American Paratrooper VS. British VS. German

[@Simplehistory]

Which paratrooper do YOU think was the most effective in WWII - the American, the British, or the German? Let us know why!

[@garypulliam3421]

The Russian airborne jumped without a parachute. The planes flew very low and very slow, and the troops would jump out and land spread-eagle into thick/heavy snow. True story. Look it up.

[@ricardomaganagarcia4172]

What about the Italian paratroopers

[@legowarnpeace2993]

Please do an episode about Soviet/Russian airborne. Other nations like Italy and France would be interesting too.

[@bassuverkropp1525]

Don't forget the Japanese

[@pilgrum23]

British military

[@dragon12234]

It should ne noted that parachute infantry isn't really outdated. It just has a different role to Helicopter infantry (called Air Assault). The benefit of Airborne (Parachute) infantry is that you can give them a lot heavier gear faster, so the 82nd Airborne is now used by the U Army to deliver a heavily armed force behind enemy lines, whilst the 101st is used for rapid assaults via helicopters

[@timothykelly5588]

I seriously doubt if airborne drops could be used in this modern age against near peers with such lethal anti aircraft defenses

[@hydra7427]

@@timothykelly5588 SEAD exists. It's all about preparation. This "X is obsolete because Y" argument is cliche by this point. No, helicopters are not obsolete. No, tanks are not obsolete. No, paratroopers are not obsolete.

[@Modelstl063]

@@hydra7427when a near peer has thousands of manpads these fat heavy prop planes won’t operate

[@Ragged_Armour05]

​@@Modelstl063 sorry to say this bud but the 82nd will drop out of the range of manpads and for this they became motorized with ISVs

[@TheFrenchBaguettes]

@@Ragged_Armour05 so what the point then if you drop out of range of manpads it mean you're behind friendly lines thus para-dropping is a useless waste of resource second or you're so far behind enemy line that you're incredible vulnerable to everything with no ability of being supported by friendly assets with the acception of maybe aviation

[@markusdee6136]

In Band of Brothers, many of them didn't know what paratroopers are. Some joined the paratroopers because of higher salary compared to regular infantry.

[@57WillysCJ]

I worked with a guy that was in the 82nd. He joined for the extra $50 a month. You have to think about a poor kid coming out of the Great Depression. That was a lot of money and he figured either way he was going to get shot at. He was a tough guy. At 60 no young guy that knew him would tackle him. He took an extra 24 hours to hunt down an SS soldier that shot his friend. He did that on his own. Officers let things like that slide.

[@Cloud_Seeker]

It was only later they found out it was blood money.

[@enrl5221]

@@Cloud_Seeker so being a regular infantryman makes the money clean?

[@Cloud_Seeker]

@@enrl5221 Do you know what the term means?

[@Cloud_Seeker]

@ Do you not know the meaning behind that term?

[@JoshuaMarcusKalalang]

American and British paratroopers: Jump with weapons and supplies German: Fortnite

[@theninjazedits]

Damn, quite accurate

[@briannaamore1383]

I'm literally playing Fortnite while reading this comment LOL.

[@Mentott]

Good one!

[@Gretsch.plays.guitar]

Lol

[@carlosferreira6420]

0:49 the meme

[@YoonGaramThePscyhopath-x1e]

The Video Already Give Us The Meme.

[@gaffgarion7049]

"Its over Boot! i have depicted you as the soyjack and myself as the Chad!"

[@alanxu3936]

The American basic infantry turns into a soyjak after being mogged by Airborne.

[@Rlemans5920]

😭 vs 🗿

[@meowiguess903]

Oh my god..

[@awesomehpt8938]

I’d much rather be an American paratrooper. The reserve parachute is reason enough.

[@WolfeSaber]

Wasn't that the British?

[@xxxlonewolf49]

​@WolfeSaber The British chutes were just in a dual bag system.

[@ralphgreenjr.2466]

I was an American paratrooper and I have jumps with British and German paratroopers (Fallschirmjager). We are all brothers! I have 2 reserve parachute d handles in my gunroom. One saved my life on total malfunctions of my main at a night low altitude jump. The other saved me from being dragged in high winds.

[@edwardslater2252]

From the lads I've worked with modern British Chutes are a lot safer.

[@caseywatson621]

Literally lol

[@TonyTorius]

Nice video talking about the American, German and British paratroopers and the differences between them. Aside from these three nations, the Italians, the Japanese and the Soviets also had their paratroopers during WW2 - with the 185th Infantry Division Folgore being one of the famous Italian airborne divisions.

[@popemobile12]

Canada had them too. They jumped during D Day

[@garypulliam3421]

The Russian airborne jumped without a parachute. The planes flew very low and very slow, and the troops would jump out and land spread-eagle into thick/heavy snow. True story. Look it up.

[@johnlux6635]

@@garypulliam3421 There were a few occasions where jumps were made without chutes but it was not standard or common. Look it up.

[@1anre]

What was Folgore's most successful mission?

[@garypulliam3421]

@@johnlux6635 I looked it up. You look it up, goofy.

[@zhuangsaur227]

The fact that even after 1943 when Fallshirmjager were deployed as ground troops they still retained their fighting skill and became known as the Green Devils ... a reputation to thier ferocity as warriors and holding up Allied advances for 4 months at Monte Cassino...and in France on D-Day plus battles all the way to the end of the war

[@DavidTucker-e2j]

One of my Mom's uncles served as a German paratrooper during WW 2. His first action was Norway, he was at Crete as well. Very recently he gave me his gravity knife and his Crete cuff title. One thing that was not mentioned in the video was that the German paratroopers were part of the Air Force. The US and the Brit paratrooper were Army.

