Which Major Fighting Nation Had the Most Effective Paratrooper Units of WW2?

Men of many nations jumped from the skies into battle during the Second World War. But who were these men? And did they turn the tide of war?
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Editors - Shantanu koli
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Researcher - Daniel
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:39 Soviet Union
2:25 Italy
4:25 Germany
5:55 Britain
7:36 Imperial Japan
9:01 United States
10:27 Conclusion

[@ExtraCheeseProject]

Worst parachutist by far was G.I. Joe; drop him from your second story window he'd just end up tangled in his parachute and thrown in a drawer until adulthood. Honourable mention to the UK's Action Man; when I dropped him off a jungle gym his parachute didn't open and he lost a leg

[@ATBatmanMALS31]

Though only 20 minutes old, this comment is grossly under rated.

[@jprice6419]

One whisky for us and 1 for your one legged Joe

[@cris_261]

At least G.I. Joe's Kung-fu Grip allowed him to hang on until rescue.

[@miamijules2149]

@@cris_261 You know, everyone wants that GIJoe with the kung fu grip for Christmas.... lol

[@ElderberryAb]

My Action man’s parachute also failed to open. His body split at the crotch and swallowed his left leg. Still brings a tear to my eye thinking about the poor fella.

[@lucasjleandro]

"Don't matter if some men fall of the plane, they have parachutes" Russian Mindset in pure form

[@pauloakwood9208]

More typically Russian would be to assign one parachute to every three men.

[@wote2760]

Still applies today

[@shadowling77777]

Hhhahahaha

[@nathanpangilinan4397]

@@wote2760, "Who planned this operation?"

[@johntillman6068]

The Red Army also had snow jumpers, who dropped without parachutes.

[@Takero-Sc]

small lore fact: the Italians of the folgore surrendered only when they ran out of ammunition, and asked the British for the honor of arms (to surrender with their weapons still in their hands until the last, albeit obviously unloaded). the British, granted this honor.

[@jakethebritishpatriot]

Cuz us british are very good at being honourable

[@rossgage9730]

The rest of the Italians surrendered by the acre. ;-)

[@fabianpatrizio2865]

@@rossgage9730 would you have fought for HItler ?

[@brainyskeletonofdoom7824]

@@rossgage9730 not so much during El Alamein. They broke when they run out of supplies, a matter of life and death in the desert

[@tylerschoen5643]

@@jakethebritishpatriot yes just ask all the nations the stole from and won’t give their history back!

[@jackryan444]

Paratroopers and Calvary on the same battlefield… what a wild time.

[@tickles5289]

It's CAVALRY not Calvary, thats where Jesus died.

[@jackryan444]

@@tickles5289 allegedly.

[@tickles5289]

@@jackryan444 okay

[@americancaesar6065]

Not just any cavalrymen, fucking Cossacks, the same cavalry that had served the Russians since before Napoleon

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

And now cavalry is armoured and paratroopers are obsolescent.

[@bluecrossfire1984]

In the early 1980's when I was in High School I met a New Zealander who had fought against the axis in North Africa and I remember him telling me that whom ever spread the notion that the Italian soldier was not the most effective fighter at times, never met the men of the Foglore. They were apparently very tough to beat and gained a lot of respect from both sides.

[@davetherave2370]

Apparently their glory hungry officers and Generals were more obsessed with moving up the ladder instead of securing victory. Under the Germans they were magnificent

[@jugbywellington1134]

Read "Spearhead General" by Henry Maule. It concerns Sir Frank Messervy who fought the Japanese, Italians and SS. He said the Italians at the Battle of Keren were the toughest opponents he met anywhere in the war. Messervy was a front-line soldier and knew what he was talking about.

[@robertcottam8824]

Coming from a Kiwi - whom my dad rated the best he served with, that's high praise. Thanks for all your relatives did. Some of us Poms haven't forgotten....

[@TheTwoFingeredBulldog]

My great uncle was a desert rat, sadly he died in North Africa and is buried in Tunisia.

[@trevorfuller1078]

Actually, besides the ‘Folgores’ (The Italian Paratroopers), Italian Mountain troops (Alpinini) & light-infantry (Bersighlieri) units along with some of their amphibious marine-soldier’s groups were all noted highly-trained, tough, capable & resourceful adversaries during WW2!

[@vitaledomenico8336]

The first operational military parachute jump from 1600 feet was logged in the night of August 8/9 1918 by Italian assault troops. Arditi Lieutenant Alessandro Tandura jumped from a Savoia-Pomilio SP.

