German Paratroopers' Last Drop - Operation Stösser, Ardennes 1944

In December 1944, the famed 'Green Devils', Germany's paratroopers, made one last combat drop into Belgium as part of a highly-controversial operation in support of the Ardennes Offensive.
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

[@TheNimshew]

I had, as a young teenager, a German Para helmet with the webbing intact. It had an etched white Eagle, wings spread and clutching a swastika, on the left side of the helmet. This was around 1963. Being not too bright, I traded it to a Army surplus store owner for an old French Bayonet. Genius,eh?

[@BryanSeung]

No radio, loss of heavy weapons, armored forces failed to relieve the surrounded paratroopers... Sounds like a German version of "A Bridge too Far" .

[@Wessex90]

It would make a good film. I don’t think it would be made sadly.

[@EdMcF1]

Sounds like 'Hold meine bier, Tommy'.

[@madwolf0966]

Bryan Seung More like a crossroad too far

[@Xtragicfever]

More like SNAFU.

[@gaussagain]

That would be 'Eine Brücke zu weit'

[@keithwortelhock6078]

The German chutes were a 'canopy first' arrangement. The static line pulled out the chute, which filled whilst the paratrooper fell the length of the rigging lines and was stopped by a formidable jolt. The allied system was was a 'canopy last' arrangement, where the static line pulled the chute off the paratrooper's back, still encased in its bag. The trooper then fell the length of his rigging lines before pulling out the chute, which then filled. An altogether gentler system, which allowed the carrying of personal weapons and equipment. Plus, the German chutes were a single attachment point harness, which left the paratrooper no way of steering or otherwise controlling his descent. This made elbow and knee pads essential, as the landings were somewhat dynamic.

[@ModernGamesSuck]

I've been studying World War 2 since I was a kid and this dude keeps coming up with stories I've never heard of. Well done, Mr. Felton!

[@Evirthewarrior]

That is because historians only focus on the same exact battles and events and try and act like their new book has some new tiny revelation that turns everything on its head.

[@julemandenudengaver4580]

@@Evirthewarrior naah.. there happened so freaking much in WW2 and there's so many historyies you really can't hear them all

[@iamthespy9808]

John Syzlack u

[@robertbarker4411]

He really is amazing I've read every book about the German side of the war

[@_-.-_-_.._--.-_-_----_-.--_._-]

+Evirthwarrior Exactly. I have a better chance of finding new information on some dodgy foreign websites than through any book published by historians in the US.

[@ivokiller2000intel]

Imagine being camping on the forest on the 1960s and find a dead Fallschimjäger hanging on a tree, would be a really big scare

[@juanelorriaga2840]

That was something not finding these Germans till the 1970s I gotta find more info on that

[@simonkevnorris]

What makes you think the bodies were hanging from the trees?

[@jinglejangle3287]

I would be honored and I'd give him a worthy burial

[@alfnoakes392]

They are still buried under the floors of barns, put there by the current farmers grandfathers.

[@brianreddeman951]

I'm not saying they was zombies but they was zombies man.

[@jhofster31]

Another fascinating video from Mark. My grandfather Max was a Fallschirmjaeger in WW2 - injured at the siege of Leningrad, made it out of Monte Cassino in one piece, escaped being strung up by partisans in Northern Italy after getting drunk with them- yep, I am grateful to be here!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Brings a new meaning to the term "Clusterf***."

[@Akm72]

SNAFU...

[@JRyan-lu5im]

Honestly, I've have training ops that were as big a mess. People getting left behind from main convoys, radio comms down, lack of overall accountability. Given the resource limits and poor communication, they did a good job with what they had. In less capable hands they probably would have been quickly annihilated.

[@lbh002]

Thank goodness!

[@skydiverclassc2031]

FUBAR

[@peterpiper_203]

Fubar

[@TheEpicCowboy]

Before anyone asks: The song at 9:38 is called "Rot scheint die Sonne" ("Red shines the Sun").

[@LowescC]

it's a real toe-tapper...

[@GunsNGames1]

And if anyone else is wondering for good German songs, look for Rammstein.

[@MrPh30]

Spotify banned that one btw from the whole album recently .

[@air8orne734]

Yes. And it's still sung today by the Bundeswehr Fallschirmjäger.

[@PvPene]

Sounds like a nazi rip off of l’internationale

[@georgedoolittle9015]

"your air support consists of guys jumping out of planes..