[@zhuangsaur227]

@DavidTucker-e2j I saw a 1940 photo in a book that had a Fallshirmjager officer addressing a line of Fallshirmjagers... he was in a black uniform outfit... but the Fallshirmjager had the famous Knochensack outfit

[@zhuangsaur227]

@DavidTucker-e2j the Fallshirmjagers were very brave and fierce warriors ... and still played a role in holding back all Allied advances to the end... may I ask is your great uncle still around? What was his feeling and reflection after the war?

[@zhuangsaur227]

@DavidTucker-e2j one of my paternal great grandfathers who grew up in Taiwan worked for the Japanese war effort... he was a tool fitter in an oilfield and factory in Taiwan. In 1945 when he was only 22 to 23 he was conscripted to serve the Japanese army and to be deployed against the Allied armies... he was ready to serve Japan but the war ended before he was deployed... but he did hone his hunting skills... my father recalled in the 1970s as a youth he'd go on hunts with my great grandfather much to my grandmother's chagrin and he recalls the way my great grandfather was able to hunt many a gamebirds with a rifle and shotgun and the smell of smoke and powder ...

[@DavidTucker-e2j]

@zhuangsaur227 Yes, he is still with us at 101 years of age. My Grandfather is now 103 years old and one of the very few U boat Captains still around. Neither one of them really spoke about thier experiences during the war for many years. And I was expressly forbidden to ask questions while I was growing up. Neither one of them has never said a good word about Hitler and his minions.... At the time of the war, they felt it was thier obligation to serve but came to find out that it was a fools errand.

[@richardschafer7858]

I was Airborne Infantry stationed in Vicenza years ago. We trained with both British Para and German Falschirmjagers. Both are excellent without a doubt.

[@cameronkedas3375]

Were you in the 173rd Airborne Brigade?

[@lucasfoldesi4265]

0:17 "Cause havoc in the enemie's rear area" 😮

[@Conservative_crusader]

🫡🫡

[@borderreiver1555]

With specialised helmets

[@calebkelly8221]

We striking at zero hour with overwhelming firepower with this one

[@borderreiver1555]

@@lucasfoldesi4265 With ethos Never withdraw

[@fultonjohnsonaton5096]

Ouch!!😭

[@hunglengocbao3469]

The Japanese also deployed paratrooper know as the Teishin Shudan Airborne forces, operated from the Phillipines to Burma in 1942-1945. They also used equipments likes rifles, SMGs,they even deployed battalion guns(in Palembang),.... The difference that Teishin units also have armored support used Type 95 Ha-go, Japan's experimental Flying Tank in support paras

[@publichearing8536]

gives a whole new meaning to drop tanks

[@Alvi410]

Yeah the "Flying Tank" never got anywhere. Type 95 light tanks were attached later on in the war as the Teishin Shudan role as paratroopers took a backseat and they had basically become elite foot infantry.

[@KeveTeller]

Can't really say "They used SMG's". The Japanese only produced about 8500-10000 Type 100 SMG to their army of 5,4 million soldiers. Which pretty much means that it didn't exist. Yes, they did buy German MP 18 & MP 34's but as with the Type 100, in very small amounts, due to the problem of getting them transported to Japan, & once again can therefore say that it really wasn't noticeable at all in the war. A big weakness in the Teishin Shudan Airborne Forces was the fact that they were still deployed with the wayyyy too long Arisaka bolt-action rifle. Which funnily enough was the longest bolt-action rifle in WW2, used by the some of the shortest soldiers of WW2.

[@coachhannah2403]

Soviets used para quite extensively, far more than any other nation. I need to read up on them. Anyone have good sources?

[@Cuccos19]

@@KeveTeller Wanted to say the same too. If something was really missing from Japanese military inventory, than that was the SMG. Some other then Type100 were made, but usually stucked in experimental status.

[@efnissien]

)0;30 - shows the paratroopers and their kit, the British Para is shown with a Mk5 Lee - Enfield jungle carbine, which wasn't in use until late 1944. They tended to use the standard Mk4 Lee-enfield

[@BartholomewCorneliousIV]

You should cover the Battle of Sabine Pass one of the most lopsided battles in history

[@harrydavey9884]

Lopsided*

[@NeilMacEwen-u7i]

The battle of Sabine pass was the American Civil war, there wasn't even airplanes i think you mean kisserine pass in north Africa

[@BartholomewCorneliousIV]

@ I’m aware of what I mean

[@marcogianfranco4918]

I did that every morning driving to work at 5am.

[@sidvyas8549]

@@NeilMacEwen-u7ikasserine*

[@longtabsigo]

9:13 as a life long paratrooper, I would beg to differ that Airborne Operations are an outdated concept “now that helicopters are available.” The threat of 100 planes headed his direction altered the head of Haiti’s thinking. There is no more effective way of putting 1-5,000 armed, trained and grumpy soldiers on a specific spot on planet earth in 18 hrs than by means of an airborne assault. There is a reason that one of the “minimum” requirements for a Special Forces candidate is for them to be airborne qualified. There is a reason I remember 21 & 24 January 1985. My first jump and my 5th jump that earned me my coveted paratrooper wings. Oddly enough, I have a greater affinity for my airborne wings than for my combat infantryman’s badge.

