WW II Fallschirmjäger pics

[parabellum]

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/1b.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/1c.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/2a.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/2b.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/2c.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/3a.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/replacement.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/4a.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/4b.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/4c.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/5a.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/5b.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/add.jpg
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/6.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/6_r.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/6aa.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/12c1.jpg

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_badges/heer/army_para/1a.JPG

[Martino]

In my oppinion, they were the most elite German soldiers of the time and were not used effectively.

[makavelli]

whats the combat record?

[Midav]

Very nice!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[Canuck Farrier]

Ya they definatley were a badass unit.nice photos.

[goat89]

Ya they definatley were a badass unit.nice photos.
Indeed. I always loved the badge. Wonder if they were better than the SS?

[CG51]

Great pics, great soldiers! Thank you.

[Canuck Farrier]

Indeed. I always loved the badge. Wonder if they were better than the SS?

I'm sure people would argue they are perhaps better trained than the SS taking in to account airborne training isnt easy.Still the SS had a modo of "train hard fight easy"Both units in my opinion were elite and their fighting abilities well respected by allied forces who battled them. just my 2 cents.:)

[socom6]

German Fallschirmjaeger troops were highly respected by Allied forces for their fighting prowess and obstinate defensive tactics. I for one look at these parachutists as the best German unit in the war, they were not "politically" motivated they just did their jobs well much to the chagrin of Allied troops.

[gaijinsamurai]

Amongst the German forces of WWII, the fallschirmjager had a reputation as being relatively honorable, and not infused with the Nazi ideology so rampant in the Waffen SS.
They served with distinction at Narvik, the invasion of Holland, North Africa, Crete (where they suffered heavy casualties), Sicily and the Italian mainland, the Eastern Front, and in France and Belgium.
After the battle for Crete, Hitler refused to allow their leader, General Kurt Student, to use them in major airborne operations, but they were used as shock troops in some of the heaviest fighting of the war, including the defence of Monte Cassino. Col. Ramke's fallschirmjager brigade was amongst Rommel's best Afrika Korps units.
It has been written that they had a bitter rivalry with the Waffen SS.

[goat89]

Amongst the German forces of WWII, the fallschirmjager had a reputation as being relatively honorable, and not infused with the Nazi ideology so rampant in the Waffen SS.
They served with distinction at Narvik, the invasion of Holland, North Africa, Crete (where they suffered heavy casualties), Sicily and the Italian mainland, the Eastern Front, and in France and Belgium.
After the battle for Crete, Hitler refused to allow their leader, General Kurt Student, to use them in major airborne operations, but they were used as shock troops in some of the heaviest fighting of the war, including the defence of Monte Cassino. Col. Ramke's fallschirmjager brigade was amongst Rommel's best Afrika Korps units.
It has been written that they had a bitter rivalry with the Waffen SS.
Woah. I have not heard of that. Any more info?

[rjbhutton]

I'm sure people would argue they are perhaps better trained than the SS taking in to account airborne training isnt easy.Still the SS had a modo of "train hard fight easy"Both units in my opinion were elite and their fighting abilities well respected by allied forces who battled them. just my 2 cents.:)

Does anyone have any info on what kind of selection was involved and what kind of training these units did? It would be interesting to see how it compared to the training of today. For example, physical conditioning training, combined arms training (for blitzkrieg), etc?

My only comparison for the allied forces it what I saw on Band of Brothers... 3 miles up, 3 miles down, Curahee!!

[goat89]

Does anyone have any info on what kind of selection was involved and what kind of training these units did? It would be interesting to see how it compared to the training of today. For example, physical conditioning training, combined arms training (for blitzkrieg), etc?

My only comparison for the allied forces it what I saw on Band of Brothers... 3 miles up, 3 miles down, Curahee!!
I am liking this...:)

[D-gin]

Didn't the SS have paratroops of sum kind...?

