5th Special Air Service
| 5th Special Air Service | |
|---|---|
Crest and Cap Badge of the 5th Special Air Service | |
| Active | February 1941 – 21 September 1945 |
| Country | Belgium |
| Type | Special forces |
| Size | One squadron (until early 1945) One regiment (from March 1945) |
| Part of | Free Belgian Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Malvern Wells Loudon Castle Camp Tervuren |
| Motto(s) | Who Dares Wins |
| March | Quick: Marche des Parachutistes Belges Slow: Lili Marlene |
| Battle honours | Normandy – Belgium – Ardennes – Emden – Oldenburg Fourragère of the Leopold Order Fourragère of the French Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Colonel Eddy Blondeel |
The 5th Special Air Service (5th SAS) was a Belgian special forces unit during World War II, made up entirely of Belgian volunteers. It saw action as part of the British SAS Brigade in Normandy, Northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Initially trained in artillery observer, commando-style raids, CQB/CQC, gathering military intelligence, irregular warfare, long-range penetration, parachuting, and special reconnaissance, the unit converted to motorised reconnaissance on armoured jeeps. It was the first Allied unit to set foot onto Belgian soil, and the first to cross the Siegfried line, albeit accidentally.