[@richardtaylor1652]

@Michael RedCrow "And they will not have any radios to communicate with any of the units you are supposed to support."

[@nickestnick5017]

In the military you do what you’re told, sometimes you don’t get to live to tell the story. They’re not all winners they can’t be.

[@arvindsingh-1999]

Lol

[@olengagallardo8551]

Checkout the paratrooper armed w/a browning hi power!

[@lowengkok3562]

Awesome

[@varovaro1967]

Marks family: “when can we get out of the basement and stop editing videos?”. “Never!”

[@kaiserofgermania5236]

I imagined him literally saying "never"😂😂😂

[@greaserbubtheoriginal7923]

and he turns and says to his kids and wife do you love the new cars and money i make from you tube and then they shut up lmao

[@TheRedAirOn]

No he probably has a whole library, access to databases on his network, and a break room. That's for when he's not traveling and documenting.

[@stonehaven]

Heydte: It beats surrendering to the Soviets.

[@sisyphusvasilias3943]

Yes surrender to fellow fscists instead

[@billcallahan9303]

You got "Best Comment of the Week"

[@Rusty_Gold85]

and that is a good segway suggestion to another vid " How many german prisoners came back from the Eastern front "

[@m4rs12]

No gulag for you!

[@finnishwehraboo8377]

@@sisyphusvasilias3943 spotted a communist

[@johndilday1846]

My dad was in a AAA battalion stationed in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. He told me how one night he was on sentry duty with a heavy snow covering the camouflage nets covering their vehicles, making it look like there was no vehicles there. He said that it was incredibly still, and he heard some suspicious noises, namely ripping sounds followed by thumps of something falling to the ground. He said he realized that it had to be paratroopers falling through their camouflage nets and figured that he better sound the alarm before he ended up like the sentries in all the war movies of the time, basically, knifed in the back or having their throats cut. He said that he set off the alarm and hoofed it to a tower of the castle just in time and he and his comrades were able to hold off the German attack.

[@snowflakemelter1172]

You made that up didn't you ?

[@Thomgxx100]

Field marshal Model to German Fallschirmjaeger: "Chances of this operation to succeed are a mere 10 per cent!" German Fallschirmjaeger: "We'll give it a go!"

[@itstimeforfallout7030]

It's kind of sad...

[@scottgoodman8993]

Like betting on a four or 10 in craps. Some do it. Most lose. For some few, it pays. Timing is everything.

[@2ndavenuesw481]

@@gagamba9198 4 engine bombers consume enormous quantities of fuel.

[@madwolf0966]

ga gamba wait they never had any 4 engined bombers? I think I just found this out

[@herrakaarme]

@@gagamba9198 Trying to fight both the USA and the Soviet Union at the same time was Germany's most fatal mistake. They were doomed the moment that happened. Hitler already lamented how he had no idea how massive stockpiles of military vehicles the USSR alone had.

[@johnnieireland2057]

If Mark Felton was my history teacher in school, I would have never skipped class :)

[@evanconnolly8717]

Von der heydt had a stellar military record, and had to be one of the best soldiers germany produced, I've read multiple books on ww2 campaigns such as normandy, market garden, the scheldt, the ardennes, and all the books the allies always spoke highly of him, Espacially the Canadians.

[@remckenna]

I have said it before and I will say it again: This guy’s KZbin channel is the real successor to the History Channel! Well researched, great narration, and a lot of footage I have never seen before; and I’ve been watching history documentaries instead of Saturday morning cartoons since I was a child.

[@Necron990]

While enemy forces, there's something very admirable about German paratrooper units.

[@Akm72]

On an individual level sure, but dropping all their weapons (except pistols and knives) in separate canisters as late as 1944 is shockingly foolish. You'd have thought they'd have learnt not to do that in Crete.

[@deadfly122]

Bitte was?

[@visionist7]

Only Soviets are the true enemy

[@Captain_Frank_Abagnale]

They’re great light infantry. Some awesome battles involving them in the beginning of the war and even later. But also highly fanatical. Their oath of service is pretty crazy

[@no1DdC]

There really isn't. They committed horrific war crimes on Crete (and photographed their massacres, so there's indisputable evidence).

[@derrickpeterson3400]

Mark, I hope you never get tired of making awesome videos, because I never get tired of watching them.