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Oh, that's nice. What happened after, though?

[@JRT140]

@@michaelandreipalon359 they surrendered j/k

[@piotrcarafa7993]

@@michaelandreipalon359 From historical sources I was able to find it was a success. Since it was a drop on enemy positions, both sabotage and reconnaissance. What exactly happened is sparse since it was a "secret operation". But in the same year many battalions of paratroopers were created, so pretty successful I think.

[@patrickmiano7901]

@@JRT140 Don’t be a wise guy, cibone. Contrary to the stereotype, not all Italians are cowards.

[@fatbass22]

In 1918 the Italians we're on Britain and France etc side .

[@TheEmperorsChampion964]

Loved being a paratrooper, don't forget the 11th airborne division in the Pacific. My old battalion jumped into New Guinea and corigador where they got their nickname "the rock" 2nd battalion 503rd parachute infantry regiment was later made a part of the 173rd airborne brigade and made combat jumps in Vietnam and Iraq in 2004. 1st platoon battle company was the platoon that restrepo is about

[@carloscruz6686]

Geronimo

[@GamerModz123]

No shit? When did you serve? My brother was a para with the 173rd, 2ND bat, He just got out. He still has his motard ass PT shirt with "the rock" on it.

[@socialrevenge1088]

Oh sht! I had no idea there was a jump in the pacific!

[@TheEmperorsChampion964]

@@GamerModz123 2013 to 2016, I signed up on an 18X contract and that didn't pan out so I got orders to Italy

[@TheEmperorsChampion964]

@@socialrevenge1088 yep I know of at least two one in Papua New Guinea and the other in the Philippines to retake Corigador

[@sitnam9054]

That Italian submachine mag vest is peak aesthetics

[@ettoresorbara2078]

I'm Italian/ American and served with the 82nd Airborne Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade therefore I'm a little bias toward the US Paratroopers But I was stationed at Vicenza Italy with the 173rd Brigade and my dad served in Italian Army in ww2 at the battle of El Aleimen his artillery battalion was placed in support of the Folgore. I trained with the Folgore in Italy and I proudly wear the Italian Parachute Badgeon my uniform, I have nothing but admiration for the men of the Folgere today and for their action at El Aleimen .

[@tigerland4328]

It's a good job they were defeated though

[@risonetetatiana9432]

As an Italian I cannot ignore that the division Folgore about 6000 men succeeded in repelling an encirclement attack from a whole army making general Montgomery to attrition attack the german units to the coast which were overwhelmed

[@fatbass22]

Without a doubt very brave men .

[@Rendell001]

As I understand it, the British troops treated the Folgore division with great respect in recognition of their fighting ability.

[@commando4481]

Not from a whole army. It was a Corps. So a few divisions at most.

[@jozegrd4123]

I read a few things on the second battle of El Alamein. Im pretty fortunate that i grew up a few kilometers away from Italy and knowing italian i read and watched on the subject. The Folgore really has a mythical status in Italy.

[@solinvictus1234]

@@commando4481 there wasn't only the british vs the Folgore, but also the french free brigade (mercenaries), the Scottish Cameroons and the Indian of Commonwhealt. For the precision they was 3 British division and another 5 div. Of Commonwhealt and french mercenaries, 8 div in total. Armed with tanks and mortars. The Italians had only rifles, some machinegun and stiky bomb made with oil and socks.

[@scottashby6745]

The 101st and 82nd were not caught by surprise by 3 German Armies. These units were not in place during the initial stages of The Bulge. They were brought forward on trucks. The 101st to Bastogne and the 82nd to the fortified goose egg about 30 miles north. Many times moving forward as US troops retreated around them. Both units held their ground against incredible odds.

[@Norlamon]

True AND worthy of praise but the Folgore Division and the german paratroopers of Cassino dos waaaaaay better in terms of the odds they were facing. We don't have to get carried away by nationalism.

[@user-tp4fr4ij1p]

@@Norlamon "We're paratroopers, we're supposed to be surrounded"

[@ChillsMobileGamingTT]

@@user-tp4fr4ij1p band of brothers I like that one 👍🙂

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

The 101st went into the line with like an average of 6 rounds per man. THey had to cannibalize the units retreating.

