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**PaulR** · 08-02-2005, 02:51 PM

First off, thank you for offering this unique opportunity.

Question 1:

Were fallshirmjager trainees selected at basic training or were they volunteers from various luftwaffe units?

Question 2:

Could Luftwaffe medic's(sani's) become qualifed to wear the FJ badge?

Question 3:

I know that you stated he might not remember but, did the medics wear the blue(medical) waffenfarbe or the yellow(Flight)?

Question 4:

What unit captured him and how was he treated by this unit after surrendering?

Thank you in advance for accepting these questions.

Best regards
Paul Reck

**Gene** · 08-02-2005, 03:38 PM

I'd like to know the answer to Paul's third question too! Also if he remembers para engineers wearing black piped insignia.

**berliner** · 08-02-2005, 03:54 PM

Hi Paul,
Actually he's very thankful people are interested! We were about to retire for the day having spent several hours looking at what was on the net re: Fallschirmjaeger. But I got him to look at this. Here are his replies:

1. "I volunteered because I was already in France with the Reichsarbeitsdienst, Abteilung 3 & 425, in Rue dans la Somme, where I was stationed to build the Atlantikwall. I volunteered after some Fallschirmjaeger (one was a Kreta veteran) came specifically to the Reichsarbeitsdient there. Three other comrades from the RAD volunteered immediately.
Why? Because I wanted to fly.
1942 I wanted to go to the Junker Werke in Dessau to become a pilot, but my father refused to authorise me to do so. He had a special reason for this. At that particular time I didn't understand why he didn't want this. But then I figured it out. It was because my parents were originally living in the Korridor occupied by the Poles after the First World War. My parents were expelled and fled to Dietrichsdorf in West Prussia. My father wanted me to stay so that through the Erbhofgesetz we would then get our former land back if I stayed to farm. He needed me, since two brothers were already in active service.
Anyway, eventually I was conscripted to the RAD on 13 January, 1943 and shifted by train to Rue dans la Somme."

2. I can't remember, sorry.

3. As above.

4. The unit that captured me: It was a Canadian unit. Even then I didn't know the unit, because they had picked me up seriously wounded, and bandaged me, after I had lain for two days (something I only put together later) on the battlefield. The Canadian officer who picked me up spoke German, French Polish, and English, and I could understand all too. When he too kme the next morning to the Resistance, he told them to look after me because I would be interrogated in England. From the French Resistance, and then on to Scotland, then London. Then from Plymouth with the biggest US troop transporter Auretania to Boston. From there to Louisania.

When I had arrived in England, they asked me to join the Polish regiment in Canadian uniforms, because I spoke Polish with the officer and they assumed I was part Polish from where my family was from.

Also, the officer noticed I was interesting for interrogation because I had sewn on my uniform the EK2, and the Parachute Emblem, and the Ek 1 and Luftwaffeerdkampfabzeichen and Nahkampfspange from Anzionettuno (which were not sewed on and which were taken from me) I got these from the hand of Generalleutnant Heydrich."

(Perhaps we can post the photo he wore when he arrived in Boston at some point.)

"The treatment: I can't complain".
We' ll write about this later.
Good night!

Originally posted by Paul Reck

First off, thank you for offering this unique opportunity.

Question 1:

Were fallshirmjager trainees selected at basic training or were they volunteers from various luftwaffe units?

Question 2:

Could Luftwaffe medic's(sani's) become qualifed to wear the FJ badge?

Question 3:

I know that you stated he might not remember but, did the medics wear the blue(medical) waffenfarbe or the yellow(Flight)?

Question 4:

What unit captured him and how was he treated by this unit after surrendering?

Thank you in advance for accepting these questions.

Best regards
Paul Reck

**Andreas Klein** · 08-02-2005, 04:22 PM

Have a look here:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=111036

Question 2:
Yes they could qualify ...

Question 3:
They had the blue ones ...

**PaulR** · 08-02-2005, 05:42 PM

M.K. and especially Herr Groenke, thank you so very much for answering my questions. I can hardly wait to see your book when it is out!!! I wish Herr Groenke many more years to share his testament!!!

1. What was LW basic training like?

2. How Many months was the Fallschirmjager school?

3. Did you have a secondary speciality such as radio operator?

4. Did you have a better standard of living in the Luftwaffe(better food, barracks, training, and ect) than in the other branches of the military?

5. How difficult were promotions to come by?

6. What was your rank upon capture?

Thank you again for your patience in reading my questions.

Very respectfully
Paul Reck

a.k., all I can say about of FJ medical grouping is WOW

. I cant believe I missed your thread!!!