[@GannicusMisteriosdeHonduras]

It seems German parachutes were way more dangerous than allied ones, those dudes hitting the ground at high speed...but still the Fallschirmjägers were fearsome warriors until the end of the war. Thanks again Dr. Mark Felton

[@deadfly122]

The german parachutes were not more dangerous because all of them were designed to make a fast drop possible. Even todays military parachutes are dangerous without training at around 6m/s. The casualties caused by drop in that operation was because of the weather, strong winds, darkness and jumping into a forrest. All things you should avoid for an airborne operation...

[@zeitgeistx5239]

Allied paratroopers fought and successfully defeated their German counterparts on numerous occasions.

[@paulmanson253]

Well if you look at the gathering of the shroud lines well above the arms of the parachutist, I would say that is probably correct. The really controllable chutes only showed up in the 70s and later. I can only guess,but the design sure looks like the WWI design used by the guys in the observation balloons.

[@motorrebell]

@@zeitgeistx5239 Not at Monte Cassino .

[@kirishima638]

The practice of dropping their weaponry in separate canisters was proven disasterous in 1941. I thought they scrapped the tactic after that?

[@moss8448]

you'd think they'd at least hang the canisters under the same plane they jump out of to be somewhere near where they land....jeez

[@lowereducation6631]

It's something that is still debated among airborne troops today. the heavier a paratrooper is with equipment the harder he hits the ground or the larger the parachute he has to have. It works out better to separate them if you have well trained pilots and good weather. keeping them together means not as much as lost but there's nothing quite as fun as getting beaten the hell out of by your equipment before you ever hit the ground. By keeping them together you are accepting a certain amount of negative issues in order to avoid other probably larger issues like being stranded behind American lines with only pistol s.

[@_-.-_-_.._--.-_-_----_-.--_._-]

They developed some interesting prototypes to solve that dilemma, but as far as I know, none were ever used.

[@fatmanbatman9374]

I mean the VDV does it i think but they have sime guns

[@peterk2455]

That's why your kit inc weapon is harnessed to a drop line. Impacts the ground 1st, < impact mass, but > pendulum effect, also a pita in trees. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXOUppZme9eCras

[@richardtaylor1652]

Fallschirmjäger: Could this operation possibly get any worse? Mark Felton: It did infact, get much worse.

[@MrArcher7]

My grandfather was a Fallschirmjaeger who fought both in Crete and in Leningrad. I know from my grandmother that he was captured in the west. He was also friends with Max Schmeling. I wonder at times if he's in any of the FSJ file footage. Thanks for this. I had no idea that this even happened.

[@TiepilotKV]

Roses are red Violets are blue Fallschirmjägergewehr 42

[@minuteman4199]

I suppose Fallschirmjagergewehr zweiundvierzig doesn't rhyme.

[@Cheezymuffin.]

Tiepilot KV because I read it as zweiundvierzig and not forty two. It didn't make sense

[@spade3779]

Tiepilot KV I’m stuck on the Eastern Front... *AND SO ARE FUCKING YOU*

[@Pedro.Montoya]

Oooh I love spectre!!

[@sparkle4223]

❤️

[@jaydibernardo4320]

"A drop too far". Nice touch Mark. Well done.

[@rebelkommando6166]

At first I was like "Man it's impressive the Germans managed to pull off this operation despite the lack of resources!" then it all went horribly wrong.

[@jillvalentinefan77]

Everyday Mark felton uploads a video is another day the world doesn't feel the wrath of Saddam.

[@visionist7]

Yo Saddam!

[@paulhiggins6024]

Ha. Did 'Comical' Ali think that little jem up for ya?

[@waltsears]

I appreciate the specificity and unit level details of your work. Excellent footage too! The German fight song was a great touch as well! Thanks.

[@CKC_Productions]

I've always been very curious on when the Luftwaffe stopped dropping the Fallschirmjäger into combat. Again you never fail to disappoint with your hard work Mark Felton Productions. Thank you so much for everything.

[@martinmcclure1066]

I think paratroopers where probably the most disappointing thing to come out of world war II. Paradrops as well as looking extremely cool, proved to be extremely vulnerable to defensive fire as well as weather and terrain hazards. It would have been a pretty awesome site if paratroopers turned out like how people in the 30s envisioned them. Having whole armies dropping in as a routine battlefield tactic would have been quite the site. Unfortunately actual experience tends to prove many cool things as being extremely risky

[@visionist7]

They really turned the tide at Eben Emael. Maybe their best value lies in stealthy, elite drops of a handful of men

[@minuteman4199]

The principle concerns of every military unit is to protect its flanks, avoid being surrounded and maintain supply lines. For paratroopers, violating those principles is the very first thing they do.

