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Fallschirmjäger – Fallschirm “Parachute” Jäger “Light Infantry”

Fallschirmjäger is the more common name for the Fallschirmtruppen (paratroopers) and should not be confused with the Luftlandetruppen (Air-landing troops). The difference between the two is easily explained, Fallschirmtruppen were trained to jump from aircraft or land by glider to seize important objectives holding them until relieved. Luftlandetruppen were equipped with heavier weapons, more ammunition and were usually flown in to land on ground already secured by the paratroopers.

1935 – Hitler renounced the Treaty of Versailles and formed the Luftwaffe headed by Reichmarschall Goring. Conscription was also reintroduced to the German armed forces.

1936 – The Luftwaffe under ‘General Goring’ inaugurates a Parachute Rifle Battalion (Fallschirmschutzen Bataillon) and calls for volunteers to be trained at Doberitz and Altengrabow. Later in the year the Army High Command (Oberkommando des Heeres) called for volunteers for their Heavy Parachute Infantry Company (Schwere-Fallschirm-Infanterie Kompanie) who were trained at Stendal.

1937 – A central parachute school (Fallschirmschule) is formed and based at Stendal.

1938 – The parachute Rifle Battalion is detached from ‘General Gorings’ Regiment to become the First Battalion, First Fallschirmjäger Regiment (I/FJR 1). The Regiment was based at Stendal under the command of Major Bruno Brauer. Generalmajor Kurt Student was made responsible for the forming of the 7 Flieger Division (7th Airborne Division) based at Stendal with its headquarters at Tempelhof.

1939 – Generalmajor Student was appointed Inspekteur der Fallschirm-und-Luftlandetruppen (Inspector of Parachute and Air-Landing troops). The army’s Heavy Parachute Infantry Company is transferred to the Luftwaffe and becomes the Second Battalion, First Fallschirmjäger Regiment (II/FJR1). The raising of a third battalion was sanctioned in August becoming the Third Battalion, First Fallschirmjäger Regiment (III/FJR1), the Battalion was also granted a Second Regiment (III/FJR2). All Fallschirmjäger Battalions are part of the 7th Flieger Division, with elements of the II/FJR1 and III/FJR1 being used in a ground role during the invasion of Poland. Generalmajor Student begins the secret training of a Strumabteilung (Assault Detachment) ‘Koch’ comprising of members of I/FJR1 and II/FJR1, for the assault on the Belgian fortress of Eben Emael and a number of bridges over the Albert Canal.

1940 – Companies of I/FJR1 are dropped into Denmark and Norway to capture key airfields and bridges to aid the advance of the Reich. Number 1 company is forced to surrender to the British in the Gudbrandsalen Valley after running out of ammunition. I/FRJ1 was dropped into Norway to prevent the British evacuation, they were to late and the Allies withdrew successfully. FJR1 and FJR 2 (excluding the member of the special 'Koch' unit capture bridges and airfields in Holland. The assault in Belgium on the fortress of Eben Emael is carried out by 4 of the 7 sections of the Sturmabteilung 'Koch' and held until they are relieved.

1941 - British troops in Greece are successfully cut off from retreating across the Corinth Canal into the Peloponnese by the FJR2. Changes in the Luftwaffe command gives promotions to the following:
Kurt Student - General der Luftwaffe commanding XI Fliegerkorps (9th Airborne Corps)
Wilhelm Süßmann - Generalleutnant commanding VII Fliegerkorps (7th Airborne Corps)
Bräuer - Commanding FJR1
Sturm - Commanding FJR2
Heidrich - Commanding FJR3
Airfields in Crete are assaulted by two waves of Glider Borne Infantry and Fallschirmjäger. These initial landings were followed up by air and sea landed troops od the 5th Mountain Division. the invasion succeeds but only at the heavy cost of life to the Fallschirmjäger, including the death of Generalleutnant Süßmann. His death effectively stopped any future major airborne operations, which led to the use of the Fallschirmjäger as elite light infantry units. The 7th division, now commanded by Generalleutnant Peterson, moves to the Leningrad front to assist Meindls 2nd Battalion Sturmregiment. FJR2 is sent to the Ukraine, while the remainder of the 7th Flieger is withdrawn to Stendal for rest and recouperation after sustaining heavy losses.