[@jamiedalton2623]

I clicked thumbs up but then took it away because I don't want to change it from 101 (given the context). The 82nd need one now :)

[@rickeypayne1]

the British at Arnhem got to the bridge and held it for 9 days. They where tasked to hold it for 24hrs until relived by armoured forces approaching from Nijmegen. They ended up fighting 2 waffen SS panzer divisions equipped with king tigers and many other tanks . This battle ended with the last message from the pocket that the remnants of the division had formed. It said "out of ammo, god save the king". As a former British Paratrooper , this battle is a badge of honour for us. We are rightly proud of the fighting spirit against overwhelming odds that this and many other battles fought by us during and after ww2.

[@happycarnivore5481]

Mind you both SS formations were very understrength.

[@Genghis-Khan121]

Always remember my mates dad he was a para dropped at Arnhem during that battle he was in a fox hole was shot in his throat he somehow just about managed to fire a few rounds off from his side arm 9 milli pistol I think but not sure , but he couldn’t hold his arm up up any longer and stopped firing at this point he was rescued by German paratroopers who he said had mutual respect and they made sure he got to a nearby German hospital they carried him there themselves he has one of those voice things now so hardly ever speaks , but from what my mate told me his dad never forgotten the respect they had for each other tough men indeed !!

[@christopherlynch9006]

​@@happycarnivore5481 Correct. One much depleted SS Unit with a few Mark IV tanks and armoured cars. Max Hastings in Armageddon points out that the Germans were very much a scratch outfit who fought with incredibly bravery to thwart the Paras. He also states the Paras performance was very mixed and concluded that the performance of the US 101st and 81st was much more impressive.

[@quimmysaville6790]

So you should brother. British heroes every single one of them.

[@quimmysaville6790]

@@christopherlynch9006 your first mistake is listening to max Hastings. Got his tongue so far up the arses of the Germans

[@idcgaming518]

Wow though, the falgore were clearly the best of the Italian troops. Single-handedly holding the line outnumbered at least 3-1, when the enemy has superior armour? Holding the line down to the last 40 men? Very impressive indeed. Respect to all Italian forces. Regards, a Brit.

[@andreavagniluca4654]

Still today "Folgore" Is the high-know paratroopers regiment of the Italian Army

[@brentonburbank4320]

101st best of all times they took on 3 armys of German crouts

[@brentonburbank4320]

The whoops had nothing on the U.S. 101st

[@jujitusuka]

@@brentonburbank4320 : that’s…… “krauts” and “wops”

[@raulisrael7342]

Italy had a case of lions led by donkeys their troops were motivated and strong but had weak equipment and leadership but when given their chance will be one of the best troops

[@bugfisch7012]

On the German Fallschirmjäger, there should also be mentioned, that they did hold the Line in Monte Cassino, the most important point on the Italy Front, for about 4 month against several overwhelming allied offensives.

[@Doug.Dimmadome]

Facts

[@chrisb2942]

Also the division Brandenburg were able to jump too and saved several crucial bridges on the start of Operation Barbarossa. German Paratroopers freed Mussolini out of his prison bunker in the alps. AND they actually took Crete despite their horrible loses. Actually it was the German landings in Belgium and Crete that led to the decision by the British to create their own paratroopers.

[@harrydejonge5356]

But die grune teufel, had heavy losses. In the netherlands in may 1940

[@bugfisch7012]

@@harrydejonge5356 Yeah, but heavy losses are basicly in the nature of infantry in an offensive ;) Crete was even worse, when it comes to losses. Den Haag was massiv a loss, though and showed up a lot of problems in German doctrins and tactics... I'm with you in this point. The Fallschirmjäger worked well in defenses - where light infantry is most effective anyway.

[@kakpraat18]

I have been to Crete to the actual German cemetery. Many men dead in that battle. It is quite humbling to see the cemetery and I fully understand why German paras weren't used much after this.

[@jamestiscareno4387]

Toughest ? Who's to say ? What I will say is each and every one of the paratroopers, friend or foe, have my full respect and admiration. What incredibly brave men, all of them.

[@herongonzalez2121]

Absolutely right they're all elite shocktroops & totally kicked ass they all deserve RESPECT

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

I can't imagine clinging to the outside of an airplane on my way to a battle. Landing in a combat zone would be a relief!

[@donoberloh]

Landing in an ongoing battle in a parachute? Are you nuts?

[@Chrisfrom_Dallas]

Haven't seen that part of the video, but your description sounds so thrilling.. how do I sign up?

[@patrickb1303]

Not to mention cold as fuck I’d bet.

[@Pao234_]

@@donoberloh Is holding on to a plane that's going 200 mph better?