[@skydiverclassc2031]

They work best for specific purposes, and when surprise is on their side. In modern warfare, indeed, the idea that you can drop 10,000 soldiers on an open field to engage the enemy is pointless, assuming the enemy has sufficient firepower to bring against that force. However, the pre D-Day drops were generally successful at holding key points along the coast long enough for large, well armed reinforcements to arrive.

[@kennbiggs9311]

Very well put Sir!!

[@peterk2455]

Airborne ops were being developed by trial and error, mostly error. Few senior officers grasped the possibility of using aircraft to support ground forces, let alone how & when to use airborne troops. Starting from a blank page means making lots of mistakes.

[@bsolutions525]

the last time i was this early, the german spearheads could still see moscow

[@BrettonFerguson]

The last time I was this early Roosevelt was promising the American public the USA stay neutral, while simultaneously putting a naval blockade against Japan.

[@redrumtm3435]

The last time I was this early Stalin was having a break down.

[@krisfrederick5001]

The key to any successful paradrop is to not return with them still on board the planes.

[@Heihachiro504]

Thank you, sir! Always with the consistent impartial presentation and unbiased delivery. One of the best history channels in KZbin ever.

[@danmorgan3685]

I was under the impression that after the soup sandwich of an operation in Crete the German Paras stopped using separate canisters to drop small arms and LMGs.

[@Akm72]

You'd have thought so.

[@deadfly122]

My guess is that the paras couldn't have jumped with extra weight. They were descending way faster than usuall (with around 13m/s)

[@peterk2455]

To this day there are some who advocate doing exactly that with airborne. Load is an issue for all troops

[@509Gman]

dave I’ve done it with a M240, your move.

[@Gj23jk2]

Their parachutes simply didn't allow for it. They were too small, too light, too poorly made, too basic, and (most importantly) designed around an outdated and primitive single-point harness attached to the middle of their back. Compared to the US and British T10 system (which allowed for self-stabilization and minor steering, as well as a leg-bag for a carbine and a foot-down landing), it was like a dinosaur that should have been extinct already.

[@smurra3]

This is why i love the study of WWII. You learn something new almost every day. Great vid!!

[@hauptmannjoachimtotenkopf6081]

Your videos always seem to have the most interesting yet somehow unknown/untold, until you come along & do a video about it! Great vids, great content. keep it up mark!

[@whisthpo]

Mark, Thank you for what you do.... I have been watching footage for the last 50 yrs on this subject and this is a new one on me! You continue to amaze Sir!

[@yoggz]

Very interesting as always, thank you for your work!

[@arwing20]

Well I think Crete just got replaced as the worst paratroop drop in my WW2 in my mental list. Thanks Mark

[@deadfly122]

As Mark sad, the 12. SS was the only division not penetrating american lines.

[@Duececoupe]

It's a good day (even if it's on a Monday), when you get a notification about a Mark Felton Productions video! 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻

[@lopezmario4633]

I dont think ive ever given a “thumbs down” to a Marc Felton video. They re all so darn good! Cheers from Chile!!

[@domoloveroquinn5257]

I'm glad you uploaded. I was beginning to worry about you mark. I can't wait for the next amazing video just like this one!

[@MyLateralThawts]

According to my grandmother’s cousin, who was a late war Fallschirmjaeger, to qualify for their jump badge they only had to complete three jumps ...from an observation balloon!

[@josephforrestbender8947]

Mr. Felton once again you've made my day. Everytime I see a new video from you sir, I know I'm in store for another high quality story from WWII.

[@BrettonFerguson]

I watched a History channel documentary about the crete invasion. Since it was an American cable TV documentary, it was wrong. It said the German invasion of Crete was so close to having failed that Hitler never allowed another parachute drop and all the paratroopers were put in ground units. Things like that are why I no longer watch any documentaries made for the History Channel, Discovery Channel, (TLC) The Learning Channel, or any channel similar to those. The BBC is better, but still contain inaccuracies.

[@wilsonj4705]

If you took a drink for every inaccuracy you could spot in a History Channel production you would be on the floor passed out halfway though

[@BadWolf762]

The "History Channel" hasn't been about History for about 15 years.

