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Operation Greif Was A Low Blow In a Dirty War (WWII)
The Nazis started fighting even dirtier as things grew more desperate
When Hitler ordered his armies to prepare for a large and sweeping counterattack on Allied positions as they approached Germany in the winter of 1944 — 1945, everyone knew he was desperate. The German army was in no position to launch an effective counterattack. The German air forces had been decimated and lost control of the skies. Still, the German forces moved into position and attacked, launching the Battle of the Bulge.
The fighting was cold, bitter, and brutal. Bad weather and poor visibility hampered many of the Allies’ advantages. The Germans managed to surprise the Allies and hold out longer than people expected. During this winter fracas, another operation was taking place. A dastardly operation. An underhanded operation. The plan was called Operation Greif, and it encapsulated one of the worst ways to fight a war.
Illegal Deception
There are rules in war, even in an all out, globe spanning conflict like World War II. When the fighting was at its basest, field commanders still tried to adhere to the laws of war. Some of these rules were unwritten and stretched back for centuries. Other rules could land you in front of an international tribune…