[@petertimmins6657]

I hear ya, brother. I got my wings in early November 1983 after spending the previous 16 weeks on Sand Hill, and then spent the next 11+ years on jump status. I finally punched out in 2010 and the thing I miss most is the jumping and the guys. Embrace the suck!

[@tacticsforfritz]

I rarely see videos about the paratroopers that fought in ww2, yet another great vid by simple history

[@micahthezilla9432]

I’m literally jumping tomorrow lol. Funny timing of this upload.

[@Vogelmaster]

Have fun! :D

[@oldtimer4791]

Define... "jumping..."

[@brandon_g_airsoft3078]

Have fun brother, remember feet and knees together, and go to Victoria’s right after 😂 iykyk

[@micahthezilla9432]

@@oldtimer4791 what these guys are doing in the video?

[@peterwatkins671]

All the way!

[@rickpilhorn]

The problem with the finishing statement is that helicopters have a VERY limited range of 2 or 3 hundred miles (AND they need a place to land (fast roping has its limits)). This makes them very vulnerable to enemy fire. While planes can carry troops more than twice that distance with different vulnerabilities. So, while there is a need for both, neither is outdated. As someone who'd jumped out of a plane in the dead of night strapped with all that gear, I love this video.

[@xXBisquitsXx]

I agree but paratroopers also need a suitable place to land which is arguably more limited than a helicopter plus they cannot fly low like helicopters and are much more likely to be spotted and engaged by a near peer. But i also think there's still a place for Paras in modern war as they can fulfil a unique role as a long range QRF that can deploy to any airfield or suitable landing area at short notice and be fully operational. Great for international power projection but unlikely to ever be used like they were in WW2, we learned our lesson.

[@rickpilhorn]

@@xXBisquitsXx We can go on and on about the particulars (and should so other people learn too). The US uses Airborne Rangers for Airfield Capture operations (and other things later) and I'm sure that the Brits have a unit for that too. And you'd be as shocked as I was how small an opening the US will drop our paratroopers into. :) In fact the US MOAB bomb is derived from the Daisy Cutters from Vietnam era and can clear a drop zone out of any forest.

[@etiennesharp]

The Denison smock deserved a mention; a truly beautiful and iconic item.

[@WanderlustZero]

As does the Maroon beret now recognised as the symbol of airborne forces around the world

[@wbertie2604]

British paratroopers did not have their own version of the Sten. The Mk. V was general issue. It was first to receive Browning Hi-Power and Sterlings, though, in 1944. M1 carbines were also sometimes used.

[@FromaTwistedMind]

The author also omitted the listing of Bren lmg's/ PIAT & anti tank guns, mortars & Lewis machine guns.

[@Maryland_Kulak]

The German paratroopers also used the Browning Hi Power, since at that point Germany had conquered Belgium and owned the Fabrique Nationale factory.

[@brendanukveteran2360]

Look, this cartoon made for uninformed 8 year olds really pissed me off because it's a parody of a complex subject that skated over everything with generalisations - not to be taken as an educational resource by those who want a reliable source of information.....Arnhem, Pegasus Bridge, Operation Biting, North Africa 1942-43, Sicily 1943, Italy 1943-44, etc. Can't be taken seriously, it's something made from a perpective that is informed not by detailed study or knowledge but from skimming the internet to make "content" for some clicks on youtube.

[@sthrich635]

Late war German Fallschirmjager division were actually jusy motorized infantry divisions, with occasional assault gun support. So they were actually the same as regular Allied infanty division where motorization were norms, but much better trained.

[@garypulliam3421]

But many, by that point, never received even the most rudimentary airborne training. They were just better motivated Infantry.

[@TonttuTorvinen]

The quality of late war german paratroopers was flux. Some newly raises paratroopers didnt have that much training and were elite on paper only while some were still crack veterans

[@flyingwombat59]

As a last-minute add-on to the 1944 Ardennes Offensive a regiment of Fallschirmjager under the command of the Colonel Baron August von der Heydt was to parachute behind Allied lines at a key position and hold it until relieved by the 12th SS Panzer Division. The pilots and the troops were inexperienced. The mission failed completely.

[@evantheman4683]

American Paratrooper Mentality "Sir, we're surrounded!" "Good, now we can fire in all directions"

[@w8ngr]

@@evantheman4683 Sas mentality, who dares wins

[@efreitorsroul9332]

Werent the Fallschirmjager part of the Luftwaffe? Idk.. I think they had that Luftwaffe eagle insignia

[@SantiagoAriasEskapa]

yes, they were luftwaffe, which is part of the wehrmacht. The Heer was the army, also part of the wehrmacht.

[@efreitorsroul9332]

@@SantiagoAriasEskapa Ahhh!!! The HEER! Of course, sir! How could I have made such a dumkopf mistake ?! Thank you.

[@edthebumblingfool]

yes mostly ex technicains and ground staff

[@DavidTucker-e2j]

@efreitorsroul9332 Your quite correct on both points. The German Army didn't have its own transport aircraft at all. The German Air Force had all the aircraft.

[@DavidTucker-e2j]

@@efreitorsroul9332 Not to worry mein Herr.

[@CallumCBG]

It's not outdated and is still used, it was used at the start of the war in Afghanistan by rangers, and the 82nd are still a fully airborne division unlike the 101st The main difference is that the criteria for a successful airborne operation are a lot stricter and a lot more difficult to find but is still there

[@cameronkedas3375]

Forgot about the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 11th Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. There’s also the National Guard 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) of the 36th Infantry Division. You’ve also got the special forces groups. There’s a lot of other airborne units though.