1942 - GÖring orders Regiment 'General GÖring' to be expanded into Fallschirm Brigade 'Hermann GÖring'. After Students plan for the airborne invasion of Malta is abandoned the newly formed Fallschirm Brigade 'Ramcke', commanded by Generalmajor Bernhard Rancke, is flown to Tobruk to bolster the Afrika Korps' drive on the Suez canal and Cairo. The 7th Flieger Division is posted to the Smolensk front and renamed 1 Fallschirm Division, now commanded by Generalmajor Richard Heidrich. Ramcke Brigade, now named 2 Fallschirm Brigade, marches its 600 survivors cross country after their retreat was cut off from El Alamein to rejoin Rommels forces.

1943 - Fallschirm Brigade 'Hermann GÖring' begins expansion to become Fallschirm Division 'HG' commanded by Generalmajor Conrath, with two battalions being sent to Tunisia.
After heavy fighting, especialy at Medjez-el-Bab and Tebourba, the Fallschirmtruppen, including the remnants of Ramcke's Brigade but excluding most of the emn of the fledgling 'HG' Division, are amongst those evacuated before the final collapse in Tunisia. At the same time, 1 Fallschirm Division and Kampfgruppe 'Strum' are brought back from Russia. Ramcke's and Sturms brigades form the nucleus of a new 2 Fallschirm Division commanded by Ramcke. GÖring also begins an immediate reconstruction of 1 Fallschirm and the 'HG' Divisions. HG Division is sent to Sicily to help repel the expected invasion.. A new 5th Fallschirm Division begins forming in France from the remaining members of the 9th Fliegerkorps, its will be commanded by Generalmajor Gustav Wilke.
Immediately after the Allied invasion of Sicily the ‘HG’ Division is reinforced by FJR3 and FJR4. Ramcke’s FJR2 are sent to France to the outskirts of Rome. Marshal Pietro Badoglio takes over the Italian Government and Mussolini is put under house arrest.
Allied forces invade Italy and Badoglio signs the armistice. 1 Fallschirm Division opposes the British 8th Army landings at Foggia; 2 Fallschirm Division occupies Rome and disarms its garrison. ‘HG’ Division leads a counterattack against the US 8th Army at Salerno before falling back through Sorrento and Naples. Hitler commissions SS-Hauptsturmfürer (Captain) Otto Skorzeny to rescue Mussolini. Men of FJR7 land in DFS230 gliders free him, and he is flown to safety.
3 Fallschirm Division begins forming. ‘HG’ Division are rested at Cassino, during this time Oberstleutnant Julius Schlegal is responsible for removing the Monte Cassino monastery treasures to the safety of Rome.
4 Fallschirm Division begins forming in Italy and includes pro-fascist Italian Paratroopers. 2 Fallschirm Division temporarily commanded by Generalmajor Gustav Wilke are sent to the Zhitomir front in Russia.
2 Fallschirm Division airlifted to Kirovgrad and takes heavy casualties during the subsequent fighting retreat to west of the river Dniestr.

