Fallschirmjäger () is the German term, at the same time for the singular and plural, indicating a military parachutist. Fallschirm means Parachute and Jäger Chasseur or unit of light Infanterie.

Genesis

In the month of September 1935, the Minister for the air of the III {{E}} Reich, Hermann Göring decides to set up units able to intervene with the back of the frontline, all in all to give to the infantry the third dimension. This decision makes following the operations of Italian and Soviet who utilized the first airborne troops. It is thus them which took the initiative as regards creation of units parachutists (from the clauses of the Traité of Versailles which limited the evolution of the army under the Weimar Republic) Nevertheless, it is at the same time the Luftwaffe and the Wehrmacht which will try to set up frightening units. The Army would like to use these troops in a massive way, whereas the tacticians of the air are eager to use them more like commandos. Whereas on January 29th, 1936, an official order is signed to set up the units of Fallschirmjäger, it is only in July 1938 that the general Kurt Student will join together these two concepts to create the 7th airborne division.

First victories

During the Second world war, the Germany often advisedly used these battalions of military parachutists. Appreciably different from the British Army and the US Army, these units ended up being under the only dependence of the Luftwaffe (air force) and not of the Wehrmacht (Army).

April 9th 1940, several parachutings take place on the Norway and the Denmark. It is the Opération Weserübung which aims at capturing the aerodromes. In spite of dispersion, the unit is a success and propaganda largely praises the merits of these units out of the commun run. May 10th, 1940, the " Jaune" plan; is launched with like spearhead these units paras. The goal is the conquest of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Channel Albert and the fort of Eben-Emael belong to the particularly daring objectives which are entrusted to them. With only six killed, it is once again a total success. With these exploits, during all the duration of the Battle of France, a myth takes form, that of the Fifth Column: It is thought whereas these intrepid paras could overflow the lines and why not disguise itself as French soldiers. At the beginning of May 1941, Hitler request in Goering which orders with Kurt Student the preparation of an airborne invasion of the Mediterranean.

Merkur operation

The attack will be the first true airborne operation of great scale. Preceded by the catch by the Channel by Corinth, true exploit which precedes the importance that takes the theater of operation of the Mediterranean.

See also: Battle of Crete

May 22nd, 1941 at the time of the Battle of Crete, the units of Fallschirmjäger , will fight with pugnacity. The battle is such as the German authorities refuse with any comment during several days. The paras must often fight isolated against from the New Zealanders, the English and even from the peasants crétois who do not hesitate to massacre them (will follow from there several executions of civilians synopsis when Fallschirmjägers discover the mutilated bodies their comrades. The conquest of the island is particularly hard owing to the fact that the paras, once they jumped of their Junkers Ju 52 find on the ground with only one gun and a knife. If the containers filled of heavy weapons and gun machine-guns are too far, it is necessary to conquer the enemy positions with these handguns. It is thus at the price of heavy losses that Crete is conquered. So heavy losses, that Hitler even will not want to use any more to him its paras for airborne operations of great scale. The golden age of the fallschirmjägers is completed. Crete was commonly called in Germany the “tomb of the paras”.

Paras on the ground

Confined with a role of unit of elite on the ground, Fallschirmjägers particularly will shine in the tasks which theirs are entrusted. It will be first of all in North Africa where under the crook of officer such as Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, they will avoid the worst at the time of the retirement of the Afrika Korps by carrying out a series of actions latecomers. It will be then the Italian theater of operation, and in particular the defense of Rome which definitively will make German parachutists a crack corps to share.

See also: Battle of the mount Cassin

Thus in 1943, the German paras will resist under appalling conditions more than five months the top of the Mont Cassin. Albert Kesselring which ordered the troops in this sector, will show very proud exemplary resistance of its men. A resistance which will be greeted even later by the allies.

One finds this resistance in Russia but more in a more brilliant way in Normandy. Thus as of on June 7th, 1944, the colonel Von der Heydte will defend with his men the sector of Carentan against of other airborne troops, those of the American 101 {{E}}. Decisive, but quickly reduced, constrained with the fold, they will be nevertheless determining throughout the battle of Normandy and in particular in the sector of Saint-Lo. They are from now on feared, tested and tough soldiers who benefit from topography and the vegetation to slow down the American advance.

See also: Battle of the Hedges

In August 1944, organized in Kampfgruppe (or groups of combat) they will fight to the Nickel silver-Cliff pocket where they will be under the orders of the general Eugen Meindl the last with the units S has to launch counter attacks against the bolt of the Mount-Ormel

At the end of 1944, one finds then the fallschirmjägers in Holland where they push back in their sectors, at the time of the Opération Market Garden the attack of the allied paras.

Wacht amndt Rhein

See also: Battle of the Ardennes

Last airborne operation of the war. Two divisions “are droppées” with the top of the of the Ardennes solid masses. In an extreme confusion, the initial mission cannot be realized. Fallschirmjägers (for the majority of new young people recruits) are insulated, without supply, badgered. The majority finish dead or captive.

Figures

More: 54449 parachutists will be killed with the combat and: 8000 are always disappeared .

Strange

• the S will create their own airborne troops to fight against Tito in Yugoslavia
• a group of heteroclite parachutists will be posed with a sailplane on the top of a mountain of the Gran Sasso to release Benito Mussolini
• the boxer max Schmeling world champion heavy truck will engage in the paras.
• In 1945, France is not completely released. Among these places where the Germans always resist, the Poche of Saint-Nazaire, which held by the Fallschirmjägers will be the last released city of Europe!

Characteristic

The exempted drive with Stendal passed at the time to be hardest which is. To be patented, it was necessary to carry out three jumps, but also to be able to only fight or in small group and to show a great tenacity. A strong friendship linked these men. If one omits the executions in Crete, the paras always showed much respect towards their adversaries. For evidence, many testimonys praising morality their certain nobility with the combat made by those which they fought.

The equipment at the time of the Second world war

These units of elite had a broad choice at their disposal. Regarded as unit of elite, they were equipped better than the majority with the other army corps. They were the first to be had with the combat rifle without effect of retreat. The rifle machine gunner FG-42 and the helmet M1935, derived from the Stahlhelm, were even especially designed for them. They raised also a specific camouflage.

Their Parachute S was however less powerful than those of the Alliés, with only one Sangle, the landing was to be done on the Main S and the Genou X, preventing from carrying with oneself, in a nonrisky way, the heavier weapons. Very often, part of the material was parachuted in special cases which could be found dispersed on the battle field.

Today

The German parachutists are always regarded in Germany and more generally within the European army as a unit of elite.

External bonds

• '' Fallschirmjäger '' 1936-1945
• '' Fallschirmjäger '' of the '' Luftwaffe ''
• American Report/ratio of the Second world war on the '' Fallschirmjäger ''
• Weapons and equipment of the '' Fallschirmjäger ''

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