Essay On Paratroopers

2827 Words6 Pages

Wilhelm Bittrich, a German leader during Operation Market Garden, once commented on the British paratroopers at Arnhem saying, “In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen men fight so hard.” This is just one instance of bravery and dedication that paratroopers exhibited on a consistent basis throughout World War II. Paratroopers were an elite infantry force that went through some of the toughest training their military had to offer in order to perform well during any and all operations. They were new, experimental divisions with little real experience or support from their superiors. Because of this, they were used to complement and assist the army most of the time, but there were still some decisive battles that were the work of …show more content…

It was the first mainly airborne invasion in history and the first time time the Fallschirmjäger were used on massive scales. The Germans started an invasion by air on 20 May 1941 and were met with heavy resistance from Allied forces, Greeks, and civilians in Crete. This was also the first time the Germans had met significant resistance from the civilian population. After day one, things weren’t looking good for the Germans, they had suffered heavy casualties and it looked as if the Allies would win. However, due to poor communication, an airfield fell to the Germans and they were able to get reinforcements and take control of the island. Hitler didn’t really see this as a victory though and forbade large scale airborne operations after that. This operation was when the world got to really see paratroopers for the first time and encouraged them to create their own paratrooper divisions.
Another decisive victory for the German Fallschirmjäger was at Fort Eben-Emael, a part of the Battle of Belgium. For Eben-Emael was a Belgian fortress that a German Fallschirmjäger assault force was tasked with capturing. Its artillery pieces dominated several bridges that the Germans needed to take in order to advance into Belgium. They attacked both the fort and the bridges at once, successfully taking over and then protected them against Belgian counterattacks until ground reinforcements came. This …show more content…

Paratroopers proved their worth over and over again on the battlefield throughout World War II during intense battles and operations. Because of their training and equipment, paratroopers from both sides were able to draw upon the skills they had learned and use what they had to their advantage. Each country utilized their airborne division in different ways, but despite the differences, each gained victories through their actions. If paratroopers had not been used during this war the way that they were, key events that turned the tide would never have happened or wouldn’t have had the same effects. Because of their utilization, equipment, and training, paratroopers played a huge role in the outcome of World War II. Works Cited
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Airborne_Division_(United_Kingdom)#cite_note-16>.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division#D-Day>.
"1st Canadian Parchute Battalion, A Coy. - UNIT HISTORY." 1st Canadian Parchute Battalion, A Coy. - UNIT HISTORY. Web. 27 Apr. 2014.

More about Essay On Paratroopers

Open Document