1944 – 1 and 4 Fallschirm Divisions fall under the aegis of the new 1 FallschirmKorps commanded by General de Luftwaffe Alfred Schlemm. ‘HG’ and 4 Fallschirm Divisions now spearhead the counter attack against the new Allied beachhead at Anzio which threatens to outflank the Gustav Line.
1 Fallschirm Division takes up defence of Cassino and Monte Cassino. Heinrich’s men repulse all llied attempts to take the Cassino positions. ‘HG’ Division withdrawn again and rested, they are renamed 1 Fallschirm-Panzer Division ‘HG’ and commanded by Generalmajor Wilhelm Schmalz.
‘HG’ Division rushed into a new counter attack when the Allies break out of the Anzio beachhead, but is forced to fall back through Rome. The commander of the German forces in Italy, Fieldmarschall Albert Kesserling, finally orders the Cassino position to be evacuated. In france the survivors of 2 Fallschirm Division are repatriated to Germany, where Ramcke resumes command and Wilke returns to 5 Fallschirm Division, which is now in Brittany alongside 3 Fallschirm Division as part of General Eugen Meindl’s II Fallschirmkorps. A SS-Fallschirmjäger Battalion lands in Yugoslavia to capture the partisan leader Tito near his headquaters outside Drvar. Tito is not there and the Fallschirnjäger are driven off by superior numerical numbers of partisan forces.
Rome falls in Italy and 1 Fallschirm Division transferred to the Adriatic sector, now commanded by Generalmajor Karl-Lothar Schulz because Heidrich takes over I Fallschirmkorps, the division retreats slowly to the Gothicline. In France, Allied forces land in Normandy. The only Fallschirmjäger unit immediately facing them is Major Friedrich Freiherr von der Heydte’s FJR6; the remainder of 2 Fallschirm Division is still refitting at Köln-Wahn but is rushed to rejoin II Fallschirmkorps in Brittany. Ramcke is given command of the defence of Brest and Oberst Hans Kroh takes over the division. Von der Heydte’s men give the US 101st Airborne a hard time around Carentan for four days before falling back. II Fallschirmkorps moves to Normandy with 3 Fallschirm Division in the St Lö sector and 5 Fallschirm Division outside Caen. A new in inexperienced 6 Fallschirm Division begins forming in Northern France.
3 Fallschirm Division takes and inflicts heavy casualties during the battle for St Lö and Schimpf is wounded. % Fallschirm Division also heavily engaged. ‘HG’ Division is pulled out of Italy, and after a brief refit is posted to the Warsaw front.
The bulk of 3 and 5 Fallschirm Divisions trapped and decimated in the Falaise Pocket while 6 Fallschirm Division battles in the front of Paris. Alies lay seige to Brest, defended principly by 2 Fallschirm Division. The ‘HG’ Division falls back to behind the River Vistula in Poland.
Ramcke finally surrenders Brest and is taken into American captivity. 6 Fallschirm Division trapped in Mons Pocket and reduced to two battalions, nevertheless they take part in the counter attacks in Holland as part of Students new First Fallschirm Armee alongside the newly created 7 Fallschirm Division. The 7 Fallschirm Division play a major part in delaying the British 30 Corps in its drive to relieve the paratroops in Arnhem.
In the Eastern Front Göring orders the expansion of the ‘HG’ Division into a Korps consisting of 1 and 2 Fallschirm-Panzer Divisions under Oberst Hans Horst von Necker and Oberst Erich Walter respectively. Both divisions are weaker than the parent formation and are forced back into East Prussia.
3 and 5 Fallschirm Divisions on the Western Front while being rehabilitated in Germany principally to take part in Hitler’s grandiose Ardennes offensive, are meanwhile commited to actions against Allied forces in Holland and Alsace respectively. A new 2 Fallschirm Division is constructed and later fights in Holland, the Reichswald and during the battle for the Rhein crossings.
3 and 5 Fallschirm Divisions are rebuilt again and form part of Sixth Panzer and Seventh Armees for the Ardennes’ offensive. The latter division, now commanded by Generalmajor Ludwig Heilmann, achieves initial objectives and plays a significant role in delaying Patton’s Third Army as it struggles to relieve Bastogne. 3 Fallschirm Division, accompanying SS-Kampfgruppe ‘Peiper’ fails in its objectives but plays an important part in delaying Hodges’ First Army during its advance on the Rhein. A supplimentary parachute drop by a special detachment commanded by Freiherr von der Heydte also fails to secure its objective but causes a degree of American panic. Meanwhile a new 8 Fallschirm Division, never more than a regiment in strength, begins forming at Kö3n-Wahn it is commanded by Wadehn after Schimpf takes over 3 Fallschirm Division again.

1945 – The two ‘HG’ forces are encircled by Soviet forces around Heiigenbeil on the eastern Front.
7 Fallschirm Division again delays the British 30 Corps at Kapplen and during the Rhein crossings.
3 and 5 Divisions are virtually annihilated west of the Rhein. The few survivors meet their end in the Ruhr Pocket, along with those from 2 Fallschirm Division. Survivors from the ‘HG’ Divisions on the Eastern Front and who manage to fight their way out are evacuated by sea to Denmark where they are taken under command by the Army’s ‘Großdeutschland’ Panzerkorps.
In Italy 1 and 4 Fallschirm Divisions surrender near Bologna and Verona respectively. The remnents of the ‘HG’ division who did not manage to fight their way out surrender to the Red Army in Saxony. A newly formed 9 Fallscirm Division is completely destryoed by the Soviets drive on Berlin, and the same fate befalls the equally green troops of the barely formed 10 Fallschirm Division in Czechoslovakia.
With the end of the war in Europe, 6 Fallschirm Division surrenders near Zutphen, 7 Fallschirm Division near Oldenburg and 8 Fallschirm Division near Breman.