[@vladiros5589]

They didn't cling to the outside of an airplane on their way to a battle. They went out before arriving at the drop zone, a few minutes before the jump.

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

My mum’s cousin my Uncle Jack Chatterton was a Para and was on D Day and at Arnhem. He lived on turnips in a barn for weeks before swimming the Rhine to get back to safety. A very brave young man but in later life very quiet and modest about his exploits but his family knew about the horrors he had faced.

[@rondaxen88]

I'm glad you mentioned the Folgore. The fact they were able to hold out against so many British & Commonwealth troops at that Battle, they were such skilled soldiers.

[@dillonc7955]

My hands go to the Brit paratroopers who captured and defending Pegasus Bridge. Without them and those who reinforced them, the D-Day invasion would've had German tanks massacring troops rolling down the Normandy beaches. I'm not sure who the most elite of the nations was, but this was one of the most important battles that I don't hear get talked about much.

[@blitzy3244]

Pretty lame in comparison to what the Germans accomplished with theirs on the Eben Emael raid.

[@lesdodoclips3915]

@@blitzy3244 Pegasus bridge absolutely shits on that event

[@nickdanger3802]

Operation Deadstick was all glider borne, so not para's.

[@benphillips846]

@@nickdanger3802 Wikipedia says not only was it not called Operation Deadstick, but there were paras. I can confirm this operation is a famous one for the paras because I saw it at IWM Duxford as well in the paras display.

[@benphillips846]

@@blitzy3244 Sir... this was an operation that took place over the English channel and was instrumental for the D-Day landings. Compare the numbers. The odds were against the British massively. The Germans in the Eben Emael raid were fighting Belgians who were told they were fighting in a war like the previous day or something.

[@christopping5876]

Putting corresponding captions on the photos is excellent. One of the very few history KZbin channels that does and brings the videos up into a class leading notch. Thank you.

[@gooddog2001]

The Russians troopers were good, but the transport planes and doctrine for them wasn't. The Germans had good troops but they were often times poorly deployed. The USA and England had good troopers and they were correctly deployed.

[@jacobglaser7773]

A lot of American Paratroopers were scattered and didn't reach their intended landing zones in Normandy due to heavy anti aircraft fire.

[@BigMek456]

Germany had the most effective troops, just take a look what they achieved

[@tackle47]

@@BigMek456 achieved in losing. The best use of Airborne troops was clearly the Brits and Amis.

[@evanmoreno360]

@@BigMek456 Germany succeeded partly because the allies were expecting a rational, sane military mindset, while German leadership were everything but rational or sane. Part of how they pulled off attacks that would be suicidal and draw them into wars was in some part because no sane country valuing their soldiers would do the same. But realistically, the individual trooper was probably still very well trained at the start of the war, because of Prussian military tradition.

[@thunderbird1921]

I can't believe he didn't mention General Matthew Ridgway, who commanded the American paratrooper divisions and made FOUR jumps personally with them across World War II. INCREDIBLE leader.

[@vantom6194]

German Airborne Unit for me their victory and capture of Fortress Eben-Emael in Belgium as the greatest and largest fortress in Europe during WW2 was inspiring with the actual 55 German airborne unit in fighting vs 1200+ defenders of the Fort Also the rescue of Mussolini by the German Airborne without firing a single Shot versus 200 well-equipped Carabinieri guards

[@giozh1137]

Grek islands too

[@michaelschmid9567]

Eben-Emael was the biggest military success since ..... the ancient Greece empire 2000 years back. No other paratrooper of any nation did something comparable. And if you compare Crete with Market Garden, its clear who's paratrooper was best.

[@IndianaSmallmouth]

Monte Cassino? Countless other FJ actions where they just kicked ass.

[@SpyderSuasponte]

I know a lot about Eben Emael and always hope someone would make a movie about it.

[@enzodiroma9869]

because Carabinieri troops were ordered not to fire in case of an attempt to free M.

[@nembokid19]

FOLGORE MOST UNDERRATED PARATROOPERS

[@DrRomaioi]

They all looked very impressive. But Folgore appeared to have stood up to the worst odds and wow!!

[@nembokid19]

@@DrRomaioi the video didn't mentioned that without anti tank guns, they used to disabilitates enemy tanks by sneaking under them and placing magnetic mines

[@gohldfingah]

@@nembokid19 If I recall correctly, there is a scene in the 1969 movie, "The Battle of El Alamein" which showed that action.