[Karo]

Yes, SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500 (later 600), consisted of ca. 1000 man (volunteers and convicts). It saw service during the Operation Rösselsprung on the Balkan, during the battle of Budapest and on the Oder frontier. It was captured near Hagenow by american troops.

here are some pics of this unit:


afaik this is during the battle in Budapest:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/4177/mnzs67403ov6.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/65/ssfalli90861167rt0.jpg

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/2457/ssfallif2161jn0.jpg

note the cuff title of this para:
http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/3052/ssfallinotecufftitlef1613qa6.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3462/ssfallschirmjgerbtl500ncoseb4.jpg

SS-Fallschirmjäger on the Balkan with the captured uniform of Tito:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6238/ssfjdrvartitokitobv201tg0.jpg

[D-gin]

Yes, SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500 (later 600), consisted of ca. 1000 man (volunteers and convicts). It saw service during the Operation Rösselsprung on the Balkan, during the battle of Budapest and on the Oder frontier. It was captured near Hagenow by american troops.
Cheers for the info.....They allowed convicts to serve in the military.....Sorry I don't know much about the German military of WWII.

[Anthony91]

Hey thanks for the Fallschirmjäger pics parabellum. I haven't see any anywhere, ever.

[sheroo]

excellent pics. fictional info but in "the eagle has landed" the animosity between the two units was excellently shown. On the note of band of brothers the only way I could get my wife to see it was when I told my wife about "edelweiss"
ref: Disk 2 Carentan Pvt Albert Blithe
Is that tradition still on

[WCCKahuna]

Great pics! I liked them. Their helmets in some of those pictures look like a really small version of the MICH TC-2000 helmet. Outstanding bunch of warriors...

[simple jumper]

Cheers for the info.....They allowed convicts to serve in the military.....Sorry I don't know much about the German military of WWII.

Convicts in term of soldiers who had disgraced themselves in battle. To regain their honour they had the option to serve as Fallschirmjaegers.

[gadzook]

Many of the "convict" Fallschirmjaegers were parachuted behind the lines at the Battle of the Bulge. They were so ill prepared and so ill trained that many died of exposure, faced starvation and never even came into contact with the enemy. Most eventually surrendered without firing a shot.

When I think of the Fallschirmjaegers legacy I see the destruction of Monte Cassino.

[axfax]

RESPECT KARO!!!
Rarely seen pics there, man!

[Johnny_H02]

There are quite a few of those photos which arent "Fallshcirmjagers" some of them are "Fallschirm Infanterie Battalion" a pre-war test unit for Airborne Troops. They were later transfered into Fallshcirmjager units, but they originally were under the command of the Heer, not the Luftwaffe.

You can tell from the prototype Jump helmets with the chinstrap sockets outside of the helmet shell, and the Two Zipper jump smocks, also see a few of the uniforms are Heer tunics, not Luftwaffe. :D just thought I would share some of the wealth of knowelege in this thread.

[Nebelwerfer.]

Few ones in color:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2790/normalfallschirmjgeratnarvik19401a6841su9.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1549/norv61a8d5djo4.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1752/germanpara1b09e0ln4.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7797/fallschirmjager1b469atx7.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2271/germanparas1dfafcds6.jpg

[Groove]

The last colour picture is a real rare one because its with a FG-42 !

[rjbhutton]

Awesome pics! Esp the color ones. The difference between the Heer and the Luftwaffe is indicated by some insignia, I assume. The eagles at the top of the insignia were different for the Heer (Army), the Luftwaffe (AF) and the Navy. The Army had a "perched" Eagle insignia (i.e. Eagle sitting with wings by it sides). The Air Force/Luftwaffe had an eagle with spread wings, flying... and I don;t remember how the Navy Eagle looked. I'll find some pics.
[Edit: OK. First badge is Heer: tank assault infantry, I think. 2nd is U-boat, Kriegsmarine/Navy; 3rd is pilot's badge and anti-aircraft gunner Luftwaffe; last one is for the Edelweiss guy, Sheroo... Mountain troops!

I found several Army and Navy badges that seemed to use the same Eagle, so maybe the only reliable difference is between Luftwaffe and the rest. Navy and Army use the "perched" Eagle or an Eagle with wings straight out; Luftwaffe uses Eagle flying... makes sense!

