrender of Japan at the end of the war. Japanese holdouts either doubted the veracity of the formal surrender, were… Read More

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A Brief Overview of the Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol

Introduction A long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP), is a small, well-armed reconnaissance team that patrols deep in enemy-held territory. The concept of scouts dates back to the origins of warfare itself. However, in modern times these specialised units evolved from examples such as Rogers’ Rangers in colonial British America, the Lovat Scouts in World War One,… Read More

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An Overview of (Military) Partisans

Introduction A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity (refer to unconventional warfare). The term can apply to the field element of resistance movements. The most common use in present… Read More

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What is the Hannibal Directive?

Introduction The Hannibal Directive (Hebrew: נוהל חניבעל) (or “Procedure” or “Protocol”) is a controversial procedure that Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have used follow to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers by enemy forces (refer to prisoner of war). It was introduced in 1986, after a number abductions of IDF soldiers in Lebanon and the subsequent… Read More