[@nembokid19]

@@gohldfingah yes sure

[@jacknicholson2981]

They are all legendary but the defence of Monte Casino by the German Paratroopers was incredible and wasn’t mentioned

[@janiceduke1205]

"They've got us surrounded again, the poor bastards!" --COL Creighton Abrams, Commander, 37th Tank Bn during the relief of Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944.

[@ianwinter514]

as a paratrooper if you're not surrounded you're doing something very wrong

[@GhostRider-sc9vu]

@@ianwinter514 No, you are doing nothing wrong, the Air Force just dropped you in the wrong place again.

[@steffenkapp2575]

And now his ancestors will become a minority because they fought for Jews.

[@marioacevedo5077]

I too was a US Army paratrooper. Great video. Would've like to have heard about US Army combat drops in the Pacific, the short-lived USMC paratroopers, and the last German combat drop during the Battle of the Bugle (See Mark Felton's channel). Also, the Peruvians were the first from any army in the Americas to use paratroopers in combat.

[@oil3616]

Had me scanning the photo's for my dad. He volunteered and was in the British 1st Airborne. Taken prisoner at Arnhem. My nephew Steve, followed in his footsteps and so when dad passed away, we gave all his medals, beret and badges to Steve.

[@patrickn2858]

Soviets even experimented with dropping WITHOUT PARACHUTES. Their thinking was have the men jump into a lot of snow to break their fall…

[@jonmcgee6987]

It was also used as a joke in an episode of Hetallia.

[@mikecimerian6913]

There is a Gurkha joke about an airborne operation. As the use of paratroops was increasing during the Malaya confrontation in the 1950's, a British colonel asked the leader of a platoon of Gurkha if they would be prepared to jump from a C130. Somewhat to the colonel's surprise, the Gurkha sergeant requested a day to talk it over with his men. The next day, the Gurkha duly reported that they would do it, but only over marshy ground with the aircraft flying at no more than 100ft. 'But at a hundred feet the parachutes wouldn't work,' the colonel explained. The Gurkha replied, 'Parachutes? No-one mentioned parachutes!'

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Video game logic before that became a thing. Interesting.

[@jacobhilton4374]

If they didn't jump they were shot so... lose-lose either way

[@jdon6484]

Honestly I think it could be possible if the snow was VERY dry and powdery. Can’t be packed at all.

[@denis9450]

My dad was a Para and was blown up by a mortar at the Pegasus Bridge his picture is on the wall of the Cafe Gondree (sorry laptop will not type French letters) He went back once before his death and was happy to meet the daughter of the owner as he met her when she was a child in the war. He lost a large chunk of his calf and had restricted movement of one arm for the rest of his life

[@jimpaterson9635]

I will be at le café gondrée again in June, I will look for his picture. Respect

[@NMonte1000]

The Parachute Regiment was only supposed to hold the bridge at Arnhem for a couple of days while reinforcements arrived from the direction of Nijmagen. They held it for 9 days against a division of Geman tanks. The Canadians did a brilliant job of dragging assault boats to the river to help 2000 men escape. All the wounded were taken to the hotel where they were singing 'Abide with me' when the Germans arrived.

[@ericcook5224]

All paratroopers are equal during "hang time". It's how well they fight once on the ground. Also, the German paratroopers were originally in BOTH the army and air force. That changed in 1939. They were then all amalgamated into the Luftwaffe.

[@stevenwaight9844]

All paratroopers have a bond, whichever nation they fought for. Its something that doesnt exist in any other branch of the military. Paras will walk up and shake hands with another airborne soldier from any other nation. Paras see any other unit as being lesser soldiers. Im an ex British paratrooper from 35 years ago. We Brits think we are the best, the Americans think they are the best, the Germans etc. One unit that wasnt mentioned was the Poles, they were very good (British trained). All Paras are trained to think and work independently as command and control is hard when your unit is spread over miles of real estate. That makes them different from regular army troops. British paratroopers are a nightmare in peace time, constantly in trouble, getting into fights etc.

[@Patrix299]

That "paratrooper supremacy" mentality has gotten a lot of young paratroopers in trouble here in Canada. Having esprit de corps is great but one should learn to be humble as well.