So, in Parabellum's original post, there are a mix of Luftwaffe FSJ and Heer FSJ pictures... thanks for pointing that out Johnny H!! IS that how you knew they were different, from the Eagles?

[Pvt.Anderson]

...........................................

[Pvt.Anderson]

you already said it

[V/E]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/stridspitt/scan201472rz.jpg
A FJ picture i found on my computer, dont remember were i got it from, sorry:-(

[Geezah]

Great pics, for some reason I am fascinated by the Fallschirmjäger.

Here are a few pics of a later helmet that resides in my Grandmother-in-laws basement.
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153700811_100_08541(small).jpg
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153700773_100_08531(small).jpg
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153700881_100_08561(small).jpg
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153700846_100_08551(small).jpg
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153700913_100_08571(small).jpg
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153700944_100_08601(small).jpg
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153701430_100_08731(small).jpg
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153876316_100_08861(small).jpg

[unit299_09]

nice pics but i hoped to see some with the FG-42

[rjbhutton]

Great pics, for some reason I am fascinated by the Fallschirmjäger.

Here are a few pics of a later helmet that resides in my Grandmother-in-laws basement.

http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/993_1153876316_100_08861(small).jpg

Oh man... you can't leave us hanging like that... what's the story behind the FSJ helmet in your grandma-in-law's basement?!!!woot

[Karo]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/stridspitt/scan201472rz.jpg
A FJ picture i found on my computer, dont remember were i got it from, sorry:-(

p-)

Same scene:

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1752/deutschefallis40450019jo1.jpg

[Drunkensquid]

http://www.youtube.com/v/Qtl_NRcGDjQ

[USMarine]

nice pics man i like them thanks
:-*$ :-*$ :-*$

[kamarian]

Very good pics! Thanks for sharing!

[Sten3]

nice pics but i hoped to see some with the FG-42

p-)
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8420/germanfallschirmjgermontecassinoww2issf5.th.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=germanfallschirmjgermontecassinoww2issf5.jpg)

[Oscar panzer]

p-)
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8420/germanfallschirmjgermontecassinoww2issf5.th.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=germanfallschirmjgermontecassinoww2issf5.jpg)
http://hk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=AtS3gXrPAWdPuZhiYXvaGYW.ygt./SIG=12o6s0iuf/**http%3a//www.thule-toscana.com/documenti/Armi/foto/paracadutista_tedesco_con_FG42.bmp
Here's one too

[Geezah]

Oh man... you can't leave us hanging like that... what's the story behind the FSJ helmet in your grandma-in-law's basement?!!!woot

I'm not entirely sure, she said her son got it at a gun show, only for her son to tell me his father brought it back from WWII. I haven't got a clear picure of what happened but I'm also thinking her first husband who was killed in action in Monte Cassino aquired it along with a Heer winter camo set from Italy.
I guess time will tell.

[nick_ua]

great post.
is there are more info about this unit.

[Martino]

I was always facinated by the way they parachuted. The way their chutes are rigged to them.

[SiFiOn]

Head-first exits, always interesting...

[Geezah]

Just like Superman;)

[SiFiOn]

Just like Superman;)

Compared to Fallschirmjager, SM is just a puss* ;-)

[Karo]

great post.
is there are more info about this unit.


Which unit?

[King_Cobra]

Compared to Fallschirmjager, SM is just a puss* ;-)

woot woot woot

[paulyb102]

Another couple of pics, the first one is the attack on Crete, and being resourceful buggers , they have captured a British truck!

[Karo]

Well the first pic is from Africa, look at the license plate.




Anyway here is one of my favourite Fallschirmjäger pic:

Fallschirmjäger with a captured Thompson SMG:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2204/captured01bf8.jpg

[[KGW]Hartmann]

Do you know were that Pic was taken?
Sicily?
Normandie?

[Karo]

No, sorry i dont know, but i would say that it wasnt made on Sicily or Normandie, concerning the weather/the mud on the soldiers i would say maybe Ardennes or even Russia; Russia also got a lot of Thompsons from the Allies. But this is just speculation..

[WCCKahuna]

Lol, they look very interested. I guess I would be too if I found an MP40.