**amydron** · 08-02-2005, 05:44 PM

A couple of questions for Herr Groenke:
I am an ex Sport Parachutist who always had the benefit of wearing an emergency reserve parachute.
I have always been fascinated by the fact that German FJ troops did not wear reserve parachutes, (I believe this was also the case with British Airborne troops at that time).
I appreciate that these soldiers were jumping from low altitude, so a reserve parachute would probably not have been of much use. But in my book it still takes guts and a strong nerve to do that.
Here are my questions:
How reliable were the FJ parachutes and did Herr Groenke have any experience of, or witness, any problems or malfunctions with this equipment?
Was the question of wearing reserve parachutes ever discussed or considered by the German Airborne forces?
Secondly, what are his recollections of the first time he made a jump? How did he feel at the time?
With kind regards and greetings from England.
RAY.

**FS154** · 08-02-2005, 07:10 PM

Question 2:

Could Luftwaffe medic's(sani's) become qualifed to wear the FJ badge? Yes

Question 3:

I know that you stated he might not remember but, did the medics wear the blue(medical) waffenfarbe or the yellow(Flight)? Blue Waffenfarbe

**PaulR** · 08-02-2005, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by FS154

Question 2:

Could Luftwaffe medic's(sani's) become qualifed to wear the FJ badge? Yes

Question 3:

I know that you stated he might not remember but, did the medics wear the blue(medical) waffenfarbe or the yellow(Flight)? Blue Waffenfarbe

FS154 and a.k., Thank you for answering questions 2 and 3 for me

Best regards
Paul

**berliner** · 08-03-2005, 05:21 AM

Hallo Paul

1. LW Basic Training:
"Mid July 1943 we built up our fitness in Gardelegen or Stendal (I was in both, later to Anguelem in Souther France). Running, jumping, fitness and the like. I was number 3 or 4 from circa 1200 men in fitness. This was about two or three weeks. We had a tower with a parachute harness where we already practiced landing and rolling on a mat. We had to gradually build our fitness for the jumps."

"I was very excited. The morale was excellent. The food was very good."

"Then I went to Anguelem for ground combat training and further practice on towers.
We learned how to use the LMG, SMG, Pak. I can't recall if I learned how to use the Panzerfaust there or not (but I know for certain that in Lyon I did for the special unit I was in)."

November in Bourdeux. I had circa three weeks specialised training in map reading, further fitness training, and more tower work.

Later, I had training with the special unit in Lyon. End of April, beginning of June 1944. Jumping from different planes:
Ju 52, Transport Heinkel, Dornier Transport, Savoy & Caproni (spelling?) which were Italian machines for 24 men instead of 12. I preferred the JU52.

This special unit (we called it 'Spezialeinheit' and our training was 'Spezialeinheittraining') was for 120 men. We were at the barracks in Lyon, a former French garrison. Our jumptraining took place at the airport. At first, we drove out in trucks, until one truck was attacked by partisans who threw in hand grenades (ca. May). Then we had to walk and sometimes even with the parachute on our backs.

2. Length: so two, three weeks in Stendahl; then Anguelem from August to October. November Bourdeux. About 8 weeks in 1944 in Lyon.

7th December we arrived on the Adriatic coast and we swam. That was something special for me because it was winter. At Pescara.

Between 10-13 December I met for the first time my commander, Major und Ritterkeuztraeger Karl Heinz Baecker.
We were 14 men.

3. map reading. It was not useful in italy, but in Normandy we needed that. We had to move in the nights. And Major Baecker would give me the orders (not written, but verbally) about the deployment of the companies before dawn. I went to the company chiefs and explained how the company had to be spread out and employed so there would be no gaps.

4. I can't compare.

5. Usually the first rank you would get after a year. I got it after six months when I was made into a Gefreiter after Anzionetuno. I realised then how battle and the medals gave us the opportunity for quick promotions. After Anzio Netuno I was so excited: Ek1, Ek2, nahkampfspange, Luftwaffenerdkampfabzeichen and promotion to Gefreiter! Of course that motivated me. After the landing in Normany I was recommended (eingereicht) by Major Becker for the EK mit Gold and with this, had I gotten out of the Kessel (pocket) I was supposed to go to Unteroffizier Vorschule.

About ranks, we said that the Stabsgefreiter were people that never would be able to become an Unteroffizier but had served long and had to be promoted. And a Stabsfeldwebel was always a Spieß (Mutter der Kompanie). That meant he would never be an officer but would be promoted to Stabsfeldwebel. And my Stabsfeldwebel Karl Heinz (can't remember his last name) was 'ein guter Kerl' and ein guter Kamerad. I don't know what happened with him after my imprisonment.

6. Gefreiter.

I'm very happy. I can't express how happy I am that I am still alive. Also I am happy that you are interested in Fallschirmjaeger and what we have gone through.