[@psotos]

Salute to my Brother from another Mother! 82nd here around the same dates as you.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@ Steven Waight - Re: "British paratroopers are a nightmare in peace time, constantly in trouble, getting into fights etc." That made me laugh when I read it, because that's exactly what happened to the U.S. Army's elite 101st and 82nd A/B Divisions and other paratroops when they were on leave and not at the front. The 82nd and 101st boys were so full of fight that if there were no enemy soldiers around to scrap with, they'd fight each other. The senior officers and NCOs in command of the various units eventually got the problem somewhat under control, but not entirely and they learned to send them on leave in different times and places so as to avoid the potential for brawls. The esprit de corps of paratroops in those days was something special. The now-famous men of Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st A/B Division of the U.S. Army trained together for two years before being committed to action in Normandy. They're far from the only example. Colonel Robert Sink, the WWII CO of the 506th PIR, read that a Japanese infantry unit had marched a record 110 miles or something like that in the Pacific Theater, then a record for the fastest road march. Sink said his guys could do better, so they marched from Toccoa, GA to Atlanta, GA, a distance of 118 miles, in record time. I'm old-school, granted, but I think it is a damned shame that paratrooper/airborne training has been dumbed-down and diluted in the present-day world such that pogues can do it and win their "jump wings." That's a bunch of crap if you ask me. Being a paratrooper should mean something and jump wings should not be handed out like plastic trinkets from some cereal box to anyone who has a pulse. Airborne is a hazardous way to deliver men into combat, but what made them special was not the jumping into combat per se, but how good the candidates chosen for it were, how thoroughly the men were trained and how elite their performance was as light infantry. They were, at their best, as good as special ops troops. A fact proven by German, British and other paratroops on multiple occasions during the war.

[@stevenwaight9844]

@@GeorgiaBoy1961 Agreed, although in the defence of British Army training, the British parachute course has never changed or been made easier. The test requirements are still the same as when i did my course in the 80s

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@@stevenwaight9844 - That's to the credit of the British Army, then. The U.S. Army lost its mind back in the 1980s and decided to allow anyone to attend jump school so even the rear-area desk jockeys can sport jump wings on their class A uniforms. It's the same sort of medal inflation/qualification badge inflation "everybody gets a prize" mentality and dilution of standards which have done so much damage to the West (not just the U.S.) over the last three-fourths of a century. The 82nd and 101st have kept up their traditions and morale, though, which is something, I guess. They're supposed to be good troops still. Even though the 101st is now technically "air mobile" - helicopter-borne - instead of straight-up paratroops.

[@PeterEmery]

Members of my father's artillery regiment in WW2 volunteered to parachute into the Shaggy Ridge area of New Guinea with some short-barrel 25-pounder guns. When they met up with their American allies, the latter were astounded to learn they were not regular paratroopers.

[@dashcroft1892]

1st Canadian Parachute Battlalion of the British 3rd Parachute Brigade - Ike’s go to team from Normandy, the Bulge/Ardennes, the Rhine, liberation of Bergen-Belsen, and at Wismar blocking the Soviets. Not the biggest outfit but amongst the very best,

[@cron1165]

"Not the biggest but among the very best" is the motto of pretty much every Canadian unit in any war they have fought

[@rossg4788]

Shame the Canadian government closed down their airborne due to politics. We need that capability. Canada's military is small but very professional. I workedcwith them in Afghanistan.

[@cron1165]

@@rossg4788The Airborne was our only SOF like unit at the time but today we technically do still have that capability with units like CSOR and JTF2 :) I'm glad you speak highly of the Canadians in Afghanistan, do you remember what units you worked with?

[@Billy_the_Greek]

We jumped into Petawawa and scrimmaged the Canadian Airborne when I was in the 82nd. That was right before they were disbanded. Good unit and we loved your chow halls!

[@Savage_Viking]

I was airborne with both the 82nd and 101st during my service along with some SOF units. There is a healthy respect for all brother airborne soldiers.

[@garyschwab8802]

11th Airborne Division, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Dad's unit in World War Two. Los Banos prison camp on the Island of Luzon, Philippines February 23,1945. 2,147 civilian prisoners were rescued with no los to the prisoners nor American paratroopers. Several Filipino guerrillas were killed in the operation. More Filipino civilians were murdered by the Japanese Military in revenge.

[@th-pl3nx]

I'm glad to see they just reactivated the 11th Airborne. AATW to your father.

[@bruhigotyour6650]

Can you do a video on how many kids toys were inspired by WW2 like army men, plastic Helmets, etc

[@tickles5289]

YOU failed to mention the HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL U.S. 11th Airborne division which operated in the Pacific. It was recently reactivated.

[@bw3240]

Don't forget the 17th Airborne Division

[@fenris6051]

Do they leave a rainbow trail on their way down? Bahahaha

[@dustinthomas3799]

Great show, very informative!!!