[@CallumCBG]

@@cameronkedas3375 and thats only american ones lol

[@jerry2357]

Another difference between the German Fallschirmjäger and British paratroops was that the Fallschirmjäger were part of the Luftwaffe, the German air force, whereas the British paratroops were part of the army (and still are, the Paratroop Regiment is an elite regiment of the British army).

[@mackenshaw8169]

British and Canadian paras did not have special jump boots but used the standard "Ammo"boot.

[@jimomaha7809]

Although a few Canadians who were trained in th US received and used US jumpboots. Also at the start the British also made copies of the German sidelacing jumpboots and jumpboots with crepe sole. But indeed regular army ankle boots were just as good.

[@WolfeSaber]

Now this is an interesting video.

[@elliskaranikolaou2550]

What about the Soviet, Japanese and Italian Paratroopers ? Apparently, it was the Soviets who had the 1st paratroopers in the World.

[@TH3CAPN]

Technically the french were the first

[@harry_ord]

Didn't the original soviet paras get purged long before the war?

[@paulsmerton9492]

Regarding Paratroopers, it was the German, British and US Paras that had the most dramatic WWII missions.

[@davidevans3822]

@@harry_ord Nope. There was a massive (and disastrous) Soviet drop in Ukraine in September 1943 to cross the Dneiper. 1st, 3rd and 5th Guards Airborne Brigades. They were almost completely wiped out. I think that was the last Soviet drop of the War (there had been a couple of small drops in 41/42).

[@zelts]

​@@davidevans3822Soviet Paratroopers were used in August of 1945 in Manchuria against Japanese Army.

[@rowdy1858]

You’re essentially twisting my arm into watching band of brothers again

[@charlessaint7926]

"Don't get caught on a church steeple!" I tell my airborne buddies.

[@DavidLopez-ir8ck]

Airborne Ranger here, been out since 2019. My knees still hurt and I keep getting called a screaming chicken (screaming eagle) I wasn’t even in the 101st 😂

[@Erga_Stolano]

All gangstas until Folgore's paratroopers show up on the battlefield

[@airborngrmp1]

I jumped with them in 2003. Super cool guys, and one of them was humping something that looked like a clone of a German MG-42.

[@thecommentaryking]

Come Folgore dal cielo

[@paleoph6168]

Folgore lore

[@w8ngr]

@@Erga_Stolano I’m from the uk Sas sit down 🪑

[@Erga_Stolano]

@@w8ngr the most terrifying thing about SAS was the color of their land rovers lmao

[@kevinbourke1847]

About Italy, Soviet Union and Japan

[@dudeabides1455]

@1:20, (Fallschirmjäger) literally means parachute-hunter. Not (paratrooper) meaning near/alongside troops.

[@sneed472]

I met a few paras in the British Army when I signed up. They absolutely blitzed those of us that were just mainly joining the royal engineers.

[@Grumpyburger0]

Nice video ❤

[@TheLastArbiter]

The British paratrooper had a much better chance of surviving water landings than the American because of that harness. Also, the Allies didn’t land on their feet like that animation, it was a rough side tumble at a still fairly high speed. I’m surprised the Germans could land on their knees like that and not break their femurs. 7:55 haha they look like Sims

[@m.brizzy5407]

Interesting short video and a good idea to compare the 3 countries. However, the animation is somewhat crude, but I suppose this reflects cost.

[@WanderlustZero]

Cretan civilian with pitchfork: 'And I took that personally'

[@Goc4ever]

This video about the paratroopers is fantastic, nicely done Simple History. Your thumbnails are simply fantastic to look at.

[@robertwarner5963]

4:40 The British X-type parachute is more correctly referred to as "direct bag" because the static-line lifts the canopy and all the suspension lines off the jumper's back and stretches out the lines before the canopy attaches air.

[@nickvinsable3798]

🤔 . . . Might want to do a part two, primarily in regards to the continued use of Paratrooper deployment methods, but of course highlighting the vast differences between then & now…

[@garypulliam3421]

The Russian airborne jumped without a parachute. The planes flew very low and very slow, and the troops would jump out and land spread-eagle into thick/heavy snow. True story. Look it up.

[@nickvinsable3798]

And when was this, @ ? I know exactly what you’re referring to, but not during WW2…

[@jokodihaynes419]

D Day wouldn't be a success without the paratroopers

[@behindthespotlight7983]

OUTSTANDING video 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Suggestion for a topic: USMC exploits in ETO training partisans and deploying spy craft. Could be combined with a look at US Paramarines and Airborne in the Pacific. These are fascinating topics that get very little attention

[@sco0100]

You rarely hear about the Axis paratroopers with American paratroopers being the loudest with most movies/tv shows/stories, then British paratroopers second but far less in media but still had the famous yolo gliders. Love hearing about German paras or EVEN japanese (i know they had them, but very very rare you hear about Japanese paras).......did Soviets even have paratroopers? I haven't heard anything about them.

[@gaffgarion7049]

They did in fact the Soviet were the first to practice the use of paratroopers although instead of jumping our a door they kind of climbed the wings and slid off of it, although i don't know how long they did it this way and they were deployed a few times in the early and very late part of the war.

[@loyalpiper]

The soviets did have them but the rarely did any combat jumps, especially during the early years of the war and the few they did do didn’t go too well due to terrain. They spent most of the war fighting as elite shock troops which they excelled at.

