Swastika over Fort Knox

The sentry yawned, started at the sound of a hoot owl, relaxed and rubbed his eyes.

Suddenly a bayonet pressed against his collarbone. A huge hand gagged his terrified grunt. On the sleeve he could just make out a swastika. Thirty seconds later all hell began as bombs exploded and rifles and machine guns chattered throughout the woods. Two minutes later the firing stopped. The company began counting its losses: one lieutenant; one sentry; 13 other enlisted men.

This was not Tunisia, but Fort Knox, Ky. Raiders were the Nazi Platoon--30 German-speaking, noncommissioned Armored Forcemen who prey on trainees out on long marches and overnight maneuvers. Faces blackened, signaling among themselves by owl hoots, the raiders fire blanks, use whistle bombs. The platoon averages five day or night raids a week. It specializes in mess sergeants (thereby canceling dinner) and tired stragglers.

Prisoners who are quick to admit the faults that got them captured are released immediately. Others are marched off to "Shickelgruber's Pokey," a 50-ft.-square area surrounded by 16-ft. barbed wire. Overhead floats the German flag. The sloppiest soldiers get mild labor (ditch-digging), are taunted by insulting guards. Biggest single haul: 25 enlisted men. Highest-ranking haul: a colonel.

The platoon was organized two months ago to pound into green soldiers the necessity of always being on guard. Says Major General Charles L. Scott, wrinkled, sunburned boss of the Armored Force Replacement Training Center: "The German platoon is the best single thing we have done to make fighting men out of the green material that comes to us. . . . Some of the soldiers killed in Africa would be alive today if they had learned that the enemy is cunning and crafty and has to be watched every minute."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.