[@greenbaron6822]

One of the most important FJ actions which has been completely missed was that of Cassino. The 1st FJ Division held out for three months against overwhelming odds and heavy bombardment. They went on to the hill with 4000 FJs and about a quarter made it out. When the Polish troops arrived there were only severely wounded soldiers and medics. To my mind the Fallschirmjaeger were the best. I am of course biased. My dad was in the 1st FJ Division and saw action on Sicily and all the way up through Italy, including Cassino. Then he fought in Northern France finally being captured at Falaise. The fact of the matter is that if your Airbourne your Airbourne borne out by the fact that he became a member of the British Parachute Regiment Association and Old Comrades Association marching with them in Glasgow on many Remembrance Days, and when he died in 1993 it was these same men who stood guard of honour and acted as pallbearers at his funeral. They were all brave and special men who served in the Airbourne units, whatever country they came from, maybe even a wee bit nuts too.

[@johnmason1239]

Polish paras had the same zeal& obviously did not fight for Hitler. Many with German or Austrian heritage fought in the Polish forces like my grandad, there is usually a choice. They were often more than a match for the Nazis in length of training& zeal. But as you say they were all brave men who served in airborne units.

[@michaelmueller2469]

my grandfather was FJ from 39 to 45. He didn't talk about it much. He said only in Monte Cassino did we "get fed up". To his knowledge, only 2 men from his company survived the war.

[@ebsk2022]

Ewige Ehre und grossen Respekt

[@ebsk2022]

@@michaelmueller2469 Ewige Ehre und grosser Respekt zu deinem Vater

[@jacknicholson2981]

I did mention them in my post

[@americanpatriot2422]

Great video.

[@keithlocke2205]

Hey Man, my wife and I are big fans of the channel, keep up the great work. This was a particularly interesting episode, and I was wondering, have you considered doing an episode on the Paras ugly step children, glider borne infantry? I'd LOVE to see a comparison. I know the U.S., the U.K. and the Germans used gliders, did the Japanese, the Italians, or the Russians?

[@klas156]

Love your videos man, best way to start the day

[@collaborisgaming2190]

0:13 Italians: am I a joke to you? they actually did execute para drops to secure mountains albeit during the armistice with little to no resistance in 1918.

[@DrRomaioi]

They all looked very impressive, the lot of them. But Folgore appeared to have stood up to the worst odds and wow!! They stood very tall.

[@sonsofthesilentage994]

My British Para unit was hosted by the Folgore in Pisa, Italy. Their junior ranks cookhouse served beer on tap during mealtimes ... A mercy really, given the non varying diet of oily pasta 😏

[@minot.8931]

If it was oily, it wasn’t pasta.

[@lorenzo4408]

how were they? From an operational point

[@sonsofthesilentage994]

@@minot.8931 My ignorance of exactly what they fed us remains a mystery to me, but as hosts, they were gracious and accepting of our liveliness lol.

[@edoardogalli7326]

Glory to the Folgore Division

[@lorenzo4408]

Folgore!

[@rondaxen88]

SALUTO!

[@michaelwilson9849]

My father in law was in the 82nd Airborne Division (an airborne ranger). He fought in North Africa, jumped into Sicily, fought initially in Italy; then back to England to prep for D-Day. He jumped into Market Garden (that’s where he learned to hate Montgomery). He fought surrounded at Bastogne during the Bulge. He began the war in the 82nd Airborne artillery but in Europe he became a sniper (b/c he was an All-American marksman on the Univ of Florida shooting team before the war). Finally, he told me the two greatest military leaders he ever met was #1 General Gavin, General of the 82nd he fought with & George Patton who rescued them at Bastogne breaking the siege.

[@jaredevildog6343]

Very interesting and informative video. I never thought about Japan having airborne troops. Please keep up the great work !

[@david-1775]

I learned about them after I started researching an old WW2 Japanese rifle I recently found. I thought it was a Type 99 Arisaka but the markings told me it was a Type 2 Paratroop model that is designed to be broken in half for jumps.

[@stevennorth6484]

Surprised the Japanese actually gave them parachutes! 🤣

[@MAAAAAAAAAA123]

5:40 I’m sorry but it’s wrong to say Crete was the last massed German airborne operation, tho it was the largest. Thousands of German paratroopers were dropped on Sicily to counter the allied invasion and also on Rome when Italy switched sides. It’s a common misconception tho.