[@007romryan]

Yeah, Japan did have paratroopers early on in the war. The navy and army had two different units. They used them in 1942 when they attacked the Dutch East Indies to go after airfields and oil fields. Their jump equipment and doctrine was similar to the Germans. Had to find the weapons container to get the rifles and MGs.

[@kaktus33kaktus20]

They did altough sometimes they did not use parachute. From low flying plane jumped into water or snow (soviets)

[@sirgordus]

This channel covers the topic in more detail. Maybe it is interesting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHm9opavgZiHh5Ifeature=shared

[@airborngrmp1]

Fallschirmjäger translates to "parachute-hunter" or "parahunter". Sounds more badass than paratrooper to me, but landing on all fours sounds terrible. If you land on tarmac, you're toast. Plus that whole being in combat temporarily unarmed thing. Initially the American troopers landed "knees apart" and suffered lots of knee and ankle injuries during training. By 1943 we had adopted the British method of landing "feet and knees together" and roll to the side sort of landing. It's essentially the same landing you get taught in Airborne School today.

[@marcmonnerat4850]

Well _Jäger_ is the light infantry in German, you have _Gebirgsjäger_ (mountain) _Fallschirmjäger_

[@airborngrmp1]

@@marcmonnerat4850 Jager is 'hunter' in German. It became 'light infantry' comparatively recently.

[@T40Xdav]

@@airborngrmp1in German military terms it just means “light infantry”.

[@airborngrmp1]

@T40Xdav So what? The word translates as 'hunter'. Do you now call hunters 'infantrei' or 'Landser'? Of course not. We all know it refers to Austria, but Osterreich translates to 'Eastern Empire'.

[@christopherjames836]

"Feet and knees together" saved my butt on several hard landings. :) Fmr. Sgt. 2/504 PIR 82nd Abn. Div.

[@HossBlacksilver]

If I recall correctly, the USSR had paratroopers that had to climb out on the wings of the transport before jumping. As for paratroopers, I have a family friend who's a retired U.S. Army full colonel who was a jump master as well. He's a really nice guy.

[@garypulliam3421]

The Russian airborne jumped without a parachute. The planes flew very low and very slow, and the troops would jump out and land spread-eagle into thick/heavy snow. True story. Look it up.

[@jimomaha7809]

@@garypulliam3421 Probably a myth. There was a german officer who wrote this story and it spread like wildfire. Problem is who know how thick the snow really is and if there are no rocks underneath? Also injuries will happen and who is going to treat them? The lowest speed of an multi engine aircraft is still fast enough for a person to get killed or seriously injured. Even is snow high enough to dampen its fall how do you find you weapons and supplies? How do you deploy in a field with high snow.?

[@garypulliam3421]

@jimomaha7809 Well, you probably don't know much about World War 2, I suppose ... particularly with regard to Soviet troops. You see, the commies didn't care about their troops. They threw troops into machine gun fire JUST SO the Germans would use up all their ammo and then the follow-on red troops could assault German positions easier. Tens of thousands of commie troops were sent into battle BARE HANDED ... no rifle, no pistol, no knife, no nothing ... and were told to pick up a rifle if someone who had one got killed. The Red Army had squads with machine guns who shot and killed retreating soldiers to motivate them to turn around and continue to attack the enemy. So, when comrade Stalin says you will jump from an airplane without a parachute and land in the snow, who the fk is going to tell him "no"? Yes, some died on impact, and some suffered horrific injuries, but NO ONE CARED. Russians jumping out of planes without parachutes and landing in deep snow is well documented. There are several books on it. I suggest you read some. The National Archive even has documents on the subject. Read them. Finally, there are videos right here on KZbin about the very subject, some from noted and respected researchers and historians. Do a little research before being so dismissive. You might learn something.

[@garypulliam3421]

@@jimomaha7809 kzbin.inforoCQOdctduE?si=zfCd5WOD_VThfGSK

[@alexanderleach3365]

The paratroopers of WW2 are among one of my favorite elite units of the war.

[@jonathanohagan1349]

You forgot the Soviet paratroopers, 'Climb on wing, and jump, every 3rd man has parachute.'

[@gringodoce5788]

What happend to the landing gear of the Ju-52? It vanished😮

[@ultracrit9531]

The FG-42 isn't a "universal weapon" it was designed primarily as a semi-auto rifle that, in an *EMERGENCY* can be used on full-auto with the folding bipod to provide cover so your squadmates can get their heavy weapons (mortars, Panzerschrecks, machineguns, etc.) This is why sustained automatic fire is almost impossible without the bipod

[@alwoo5645]

Not true.

[@sthrich635]

FG42 could still use burst fire up to 3 to 4 rounds to suppress enemy. Most handheld automatic firearms and not a machine gun rarely use full auto nonstop, it was either semi auto for precision and rapid semi or burst fire for suppression.

[@tzeffsmainchannel]

thanks for this lesson!

[@kovesp1]

Perhaps you should have also talk about Soviet patatroopers. After all, it was the Red Army that pioneered the airborne arm in the late 1920's. They formed the first Paratrooper Battalion in 1930. Their first deployment was in early 1940 (in Finland) , about the same time as the Germans (in Norway). Read the details in David Glantz's book The Soviet Airborne Experience.

[@DavidLaMorte-z3j]

Great summary! Now lets see one on modern Paratroopers to include freefall parachutes and HALO/ HAHO parachute methodologies.