[@markholm6955]

Amazing - as others have said - you have come up with amazing content - another nugget of fascinating WW2 info - this bit is not often mentioned. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@russwoodward8251]

Thanks again Dr. Felton. The detail on these stories is fantastic.

[@flavio_meneses]

Seriously, one of the most underrated channels on KZbin. Thank you!

[@JackB733]

How I love this channel!!

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Nothing better than mr felton reposting this video after taking it down earlier. Bravo and thanks Mark 👍

[@russeljohn3471]

Always a good day when Mark posts a video. 👍👍

[@MrLynch-ei4dc]

Damn...as a former paratroop myself, feel bad for those poor bastards. I know they had to be in the fight for their "fueher", my respects to them boys...the Green Devils. Great video as always Mark, thank you.

[@ethanwells4785]

Thanks for another great video mark!

[@Cybermat47]

Was researching this just recently, awesome to see a Mark Felton video on it!

[@TrickiVicBB71]

This is why I enjoy this channel. I never, never knew German paratroopers were dropped in Ardennes. I always believed after Crete they were used as ground troops. Always something new to learn

[@kirklazarus1132]

Awesome. Great video, Mark.

[@local38on-tv]

Why is Mark Felton like the 1990s-2000s history channel

[@nriab23]

Thank you for amazing videos nearly every day.

[@6omega2]

"Some of the transports landed back at their base with the paratroopers still aboard." LOL! That's not supposed to happen!

[@sparrow3439]

More quality content on operations that are very often overlooked! Keep it up

[@allengeary5595]

Another great video as usual

[@alanhelton]

Thank you for such interesting content

[@cparedes2302]

Dr. Felton, Many thanks for posting such an interesting video about a crucial time during the Battle of te Bulge in Belgium., Greetings from Guatemala

[@BMC2]

Probably your best video mister Felton. Great idea to include some music in it!

[@Drpermer]

I've heard your opening score so many times, I've started hearing it on the crapper; and honestly, it's rather a ominous opening there as well.

[@StevenRecknagelMusic]

Great video, thanks mark

[@HSMiyamoto]

Tying up 6000 men by hiding in a forest sounds like a success, not a failure. Allied commanders would surely have liked to have another regiment at the front in Dec. 1944, rather than roaming the rear area searching for men who don't want to be found.

[@air8orne734]

That's avalid point. Binding the enemy.

[@danieltrubman8203]

I wonder if having to search for what turned out to be a relatively small number of Germans ended up harming the Allies efforts more than smashing up a (still relatively small) German force concentrated and not hidden in the woods?

[@itsjohndell]

Struck me the same, tactical failure but pulling 6k troops from the main battle would have to be seen as a strategic success given the casualties involved.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

“For days”. Then walked back to German lines. CO surrendered. Not a tactical success.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Thanks Mark for another interesting informative broadcast.

[@juliusp5950]

Keep up the good work Mark

[@tomjustis7237]

Another great video! Although I've read much about the Battle of the Bulge I've never heard of this parachute drop. Doc, you are always educating me. Strange the difference between Axis and Allied paratroopers. Both German and Japanese paratroopers jumped with only a pistol, a knife and maybe a couple of grenades while their main weapons, food, medical kits and radios were dropped in supply canisters. Not good if the drop is scattered over a wide area. The American, British, Canadian and Polish paratroopers, on the other hand, jumped loaded down like pack mules so they would have everything they needed as soon as they hit the ground no matter how spread out the drop may have been. I don't understand why the Axis thought their paratroopers would always be able to reach those canisters while under fire, even if the canisters had miraculously dropped close by. Has anyone come across the logic behind this in the Axis thinking?

[@johnwhite9760]

Baron von der Heydte seems to have been a level headed man and a good leader. Ordering his men to retreat instead of making a futile and suicidal attack was a good move.

[@darrellborland119]

An amazing video. Thanks, and i had heard of this operation, however, nice to see it in more detail. Bodies not found 'til the 70's...quite an additional fact!

[@meditationmusicbyalexjackson]

Excellent. A particularly well ediitted and narrated video. Thank you.

[@user-ed9es7ew6q]

Great video dr.mark

[@putinsoupin5094]

Love the vids... helps me learn more about the war...

[@adamusnorstra3571]

love this channel ;-)

[@draw4kicks]

Another great video!

[@wallyplumstead614]

Thank you Mark.

[@KCODacey]

Sort of reminds me of Chesty Puller’s quote when he was surrounded in Korea: “ Good. We got ‘em right where want ‘em.”