Thank you
Heinz

Originally posted by Paul Reck

M.K. and especially Herr Groenke, thank you so very much for answering my questions. I can hardly wait to see your book when it is out!!! I wish Herr Groenke many more years to share his testament!!!

1. What was LW basic training like?

2. How Many months was the Fallschirmjager school?

3. Did you have a secondary speciality such as radio operator?

4. Did you have a better standard of living in the Luftwaffe(better food, barracks, training, and ect) than in the other branches of the military?

5. How difficult were promotions to come by?

6. What was your rank upon capture?

Thank you again for your patience in reading my questions.

Very respectfully
Paul Reck

a.k., all I can say about of FJ medical grouping is WOW

. I cant believe I missed your thread!!!

**berliner** · 08-03-2005, 05:57 AM

Dear Ray
Here are Heinz's comments.
"Hallo! Thank you for your questions.

I was happy like an angel when I first jumped out from 1000 metres. That was in Lyon, end of April, begining May, 1944.
We jumped from the alte Tante JU52.

Unfortunately we were not allowed to take any photos.

Against the partisans, we jumped at 80 metres. Only one time:

We were told that the British or Americans will jump and help the French Resistance a few days before the invasion. Our officers must have had information where the partisans were expecting the British or Americans to jump. Our objective was to surprise the partisans. We jumped wearing civil clothing and I wore a french beret. I looked like a french man. Unfortunately we jumped too late. I was the last out of the plane. My unit was attacked even while I was getting out.
I was the only survivor of the twelve who jumped from my plane. They shot at us while in the air.

I hid for four days in the wheat fields and woods. On the fourth days I saw an SS Panzerspähwagen with a Vierlingsflak and Mg. I stood up, raised my arms and screamed Nicht schiessen, ich bin Deutscher. They took me and sent away to the new unit under my friend, Major Karl Heinz Becker. The invasion had just begun.

The problem was that of course we didn't have a British or American plane. And maybe the intelligence information was wrong.

Q1 on reliability,
"The only problem I saw was the parachutes on the towers were impregnated with something so that sometimes, when jumping, they didn't open properly.

The last jump I used the RZ20 Automatik. They were much better than the older ones. In my opinion, perfect. They were opened bottom first, then top. Just touch them and they sprang open.
The old ones were hard to open at the top.
We jumped during a storm, and I got tangled up in the Fangleine of the man ahead of me. Then I landed in a potato field and couldn't roll and pull in the lines. The wind blew me across the field and I landed for two or three days in the hospital.

Q2.
"I don't know at the top. But we troops never discussed it. I was not worried jumping from 80 metres. Honestly.'

Thank you!
Heinz
(typed by MK)

Originally posted by amydron

A couple of questions for Herr Groenke:
I am an ex Sport Parachutist who always had the benefit of wearing an emergency reserve parachute.
I have always been fascinated by the the fact that German FJ troops did not wear reserve parachutes, (I believe this was also the case with British Airborne troops at that time).
I appreciate that these soldiers were jumping from low altitude, so a reserve parachute would probably not have been of much use. But in my book it still takes guts and a strong nerve to do that.
Here are my questions:
How reliable were the FJ parachutes and did Herr Groenke have any experience of, or witness, any problems or malfunctions with this equipment?
Was the question of wearing reserve parachutes ever discussed or considered by the German Airborne forces?
Secondly, what are his recollections of the first time he made a jump? How did he feel at the time?
With kind regards and greetings from England.
RAY.

**LOTHRINGEN** · 08-03-2005, 06:02 AM

How Many Time Did He Jump ?

At Wich Altitude ?

**berliner** · 08-03-2005, 06:10 AM

I'm typing his response and my French spelling no where matches his speaking skills:

'Hallo,

Si vous voulez je ne peux pas je me rapelle pas combien foes. (how many times I jumped).

From the airplane, about 25-30 times.
Mostly from the JU52.
The most important thing is que je suis encore vivant.
Merci a bientot."

Originally posted by LOTHRINGEN

How Many Time Did He Jump ?

At Wich Altitude ?

**amydron** · 08-03-2005, 06:29 AM

Hallo Herr Groenke,
Thank you very much for your answers.
You must feel very lucky that you were the only survivor from the mission you described. But I suppose that is the nature of War. Some soldiers survive against the odds, whilst others are not so fortunate.
Jumping from 80 metres is incredibly low! You can almost see the blades of grass from that height!
Yours respectfully,
RAY.
PS When you have completed your biography, I would be happy to purchase a signed copy from you!

**LOTHRINGEN** · 08-03-2005, 06:33 AM

MERCI BEAUCOUP POUR VOTRE REPONSE
(bon francais!!!!)

when you were at training school, did you have instruction concerning close combat ?

BEST REGARDS (FROM A FRENCH AIR FORCE PARATROOPER )

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