[@SeanDailey-dy8tn]

2:28 Call of duty vanguard messed that up. The sequence where Arthur Kingsley jumps from the airplane, he pulled a rip cord. Totally inaccurate.

[@erikarzensek]

Ive heard vaguard is well known for its accuracy on such details 😂

[@SeanDailey-dy8tn]

@ on other stuff, yeah. But not the parachute scene.

[@Ethan-e4b]

@@SeanDailey-dy8tnhe’s being sarcastic

[@SeanDailey-dy8tn]

@ I know, that’s why I responded to him. It’s fun.

[@Ethan-e4b]

@@SeanDailey-dy8tn oh alr bro

[@stephenlightfoot9627]

Will you do a part 2 on Soviet, Japanese and Italian Paratroopers?

[@TheAtomicCross]

I have an Enfield No 5, it is far lighter and more portable than the No 4, but delivers the same firepower. It also has a better bayonet, a clip point field knife rather than a sharpened spike.

[@Harikejn]

When you showed those troops at 7:10 it reminds me of operation code name Knight's Move, that occurred in 1944. What happened was that the Germans, tried to do the landing on Drvar to try to capture Josip Broz Tito, and also son of Winston Churchill who was in Yugoslavia. The son of Winston Churchill that was there was named Randolph Churchill. This was the seventh German enemy offensive (since that's how is treated) on Yugoslavian partisans and Tito, and also the final Axis force offensive that occurred in occupied Yugoslavia. The attack started on May 25th 1944, and it lasted till June 6th 1944 (the same day that D day happened). The first wave of German attack was with the gliders, and followed by paratroopers. The Germans encountered on fiercest resistance by Yugoslav partisans. The anti - aircraft fire managed to shoot down some planes and gliders. Also the RAF, and Partisan Squadron gave support to Yugoslavian partisans when defending skies. Some of the German soldiers captured civilians, and asking them question such as this: Where is Tito? But the civilians didn't say a word, since they didn't understand German language. Also they refused to answer that question. Cause of that, the Germans shoot them. But Tito, and Randolph and some members of other missions such as British mission with partisans were hiding in cave. They stayed there, until the German offensive turned out to be a catastrophic for them. Besides the British mission in Yugoslavian partisans, there were also American and Soviet mission. The British mission was consisted of Fitzroy Maclean, and Major Randolph Churchill. As for American mission there were 3 officers there (not sure what were their names). As for Soviet mission there was one officer such as Lieutenant General Nikolai Vasilevich Korneev, who had lost a leg in the Battle of Stalingrad. The only thing what did Germans did manage to capture was Marshall Tito's uniform (now it's in museum of Vienna). And that's how battle was waged during the final German offensive against Yugoslavian partisans. Also here is one fun fact. When there was the anniversary of marking the operation Knight's Move, in Arizona they did a reconstruction of battle, marking the 60th anniversary of the mentioned offensive (so called historical reenactment). There is of course also mentioned black - white movie called Desant Na Drvar (translation is Landing on Drvar) which was filmed in 1963.

[@spannerpasser]

An operation carried out by members of Fallschirmjager Bn 500 (I think it was called then it had a couple of names in its time). This unit was composed of WSS members who wore normal Fallschirmjager helmets and smocks complete with Luftwaffe insignia but wore their own feldgrau uniform underneath. I’m sure there’s a picture of some of them wearing the WSS field cap whilst sheltering in the cemetery.

[@Harikejn]

@@spannerpasser Yes, you are right. Since during the landings on Drvar, some of these mentioned members they did hide, and also they did fight in the cemetery as well.

[@Technobabylon]

I always love seeing the wackier ideas, like the rocket-assisted parachutes for landing small tanks

[@arnoldcohen1250]

Early in WW2 British paratroopers jumped through a round hole in the aircraft. This resulted in head/face injuries (known as "ringing the bell") and was changed to the side door exit. Early Russian paratroopers actually crawled out on the wing of the aircraft and then slid off!!

[@jimomaha7809]

The jumphole differed from aircraft in form and size. Ringing the bell happend if one did not do a propper exit. The last operation jumping through a hole was by the 700 French SAS in Holland from Stirling aircraft in april 1945 Operation Amherst.

[@arnoldcohen1250]

@@jimomaha7809 very interesting! thanks!

[@civilprotection3114]

A cool note is that the only Canadian parachute unit split and half went to American training and the other went to British training. They took the best from both.

[@BaxterAndLunala]

"Who does the army trust the most?" "Airborne!" "Who do the ladies love the most?" *"Airborne!"* "Who do the Nazis fear the most?" *"AIRBORNE!"*

[@GrantWaller.-hf6jn]

As the British said over paid over sexed over here . lol

[@jeffstone7912]

The reason that the British didn’t use the Brody helmet and the Germans used a special helmet. It’s not so much aerodynamics as the helmet gets knocked off as the risers come up when the parachute is deployed. AATW!

[@wbertie2604]

@@jeffstone7912 the a British helmet was derived from a motorcycle helmet and had inner suspension to work as, well, a crash helmet. It was a better crash helmet than the M2 or M1C, but a poorer helmet for combat. The original idea was to jump with a padded leather doughnut in your head then swap to a 'tin hat' but that wasn't very practical.