[@yuppy1967]

Another great story from the history archives of Dr. Mark!

[@danehampe2972]

Love you content mark

[@dirtywhiteboy4963]

great stuff buddy! thanks for the hard work!

[@erikcarlson9492]

It would be interesting if you did one of these on the Naval Gun Battery in Lindemann. Keep up the quality videos Mark!

[@Lerxstification]

Has anyone ever asked/wondered what if they had captured Antwerp?? I highly doubt there would be any negotiations on the part of the Allies. The Germans would have been simply surrounded, shelled, bombed and starved to defeat within a few weeks at most. But first, Hitler would have promoted Hasso von Manteuffel to Field Marshal for his 48th birthday, saying, "don't be another Paulus!" What a depressing mission this must have been for these men. For the ones that landed in Bonn, I imagine that they stopped in the local pub for some drinks before heading back to find the unit HQ. Imagine being a farmer and finding some of those weapons canisters that were dropped. They probs still exist in some attics in the area...

[@TheEpicCowboy]

An interesting topic you have not covered so far (as far as i know) is Andrei Wlassow and the ROA. Thx for your work, its highly appreciated.

[@tonystoakley5816]

Thanks Mark another great vid as always keep it up plz

[@djaerodynamics7954]

You’re awesome dude I watch your show constantly

[@mouser4290]

Drop to far, good one sir and what a wonderful channel one of the best on KZbin.

[@phbrinsden]

Just over 1 hour since posting and over 1.5k likes. Speaks volumes about Dr. Felton’s work. He does not appear on TV channels because tv channels don’t offer or make quality history shows anymore. I prefer to see it on KZbin and stream to my tv via Apple TV unit. Mark is in much better control of his work this way and does not need to kowtow to tv executives. Great stuff Mark.

[@Pantelis_Psaroudakis]

As a Cretan, it always feels nice when the battle of Crete is being mentioned, nice video Mark!

[@salientissues4109]

Mark your work and presentation is always class A. You're awesome and thank you. War is damn dumb. "War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives." -Smedley Butler

[@brendanhere.6400]

I awoke to a notification from Dr. Felton this morning, then, I saw it referred to the Green Devils, can this day get any better?

[@christophernoah3749]

Hey man. So glad i found your channel a while back. Have watched just about every ww2 video you've made. Some even twice. Very well made and factual info your provide. Probably the best ww2 history videos I've seen put together on KZbin. Anyway keep up the great work. You have my support. After you cover ww2, you should think about covering Vietnam or Korea.

[@sparky694]

Excellent video Mark! I’m a new subscriber and have been going through all your videos one by one. This is my favourite history channel, your videos are well researched and informative on obscure WW2 events, well done!....do you have any stories on German soldiers refusing to surrender at the end of the war or remote outposts that didn’t know the war was over? I’ve seen articles on Japanese solders who didn’t surrender until years after the war, was wondering if anything like this happened with Germany? Thank you

[@airsoftalgerie3302]

An upload from mark is just what i need on such a stressful day. (Canadian federal election)

[@otakunthevegan4206]

Oh boi I hear that...

[@oceanhome2023]

We have improved so much in airborne operations but it still remains one of the most futile methods of war fare and still the easiest way of getting killed while achieving little . The use of helicopters helped emencely eliminating the parachute drop but still deadly as you are still surrounded and only another air operation can help you out . Gives a new meaning for “Death from Above” sadly

[@deadfly122]

One of the reasons why the 101st is not airborne but airassault. In todays world you only need a guy with a rocketlauncher to take down ~100 paras. Even back then it was extremly dangerous to do a para drop as we can see at crete, normandy, market-garden etc.

[@air8orne734]

Sometimes it's all about the numbers. Depending on the situation of course. You can simply drop more man in shorter time, if the LZ allows it.

[@509Gman]

Division sized jumps are history, but there may yet be uses for smaller jumps like the 75th Rangers did in Afghanistan.

[@pablononpicasso1977]

I had never heard of this story before. Great work!

[@redbasher636]

Jumping out of planes and into their hasty demise.

[@oceanhome2023]

Sadly it usually is !

[@danielfmontero]

Thank you Mark I never heard about this

[@martynparkman8332]

Another informative vid, many thanks.

[@TheTsarsTailor1910]

It’s been three minutes since it just came out and it’s already got 530 views and 100 likes