[pkeating]

Yes, SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500 (later 600), consisted of ca. 1000 man (volunteers and convicts). It saw service during the Operation Rösselsprung on the Balkan, during the battle of Budapest and on the Oder frontier. It was captured near Hagenow by american troops.

The first volunteers for SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 500 included several hundred disciplinary cases (Bewährungs-Schützen). They weren't "penal" cases. There were a few men who had been condemned to death or long terms of imprisonment but, again, not for the kind of crimes one usually imagines when thinking of "penal troops". One man was condemned to death for listening to the BBC and then recounting what he had heard to his comrades but subsequently reprieved on condition that he volunteer for a unit engaged in hazardous operations.

SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 500 ceased to exist in November 1944 and the handful of survivors from the field companies were posted to the newly-formed SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 600, along with the Field Training and Replacement Company, which became 1./SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 600. The survivors of SS-FJ-Btl 600 weren't 'captured' by the Americans. They rushed to surrender to US forces with the Soviets a few kilometres behind them and were lucky not to be turned over to the Reds.


here are some pics of this unit:


afaik this is during the battle in Budapest:
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/4177/mnzs67403ov6.jpg

Actually, this is a snapshot taken by Peter Renold in Drvar on 25.5.1944, although it is usually attributed to SS-KB Adolf Kunzmann.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/65/ssfalli90861167rt0.jpg
[PK note: this photo is from the Oderfront in March 1945 and these men are probably from 3./SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 600]

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/2457/ssfallif2161jn0.jpg
[PK note: this is from the perimeter of the Vilnius pocket in July 1944]


note the cuff title of this para:
http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/3052/ssfallinotecufftitlef1613qa6.jpg
[PK note: this photo was also taken near Vilnius and shows SS-Uscha Fischer of the Nachrichtenzug, Stab/SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 500. The cuff title could be an early Totenkopf type with the deathshead, as Fischer served with the TK]

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3462/ssfallschirmjgerbtl500ncoseb4.jpg
[PK note: taken during training near Kraljevo sometime in March 1944. The NCOs are from the Feldausbildungs-Kp and 4./SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 500]

SS-Fallschirmjäger on the Balkan with the captured uniform of Tito:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6238/ssfjdrvartitokitobv201tg0.jpg[/QUOTE]
[PK note: this is a scan of an original print from my collection. I recognise certain features. What makes this image interesting is that it was not published because it shows the blank collar patches worn by B-Soldaten deprived of the right to wear the SS sigrunen. It also shows a Heer Brandenburger in a locally-made jacket of Italian camouflage material. The published photo from this roll of film did not show the B-Soldat collar patches]

As for the other images, some of them show Heer paratroopers of the prewar Fallschirm-Infanterie-Kompanie/Bataillon and quite a few of those images and the documents are from Eric Queen's collection. Eric is the world's foremost FIK/FIB collector. Of particular note is the prototypical 1936 pattern jump helmet with the Heer decals.

PK

[Karo]

Ok, thanks for your additions!

here is another FJ pic:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1697/bild14620060037fu8.jpg

[Canuck Farrier]

No, sorry i dont know, but i would say that it wasnt made on Sicily or Normandie, concerning the weather/the mud on the soldiers i would say maybe Ardennes or even Russia; Russia also got a lot of Thompsons from the Allies. But this is just speculation..

It could be from Cassino.It was pretty muddy at times.Were there any German paras at Anzio.?

[Geezah]

Great pics........

[D-gin]

Well the first pic is from Africa, look at the license plate.

Anyway here is one of my favourite Fallschirmjäger pic:
Fallschirmjäger with a captured Thompson SMG:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2204/captured01bf8.jpg

This photo reminds me of that scene in Band Of Brothers where the guy finally gets a Luger and everyone is gathered around looking at it.

A very cool photo.

[Cornfield]

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1750/stugiiigq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G of the I./Fallschirm-Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 12 in Wilkowischken, Russia, 1944. The most succesful Panzerjager of the Fallschirmtruppe (troops) was Leutnant Heinz Deutsch of the I. Batterie F. StuG G. Brig. 12 who recieved the Knight-Cross for destroying 44 enemy tanks.