[@jimomaha7809]

@@wbertie2604 The leather helmet (RAF B type without earphones) was from the start intended as training. The first dome shaped airborne helmet (P type) was before the metal motor cycle helmet. The 2nd domeshaped helmet was the MKI (fibre rimmed) this also apparead in limited numbers as a motorcycle helmet (= DR dispatch rider helmet)The second model appeared also as a motorcycle helmet as both were intended to protect the head after a fall to the ground. Do not know were you based the idea that it was a poor for combat, It protected more of the head than the brodie helmet.

[@wbertie2604]

@jimomaha7809 the airborne helmet offers less protection from airburst artillery.

[@DarknetDude]

Paramedic paratroopers paralyzing enemies while parroting military dogma parallel to other soldiers.

[@emmanuelzozobrado5981]

Those paratroopers have courage on another level

[@grba875]

Should do vid on glider troops, as they were sometimes similar or quite different from paratroopers.

[@bouse23]

i think the helicopter took over from the glider after ww2 it could the same job but without the crash landing element

[@Buildingerror500]

Fallschrimjagers and British paratroopers used gliders

[@bouse23]

@Buildingerror500 Americans too

[@Buildingerror500]

@@bouse23 fr?

[@spacebeam6480]

I hope they do a video on gliderborne infantry.

[@e.d.b.4697]

Foreign Legion? Not mentioned....?

[@rrrripbing]

My dad was a corporal in the parachute regiment during WW2. As a youngster I was always asking him about it but he rarely spoke on the subject. I'm guessing it was something he wanted to forget about.

[@StuartH922]

On Crete the downside to landing without your kit. Was rammed home by the fact that, The Airfield defenders largely made up of RAF Ground Crew held them to a standstill. This led to the British adopting the leg bag.

[@ChrisCrossClash]

In which the leg bags were not useless like the Americans thought they were, The Americans were literally not clipping them on right. 😂

[@paulsmerton9492]

@@ChrisCrossClash No, the Leg Bags weren't so compatible to the US T5 (?) parachute. Also the US Paras were issued them at the last moment and used them without proper training/instruction. The T5 rig had a harder opening than did the British Type X rig. Not knowing the weight recommendation, they tended to overload them (as Paras instinctively would) and the combination caused the Leg Bags to break away.

[@phantom_not_chopper]

My Grandad was on Crete. They were shooting the paratroopers as they descended - most of his friends were killed in front of him - he escaped to the hills & was evacuated by the Navy. The Anzacs suffered heavily in a rear guard action. He then went on to fight as a desert rat in North Africa

[@TheFunke13]

A really interesting use of german paratroopers were the attack in 1940 at the fortress Eben Emael in Belgium. Maybe you can do a video about that :) .

[@Cynicism101]

Would question the FG-42 muzzle climb comment thought, Ian from Forgotten Weapons does a great video with an actual WWll FG-42 and didn’t have any issues with controllability.

[@Ricarmaida88]

They also distinguished themselves from the rest by using a brown pair of shoes when wearing the ceremonial uniform.

[@Bodkin_Ye_Pointy]

Your cartoon images did not accurately depict the exit and landing of the paratroopers. For example, though you said the Fallschirmjáger jumped head first out of the plane, the cartoon showed them jumping feet first. The actually exited with a dive, arms out in front of them. Neither the British nor American paratroopers landed on their feet when they touched down. They went into a roll that absorbed shock and arrested forward motion. Further, the British paratroopers had their gear in a bag attached to their leg. They released the bag once the canopy had deployed and it dangled below them on a rope. Could have used a bit more research on this one.

[@wbertie2604]

@@Bodkin_Ye_Pointy US paratroopers also used bags from 1944 onwards. Many were poorly trained in their use for D-Day and lost their equipment. The correct procedure was to jump holding your bag until after your parachute had deployed, then release it, as you note. The US troops let go as soon as they exited the aircraft (it makes sense that you'd want both hands in case of main chute failure, to deploy the reserve) but the additional force sometimes broke the strap.

[@paulsmerton9492]

Harsh.

[@wbertie2604]

@@paulsmerton9492 I don't blame the US paratroopers - they got the bags late and someone somewhere dropped the ball on training.

[@PhansiKhongoloza]

Which army holds the record for the most combat jumps?

[@questerperipatetic4861]

Left out is the fact the Soviet Union had more Airborne forces than any other War2 combatant country. Also left out is that it did happen they would slide off of plane wings without a parachute. Really. I'm not joking. (And I was glad to survive my first military jumps at Benning WITH a chute!)

[@Cuccos19]

Where are Soviet, Italian or Japanese paratroopers?

[@markkir193]

„Klein unser Häuflein, wild unser Blut…!“

[@tqxy24]

My German grandfather was a German paratrooper. He did 77 jumps and saw a lot of sh... In Russia and he was in Crata too

[@flyingwombat59]

The fallschirmjager used a Luftwaffe aircrew parachutes. The British originally copied the Germans. As late as 1943 the British Paratroopers also jumped unarmed. The US Army formed the Test Platoon in 1940. This platoon tested equipment as well as techniques. In the 1930s, Kurt Student, the father of the Fallschirmjager, was in Russia to observe a military exercise that included a mass drop of paratroops. If any non-paratrooper were caught wearing jump boots by paratroops off base, they suffered mightily at the hands of the real paratroops. The use of airborne troops is hardly obsolete. The 173rd Airborne Brigade parachuted into Northern Iraq in 2003.

[@cameronkedas3375]

I’m not downplaying the 101st in any way, but you should do more recognition of the 82nd and other airborne units. The 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion made the first combat jump in U.S. military history in North Africa eventually making a total of 5 in the war. My great grandpa was with the 509th in North Africa, the 82nd in Sicily, and the 101st in Normandy, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Austria.

