In 1956, the U.S. Army created one of its most secretive Cold War units in West Berlin:
Detachment A (39th Special Forces Detachment).
This elite ~90-man Green Beret team operated completely undercover for nearly 30 years. Dressed as civilians, fluent in German, they lived in safe houses on 24-hour alert, ready to conduct sabotage, guerrilla warfare, and stay-behind operations if the Soviets invaded. Many early members were Lodge Act recruits Eastern European immigrants with critical language and cultural skills.
They later pioneered urban counter-terrorism tactics and supported sensitive missions before being disbanded in 1984.
Detachment A (39th Special Forces Detachment).
This elite ~90-man Green Beret team operated completely undercover for nearly 30 years. Dressed as civilians, fluent in German, they lived in safe houses on 24-hour alert, ready to conduct sabotage, guerrilla warfare, and stay-behind operations if the Soviets invaded. Many early members were Lodge Act recruits Eastern European immigrants with critical language and cultural skills.
They later pioneered urban counter-terrorism tactics and supported sensitive missions before being disbanded in 1984.
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One of its most legendary figures was Major General Sidney Shachnow.
Born in Lithuania in 1934, Sid survived the horrors of the Kovno Ghetto as a child, enduring starvation and forced labor before escaping the Nazis at age 9 by hiding under his uncle’s coat. After immigrating to America in 1950, he dropped out of high school, enlisted in the Army, and earned his Green Beret.
In 1964, he deployed to Vietnam as commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment A-121 (A-12) at An Long Camp near the Cambodian border. There he trained and led a Civilian Irregular Defense Group against North Vietnamese forces. During a fierce enemy attack, he was shot simultaneously in the arm and leg. Despite his wounds, he applied a tourniquet, continued fighting, led his men, and earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart. He later contracted tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and other serious illnesses but recovered and returned for a second tour with the 101st Airborne Division — where he earned a second Silver Star for gallantry in action.
He was later hand-selected for Detachment A in Berlin, commanding the unit in the early 1970s. He went on to command all U.S. Army Berlin as the Wall fell in 1989.
Born in Lithuania in 1934, Sid survived the horrors of the Kovno Ghetto as a child, enduring starvation and forced labor before escaping the Nazis at age 9 by hiding under his uncle’s coat. After immigrating to America in 1950, he dropped out of high school, enlisted in the Army, and earned his Green Beret.
In 1964, he deployed to Vietnam as commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment A-121 (A-12) at An Long Camp near the Cambodian border. There he trained and led a Civilian Irregular Defense Group against North Vietnamese forces. During a fierce enemy attack, he was shot simultaneously in the arm and leg. Despite his wounds, he applied a tourniquet, continued fighting, led his men, and earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart. He later contracted tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and other serious illnesses but recovered and returned for a second tour with the 101st Airborne Division — where he earned a second Silver Star for gallantry in action.
He was later hand-selected for Detachment A in Berlin, commanding the unit in the early 1970s. He went on to command all U.S. Army Berlin as the Wall fell in 1989.
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