FROM THE MISTS OF SCOTLAND TO THE 11TH SHOCK

As part of preparations for the Normandy landings, the British and Americans sought to parachute small groups of officers behind enemy lines. The Allies’ objective was to establish permanent contact with the French Resistance maquis, maintaining a connection with the Allied high command in London to gather as much intelligence as possible. Another aim was to organize and equip the French Forces of the Interior F.F.I, as the high command feared premature uprisings would lead to massacres, as seen in the Vercors in June 1944, where over 4,000 poorly equipped Resistance fighters faced an assault from 20,000 Germans. An additional, unspoken reason was to prevent communist control over the Resistance groups.

Thus, in 1944, the Jedburgh teams were created in Britain. The name likely refers either to the Boer War in South Africa, where British soldiers infiltrated enemy lines near a location named Jedburgh, or to a Scottish village of the same name. The first Frenchmen incorporated into these teams, at the request of General De Gaulle who did not want the Anglo-Saxons solely in charge of the Resistance were officers from the Free French Forces F.F.L such as Albert de Schonen and Captain Guy Leborgne.

After the end of the war in mainland Europe, a few French members of these teams chose to continue fighting in Indochina, later forming the core of what would become the 11th Shock Battalion.

I. Formation of the Jedburgh Teams and Their Actions in France:

On February 1, 1944, the Jedburgh team training center was established in the large park of a 17th-century manor, Milton Hall, near Peterborough, about 200 kilometers north of London. Another center, run entirely by the British, was located in Algiers at Club des Pins. Before being parachuted into Ariège in 1944, Marcel Bigeard trained there, inspired by the JED training methods.

Initially, these JED teams were meant to be composed solely of Anglo-Saxons. President Roosevelt opposed involving French forces in Allied operations since the Armistice. However, thanks to the intervention of an American, David Bruce, and the charisma of certain French leaders like A. de Schonen, with full agreement from General De Gaulle, the French were allowed to join the Anglo Saxon forces. Thus, 87 teams were formed, each comprising three men: a British or American officer, a French officer, and a radio operator who was typically Anglo-Saxon. The high command directive stipulated that one of the officers should be from the country where the team would be deployed. The French volunteers selected by A. de Schonen were given a two-week leave to spend in British households before beginning training a step intended to smooth over memories of Mers-el-Kébir!

Averaging twenty five years of age, these men were all volunteers chosen for their authority and boldness. They underwent intense training, both athletic and military, aimed at teaching them how to survive in an enemy occupied country and introducing them to guerrilla warfare techniques. History remembers names like W. Colby, a future high ranking CIA official, and A. Bank, founder of the Green Berets. On the French side, figures such as Saint Jacques, Leborgne, and de Schonen left their mark on this period. Originally, the training program for these teams was intended to last six weeks, but it ultimately stretched out to nearly six months. The program included 100-kilometer marches to be completed in 24 hours, often followed by a second 90 kilometer march to be done in 48 hours, with the men fully equipped. Shooting drills used live ammunition, and one trainee even lost an eye during a street combat exercise. This accident didn’t prevent him from parachuting into France just days later. Morse code training and instruction in sabotage techniques were also provided. The training period was used to form extremely strong teams by considering the complementary strengths and personality clashes among the members.

While the Jedburgh members were well-trained, they were largely unaware of the political situation in France or the roles of the people they would meet. One of the French officers, Captain Kerneval, recalled that before his departure for France, his team had no knowledge of the F.F.I. or F.T.P. groups. After their training, the Jedburghs were parachuted into France, wearing uniforms to claim prisoner of war status if captured. Each team was assigned a sector, usually corresponding to a department. Parachute drops took place from June 6 to September 15, 1944. On June 18, some Jedburghs were dropped into the southwest to harass the "Das Reich" division moving toward Normandy. Others were parachuted into the Alps and Rhône Valley to facilitate the advance of Allied troops after the Provence landings. Brittany saw some of the most impactful and measurable Jedburgh operations. Fourteen teams were dropped into this region, where they disrupted German defenses. They coordinated their efforts with the British SAS Special Air Service. The first battle occurred near Malestroit, where 560 Germans were killed by 36 Resistance fighters, including some Jedburgh teams. In Brittany’s Côtes du Nord department alone, 2,500 Germans were put out of action, and 40 trains derailed, leaving the enemy troops constantly on alert.

In one of these missions, A. de Schonen was mistakenly captured by General Patton, who, like most Allied commanders, was unaware of the existence of these special teams, whose operations were kept deliberately secret. Only an intervention from London saved these team members from execution. At times, they were asked to wear civilian clothes, as was the case for A. de Schonen, who was assigned to collect information on German air resources stationed around Chartres. The rapid advance of Allied troops ultimately led de Schonen to parachute into the Belfort area on another mission, during which he was severely injured.

A report was systematically sent to London, written by the team officers to outline resource requests. These reports provided detailed information on both enemy and Allied situations and offered insights into the behavior of the French people in occupied France. According to a report by Captain Kerneval, the leadership within the Resistance did not always meet expectations, as many active and reserve officers who had shown little courage during Resistance operations were suddenly eager to wear uniforms once the Americans arrived.  H. Amouroux, Joys and Sorrows of a Liberated People.

A total of 114 Frenchmen served in the Jedburgh teams; seven died, and six were seriously injured. To date, no comprehensive assessment of their actions has been made. Although it is difficult to measure their impact quantitatively, except in Brittany, their assistance was invaluable, even essential, to the F.F.I.

