I just read the following passage in the book Airborne: World War II Paratroopers in Combat ( ISBN 978-1846031960 ) by Julie Guard, editor. This specific passage comes from a chapter of her book that was written by Bruce Quarrie and entitled "Fallschirmjäger." It is found on page 48.
"Prospective volunteers for the Fallschirmtruppen in early 1939 were sent to the town and airfield of Stendal, some 60 miles (90km) west of Belin - home of General Kurt Student's slowly growing 7th Flieger Division. At this time, the division was only two battalions strong, but there was the normal degree of attrition and, in any case, Student had his eyes firmly focused on expansion, because everyone knew that a war was on its way. Arriving at Stendal, one would typically find oneself part of a group of a dozen or so young men in a variety of uniforms, mostly air fornce but including a sprinkling from the army and the odd naval rating."
So, my question is this, what units or individuals of the Kriegsmarine would have gone to Stendal to be trained as fallschirmjäger? I am fascinated by obscure fallschirmjäger units such as SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500/600, Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon Brandenburg, and 3rd Staffel II./Kampfgeschwader 200; however, I am not aware of any fallschirmjäger units in the Kriegsmarine.
Can anyone help me figure out what unit Bruce Quarrie was referring to or do you think he simply made a mistake when he included naval personnel in the paratrooper training that took place at Stendal?
Thanks for your help!
Gerry
"Prospective volunteers for the Fallschirmtruppen in early 1939 were sent to the town and airfield of Stendal, some 60 miles (90km) west of Belin - home of General Kurt Student's slowly growing 7th Flieger Division. At this time, the division was only two battalions strong, but there was the normal degree of attrition and, in any case, Student had his eyes firmly focused on expansion, because everyone knew that a war was on its way. Arriving at Stendal, one would typically find oneself part of a group of a dozen or so young men in a variety of uniforms, mostly air fornce but including a sprinkling from the army and the odd naval rating."
So, my question is this, what units or individuals of the Kriegsmarine would have gone to Stendal to be trained as fallschirmjäger? I am fascinated by obscure fallschirmjäger units such as SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500/600, Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon Brandenburg, and 3rd Staffel II./Kampfgeschwader 200; however, I am not aware of any fallschirmjäger units in the Kriegsmarine.
Can anyone help me figure out what unit Bruce Quarrie was referring to or do you think he simply made a mistake when he included naval personnel in the paratrooper training that took place at Stendal?
Thanks for your help!
Gerry
Comment