[4] The organisation was formed in secret in 1949 by Albert Schnez, who had risen to the rank of colonel in the Wehrmacht during World War II.

Initially, the secret army would retreat to a foreign country, possibly Switzerland or Spain, the latter being ruled by Francisco Franco.

[5] The organisation engaged in surveillance of left-leaning politicians, like the outspoken member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany faction in the German Parliament, Fritz Erler.

Schnez was in contact with other right-wing organisations and individuals in Germany, such as Otto Skorzeny, in relation to resistance to a Soviet invasion.

[5] West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer became aware of the secret army around 1951 and informed leading opposition politicians of its activities but did not order any decisive action against Schnez and shied away from conflict with World War II veterans.

[4] The fate of the secret army is unknown, but leading figures of the Schnez-Truppe joined the then newly formed West German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, in 1955.

Gerhard von Schwerin, former commander of the division, served as a consultant in military and security matters for the West German government under Adenauer.