The Fallschirmjager divisions were solely used in airborne assault role, small units capturing local objectives ahead of traditional forces. Apart from the prestige of belonging to an elite, two reasons why infantrymen transferred to the paratroopers were for the higher pay and chances of more rapid promotion. It was this shared motivation which fostered rapid group "bonding" despite diverse social backgrounds. This title looks at the life and experiences of the average Fallschirmjager, and includes first-hand accounts from different theatres and periods of the war, including Holland/Belgium 1940, Kampfgruppe "Ramcke" in North Africa, Cassino, Leningrad, Normandy and Arnhem. As the war progressed, the parachute corps suffered a decline, and the soldiers were used as elite line infantry. Although several new Fallschirm "divisions" were created, most of their men never made a single drop.
Author Biography
Bruce Quarrie graduated with honours from Cambridge University in 1968 and started work as a journalist with the Financial Times. He wrote his first book, on wargaming, in 1974. Bruce's principal interest was in World War II, and his definitive Encyclopedia of the German Army was even translated and published in German. Bruce passed away on 4 September 2004.
