Question about German Airborne in the East

Did the Germans ever use their paratroopers on the Russian Front? If they did could any one tell me what division, and what area they landed in? Any help would be fantastic

Jet

 

Oh yeah--the Fallschirmjager were used on the Eastern Front--I dont remember which divisions were used ther--but they were used well enough.

[ 15. January 2003, 02:38 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

Sorry I should make myself clearer. I mean was there any parachute drops made by the Fallschrimjaeger (spelling check)

 

There were plans like dropping Fallschirmjäger at the oil fields at Caucasus, but only plans were made. So far I have not heard of any German Fallschirmjäger being dropped in the eastern front for a mission.

 

I only know of W-SS Fallshirm truppen that unfortunately fell right into the middle of Tito's partisan's and had to fight their way out of annihaltion....

E

 

If I recall--all conventional FCHJGR Divs that fought on the Eastern Front never did so from an airdrop--they were stupidly used as Infantry using Infantry type tactics--what a waste of good soldiers.

 

Maybe some single "Brandenburgers" (Batl. z.b.V. 900) dropped behind enemy lines at 21-6-41?

Given the various huge airborne operations conducted by the Soviets between 1941-45, the question why the Germans didn't use Airborne is clearly rising.

My possible answer: East Front was an OKH-theatre of Operation, not an OKW-ToO. Those old-fashioned Army generals really didn't have much emphasis for paras.

Cheers,

[ 16. January 2003, 12:16 PM: Message edited by: AndyW ]

 

Remember guys what der Führer decreed.....after the huge losses at Crete all Fallshirmtruppen are to be grounded !

E

 

Must check that "Brandenburger" part, but Fallschirmjäger were "grounded " after Crete like Erich mentions. Was their next assignment in the battle of Bulge, though?

 

The Fallschirm were grounded which is why they were not airdropped but came in by glider. BTW--there were far more Gebirgsjagers on that mission than FCHJGRs.

 

Besides the big mistake by the W-SS fallshirm I do think there was one or two drops/glider ops in Italy.... ? or ? and yes Der Heydte did do a bungling glider mission as part of the Ardenne battles.

E

 

Shows how much I more or less know about the BoB--as I thought that Skorzenys Commandoes were dropped by Parachute and that the Fallschirm all rode in on trucks?

 

Huh ? !

I was actually talking about two other Fallshirmjäger ops in Italy, nothing to do with Skorzeny and that almost botched plot to pick up the short squat little guy.....yes they all came in on shakey gliders, one of them almost fell off the ridge on landing. You know the rest, Skor, Muss and Luftwafe pilot all saying auf Wiedersehen and away, barely they went. Skor's troops went down by truck to safety.....yee haw !

E

 

Oooooops. My mistake