Talk:Auxiliary Units

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I first heard about this on "Hitler's Britain" the other day. Were there 5000 units, or 5000 individuals? Mintguy (T) 15:01, 23 Apr 2004 (UTC)

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[edit] Post WWII

There were similar organisations to the Auxiliary Units in Europe during the Cold War, most notable Operation Gladio in Italy. Has there ever been any suggestion of anything in the UK? All that I have ever seen is that there was some planning for a possible Soviet capture of the Northern or Western Isles but that seemed to be only a plan and use regular / TA forces (though I have seen what looks like a AU hide in a Western Isles cemetery). --jmb 11:30, 24 June 2006

[edit] Assassination

Approximately 5000 units were formed, consisting of Special Duty Sections, Signals and Operational Patrols. Auxiliary Unit members were vetted by a senior local police chief (who were allegedly, according to sealed orders given to the Operational Patrols to be opened only in case of invasion, to be assassinated to prevent the membership of the Auxiliary Units being revealed).

I can't remember any mention of the assassination of police chiefs in any of the books that I have read on AUs. With Britain In Mortal Danger is quite comprehensive and I am sure there was nothing in there - they do mention that they were prepared to assassinate people but not in those circumstances. I would be interested to see the source of this statement. --jmb 20:42, 10 July 2006 (UTC)
It was mentioned in a program aired on the U.S. PBS network a year or two ago, including an interview with someone who peeked at his open-only-in-case-of-invasion orders, and was shocked to find that killing the local police chief was on the list... AnonMoos (talk) 04:58, 16 January 2008 (UTC)
There was a UK TV programme that mentioned that but I think that it was more a statement that they would be prepared to kill local police if they thought that they threatened their security by cooperating with the Germans. More likely to be referring to a local PC (i.e. with local knowledge) than a "police chief". --jmb (talk) 08:43, 16 January 2008 (UTC)
No, that wasn't what was said on the program. Just now I did a little google searching, but can't seem to find a website for the program (the fact that I don't remember a specific program title doesn't help...). AnonMoos (talk) 12:57, 16 January 2008 (UTC)
OK, also going by what I can remember but tend to put more weight on books than TV programmes. I would recommend having a read at "With Britain In Mortal Danger", it tells a much wider story than came over in the TV programme that I saw. --jmb (talk) 15:14, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Model of silenced sniper rifle

Does anyone know what kind/model of silenced sniper rifle they were issued with? --Hydraton31 21:18, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

I don't remember any mention of a silenced sniper rifle in John Warwicker's book. I just happen to be reading M R D Foot's book, SOE The Scientific Secrets and there is not mention of SOE having one. Their silenced weapons were pistols and the silenced sten, all intended for short range use I think. --jmb 22:14, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Auxunits

Is "Auxunit" an original name? I can't remember seeing it mentioned in any of the books that I have read. It sounds a modern term that someone has come up. --jmb (talk) 12:41, 1 February 2008 (UTC)