Among the Firsts: Lieutenant Colonel Gerhard L. Bolland's Unconventional War: D-Day 82nd Airborne Paratrooper, Oss Special Forces Commander of Operation Rype

Lt. Colonel Bolland was involved in the development and employment of two new methods of fighting during World War II: paratroop units and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He parachuted behind enemy lines during the D-Day invasion and served as Field Commander for Operation Rype, the only American military undertaking in Norway during the war. His military career lasted seventeen years and he received numerous decorations, including the Norwegian Liberation Medal and Citation, the Bronze Star for valour, the French Fouragerre of Croix de Guerre with Palms, and the Congressional Gold medal awarded to the OSS Society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2022
Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Unconventional warfare tactics can have a significant impact on the outcome of any war. During World War II, the United States government developed and employed two new methods of fighting, which had a profound effect on the course of the conflict. The first was the development of paratroop units, which were first called the 82nd Airborne Division. The second was the formation of a covert and sabotage operations branch called the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Lt. Colonel Bolland was involved in both of these firsts. During the D-Day invasion, he parachuted behind enemy lines, jumping out of the 82nd Airborne lead aircraft with General James Gavin. After fighting with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment for thirty-three days straight, he returned to England and became involved with the OSS Scandinavian Section. He served as Field Commander for their Operation, code named Rype. This was the only American military undertaking, albeit covert, in Norway during the entire course of the war. As a young boy growing up in rural western Minnesota, Bolland got his military start with the Minnesota National Guard, before being accepted to West Point, solely on merit. His military career lasted seventeen years. Lt. Colonel Bolland ended up with numerous decorations, including the Norwegian Liberation Medal and Citation, the Bronze Star for valor, the French Fouragerre of Croix de Guerre with Palms, and posthumously the Congressional Gold medal awarded to the OSS Society on behalf of all former OSS members that served during the war. His story reveals the struggles, successes, failures, and ultimate victories, detailing what went right and what went wrong with these new unconventional methods of fighting.

Dimension: 228 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781636241210