II - AND THE FAILURE IN INDOCHINA:

After the liberation of France, believing that the war was not yet over, these men of action chose different paths. Some, like Captain Leborgne, joined the SAS, which was fighting in the Netherlands. Others, like A. de Schonen, after a long recovery, helped to train the leaders of the new French Army by creating training centers based on the British model. Others chose to head to the Far East, volunteering to be parachuted there despite de Schonen’s skepticism. He believed that the skills learned in France could not be directly transferred to the vast regions of Asia. Yet, at the end of 1944, everything seemed to suggest that the Far East Special Forces, also referred to as Jedburgh, would succeed, as the general atmosphere was optimistic.

In 1945, these new teams were incorporated into the French Action Service, which had been created in 1943 following the British Force 136 model. As members of a structured organization, these teams lost their independence of action, a decision that would have significant consequences for the Jeds. The Action Service repeatedly deployed  Jeds  on missions in Indochina between 1945 and 1946. These missions, against the Japanese or the sudden emergence of the Viet Minh, were poorly planned and, at times, suicidal. Mr. P. Messmer, a close associate of General De Gaulle, confirmed this view, believing that the Action Service had not been up to the task. The decision to dissolve this service was made at the beginning of 1946.

During this dark period, the value and competence of the Jeds were never questioned. Despite the unfavorable circumstances, they continued to demonstrate their skill and physical resilience against the Japanese, Viet Minh, and even the Chinese. Their survival was owed to the training they had received at Milton Hall or in the subsequent centers.

After the dissolution of the Action Service, the Jeds continued their efforts in Indochina, excelling in various airborne operations, including the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Some Jeds were even instrumental in establishing prestigious units like the 1st and 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiments RCP and the 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment RPIMA, and had the honor of commanding them in battle.

III - THE BIRTH OF THE 11th CHOC:

Under the initiative of Colonel Fourcaud, a hero of both World Wars, a new Action Service was established on September 1, 1946, which soon led to the creation of the 11th Choc. This unit was a direct legacy of the Jedburgh teams. The 11th Choc became a training center and an integral part of the new version of the Action Service, selecting and refining those who would form the French Special Forces. The training program adopted by the unit’s first commander was as rigorous as the one given at Milton Hall a few years earlier. The lessons of Indochina were not forgotten, and the memory of the Jeds who lost their lives was honored by the presence of a panther on the Battalion’s insignia, representing Bagheera from The Jungle Book.

Whether at the Action Service in Paris or the Battalion in Mont Louis, positions of responsibility were held by former Jeds. G. Leborgne and Aussarès were among them, both eventually reaching the rank of general. In 1947, during an inter allied exercise in Austria, the French teams assigned to play the role of subversives distinguished themselves by effectively destroying command posts, rail lines, and depots, all while evading detection by regular troops particularly an elite alpine brigade. The maneuver’s director then requested the French to participate in another international exercise. Notably, among the exercise’s observers was a U.S. Jed, A. Bank, who later admitted that the lessons learned convinced him to persuade American authorities to create a unit inspired by the 11th Choc: the Green Berets.

The Americans considered establishing an Action Service in Asia to counter Soviet influence, consisting of Americans, British, and French. A discreet approach was made to the French Jeds. In response, General de Lattre de Tassigny, displeased, decided to create the Group of Mixed Airborne Commandos G.C.M.A, made up primarily of 11th Choc personnel, including G. Leborgne.

Not all surviving Jeds continued their military careers. Some chose to serve the state as diplomats, like Ambassador A. de Schonen, who, after representing France in Rome and with NATO, ended his career as Ambassador to New Zealand. These various positions occasionally allowed him to encounter former American and British comrades in arms who had since become tough competitors. Others entered the industrial sector, holding high responsibility positions.

Whether in the Special Forces, prestigious state functions, or the industrial world, all the French Jeds were and are still driven by the same dedication: to serve their country. This remarkable saga, often unknown to our compatriots, awaits its historian. It is urgent that such a historian emerges before the witnesses to this period leave us.

Conclusion:

The story of the French Jedburgh teams, born from the misty landscapes of Scotland’s Milton Hall training grounds, is one of unyielding dedication and bravery. These men, initially trained to wage guerrilla warfare against Nazi forces in occupied France, did not rest when WWII ended. Instead, they transformed their expertise into a lasting legacy, carrying their hard won knowledge across continents and into the tumultuous battles of Indochina. Their sacrifices and resilience set a high standard, and while their missions met with varying outcomes, their unbreakable spirit became the foundation upon which France’s Special Forces would be built.

The establishment of the 11th Choc was a milestone for French military strategy, bringing together the lessons of past conflicts to forge an elite fighting force. By incorporating the symbolic panther of The Jungle Book into their insignia, they honored the memory of those who had fallen in Indochina and beyond, embodying the fierce independence and strength of Bagheera. Whether facing grueling training exercises, covert operations, or high stakes missions in post war Asia, the members of the 11th Choc proved themselves time and again as pioneers of France’s modern special operations forces.

The Jedburgh legacy lives on in their contributions to the French military, in the legendary missions and operations they inspired, and in the countless lives they impacted. Even today, the dedication, courage, and loyalty of these men serve as an enduring testament to those who answered the call to protect their country and values, shaping the course of military history. Their story, still largely unsung, reminds us of the quiet heroes who carry the weight of freedom on their shoulders, and it urges a new generation to step forward and chronicle this incredible chapter before its witnesses fade into history.