[@MrElmag12]

"Causing havoc in enemy rear areas" 😂😂😂

[@JMobSZN]

Can you do a video on Joint Task Force 2

[@rebeccalarratt6632]

Very good video but I would like to see if there was a video you made about the Japanese paratroopers the Russian paratroopers and the French paratroopers after we helped liberate them and others

[@clockwerk35]

US Airborne divisions and Navy SEALS still parachute the old fashion way

[@danielmiller2076]

The video's point that the time difference in landing between American and German paratroopers somehow left the Americans more vulnerable is a bit of a stretch. The US parachute takes approximately 250ft in altitude to open. A drop at 500ft altitude means that the US chutes fully open at approximately 250ft above the ground. The time difference in landing between a US and German paratrooper is measured in seconds - and not many of those. The altitude required for the US main chute to open is why some units chose not to jump with reserve chutes during combat drops with a planned drop altitude of 400-450ft. There simply wasn't enough time/altitude to activate and deploy the reserve in the event of a main chute malfunction.

[@black10872]

The Airborne is definitely NOT outdated! The US Army conducted several combat jumps in the last 40 years. Operation Urgent Fury 1983. Operation Just Cause 1989. Operation Restore Hope 1994. And Operation Enduring Freedom 2003. The US conducts more combat jumps than anyone else!

[@adamdunn5661]

Just cause and restore hope were the operations that got the Canadian airborne disbanded

[@black10872]

@@adamdunn5661 Why???? They didn't jump with the 82nd. As a matter of fact, I don't recall Canadians with Americans in those operations.

[@chimo1961]

@@black10872 They decided to commit a War crime, and took photos of it, word got out...A couple of court martials later, our Government disbanded them. Turns out the CO and his RSM were in the next tent listening to the screaming. So the entire regiment disappeared. Bit of a stain on the country and all. They found the lowest ranking guy involved and jailed him, instead

[@militarycollectables3945]

British paratroopers in ww2 only had a main chute..the british government would not spend the extra 5 pounds per man to equip a reserve.....british paratroopers wore regular infantry boots,no specific boots were designed for british paratroopers in ww2.

[@keithdurose7057]

There were trials for specific boots for British paras. But it was decided that the standard ammo boots were good enough.

[@garypulliam3421]

I think some British Para units got their hands on American jump boots ... and some individuals bought their own.

[@MiketheMadness]

5 pound in 1940 is worth 250 with inflation

[@fus149hammer5]

Nothing to do with saving money. Paratroopers were grossly overloaded with all the kit they carried and a reserve parachute was simply unnecessary weight as at the height british paras were jumping from, by the time they'd realised their main chute hadn't opened they were only feet from the ground. In essence, jumping from a low altitude and at night, a reserve parachute was pointless.

[@T40Xdav]

The British did however had their own camouflage smock that was specially designed for airborne forces. Also, you can’t forget the maroon beret and the parachute regiment cap badge that has 10x more Esprit de corps then jump boots

[@KrebsonMACROwave]

why did you changed your thumbnail from the Triple spiderman pointing meme

[@anjaryunianto3495]

Apakah ada yang tahu suara siapa dalam video ini? Saya tau ini ai voice over, kalau ada yang tahu suara siapakah ini, tolong beri tahu saya. Terimakasih.

[@Exodus_20_Deuteronomy_5]

@Simplehistory, Do you also do vocals for the "Explore with us" channel?

[@TheKodiak72]

The note about teh FG42.... You should have watched Forgotten weapons video, particularly the range day on it before just using internet rumors.

[@KK-fb9nz]

"Legs" also has the acronym "low energy ground soldier"

[@stealmysunshine]

You missed out the British airborne iconic maroon beret and how they refer to non airborne troops as Far Hate (or just Hats)

[@paulsmerton9492]

No. It's "craphat" - or "'hat" for short. Sometimes "Harry the Hat". 🤡

[@UsuallyTrolling]

@@paulsmerton9492 and paras are birdshit

[@michelangeloleonardidicasa8169]

Italy also had paratroopers, the Folgore , known also as the lions of el alaimen after the battle of el alaimen where they gained the Honor of Arms by the british

[@RoughWalkers]

A modern version of this would be cool

[@seanoconnor8843]

I can't think of a single time paratroopers were deployed properly. I think they have massive potential

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

I don't think the American paratroopers of WW2 had handles to steer their shoots , didn't they pulled apon the risers

[@juicylemons6843]

We're paratroopers we're supposed to be surrounded. - Major. Richard Winters.

[@w8ngr]

Is this even a fair fight when the SAS is technically a paratroop regiment

[@the_stormer8037]

So is us rangers and delta

[@KohIibri]

​@@the_stormer8037during the second world war

[@Nightstalker_3]

​@@KohIibridelta wasn't created until the 60s

[@Nipplator99999999999]

SAS was in the same line of op order as the US Airborne were during WWII. British command staff decided to segment their spec ops units in their respective fields of focus earlier than the USA. The US AB units were technically all the same focus on mission types, but each unit was segmented in specific areas of focus instead of each unit having an assigned type.

[@KohIibri]

@@the_stormer8037 To prove my point, the US Rangers never parachuted or even used a parachute during the ww2, they're trained as the average infantry (slightly better), and Delta force doesn't even exists in ww2.