British commandos: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Date	1940 - 1946

Photos

British commando

British commando

David Stirling and members of the Special Air Service

British commandos

British commandos

British commandos

Illustration of a British Commando in assault landing dress, wearing a green beret and carrying equipment such as a rucksack, life belt, ammunition pouch, entrenching tool handle, tool kit for Bren machine gun, Mk III helmet, and holding a Bren machine gun. The British flag is displayed in the corner.

Normandy Invasion

Infographic depicting the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944, focusing on the Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. The image includes maps showing the planned assault, initial assault directions, and final Allied positions by midnight D-Day, with labeled beaches and surrounding towns. Facts and figures summarize the timing, width, participating Allied and German divisions, troop numbers, and casualties for each beach, with British and Canadian forces highlighted. Insets provide a locator map of the Nor

See All Images and Audio →

Topics

United States Marine Corps Navy SEAL Special Air Service French Foreign Legion Japan Self-Defense Forces U.S. National Guard Janissary Texas Rangers Special Boat Service Haganah

Germany invades Poland, September 1, 1939, using 45 German divisions and aerial attack. By September 20, only Warsaw held out, but final surrender came on September 29.

Pop Quiz: 17 Things to Know About World War II