[@wote2760]

Damn the Rome drop must have been terrible and terrifying for the paratroopers. Was once a friend's, now enemies and you are deep deep in now hostile territory

[@hollowmstr]

I have to agree, the Germans continued to use their airborne units after Crete. During the course of the War, Germany continued to use Paratroopers throughout the war, not just in Tunisia. They were very active in the Balkans and Dodecanese campaigns (their operations in this campaign are rarely talked about.) in the Aegean Sea, the attempted kidnapping of Tito, and the Rescue of Mussolini.

[@stralabastro142]

"switched sides"

[@davidanderson3684]

yes that's true but unfortunately the Germans lost a lot of season paratroopers on Crete and after that incident! Hitler rarely use them!

[@layschweisser]

Monte Casino

[@therealuncleowen2588]

The pictures of those Soviet men clinging to the outside of the aircraft... What a horror. You expect to put a man through such a horrifying experience and then think he'll be able to fight.

[@Pepino969]

Best I can think of are Italian Folgore in Africa and German paratroopers at Casino.

[@danielwood9332]

Did you even watch the video lol

[@fenris6051]

@@danielwood9332 - yes we did, did you?

[@nwj03a]

The goal of US airborne isn’t to hold ground long term, it also isn’t to be overwhelming, it also isn’t meant to be particularly powerful. The goal is to disrupt and cause confusion behind enemy lines. It’s very dependent on what you use as the definition of effective.

[@oldegrunt5735]

The proposed German/Italian airborne operations against Malta and Gibraltar could have been major events in WW2, not necessarily war changers but definitely events that could have lengthened the War. Post Crete German airborne units fought on as high morale line units and to paraphrase this video creator's own words (about British units), they fought heroically. Admittedly they did only a few and generally small airborne opns tho normally employed as regular infantry until the surrender.

[@berniegray4987]

RIP Jay Bowman KIA Normandy 101st Airborne. Dad's cousin. Father was 82nd Airborne.

[@bobbell6907]

Well done !

[@junanougues]

The Folgore motto was classic:" Luckless, but Valor Not an Issue".

[@theeducatedgrunt2087]

I spent 9 years in the 82nd Airborne Div, and 5 years in the 3rd Ranger battalion... I miss those days.

[@noobster4779]

Definitly the german paratroopers They saw the most use, the excelled in all their missions as paratroopers or light infantery. And while Crete is considered a "disaster" for the paratroopers one major thing is often compleatly forgotten: They fullfilled their objective of capturing airports on the island. The germans took a huge island against a superior army without naval support solely by air. No other nation during WW2 did anything similar. Crete was not a desaster because the paratroopers failed in their mission or objective, it was a desaster because the losses they sustained were to high for future operations. They were dropped on an island with a superior enemy army and a very hostile civilian population and their only way to receive reinforcemeants was to capture airfields or die trying. There was nobody coming to safe them like wiht the allied paratroopers during Market Garden or Bastogne. They had to do it on their own and they did it, capturing the airfields so reinforcemeants could be flown in. Its still redicilous they won the battle of crete.

[@therealuncleowen2588]

Crete was quite possibly the campaign won by the attackers with the most adverse conditions in all of WW2. That much is true.

[@jowen190]

Didn't the Luftwaffe have overwhelming air superiority during the battle though? I don't think the victory can be entirely chalked up to the paratroopers.

[@noobster4779]

@@jowen190 yes, but your still stuck on an island full of hostiles with no relief and only light weapons The airforce could only fly bombing missions basically and close air support could only be called in over radio. The german planes basically tried to bomb everything they could find but there was no extensive coordination appart from "Please bomb airport x defenses, were attacking in 2h". Its wasnt like today where you call in an airstrike with a square meter precision within 5 minutes. All the Stukas in the world dont help you if you dont capture the heavily defended airport before your supplies run out. And the allies knew this very much as well. I mean the allies had all the air support in the world during market garden and they still failed for example. They were only stucl behind the rhine, not the medditerrainian sea, and failed

[@jowen190]

@@noobster4779 The Luftwaffe may not have been able to provide CAS, but they absolutely had an impact on preventing the movement of Allied units, as well as preventing the resupply and reinforcement of Allied troops via the sea. The effect of the Luftwaffe's nearly unchallenged air superiority was compounded by General Freyberg's misinterpretation of German operational objectives that allowed the paratroopers to take the airfield at Maleme more easily than they should have given the size of the Allied garrison. And even though the Allies had more men on paper, this was not quite true at a local level because of Freyberg's insistence to spread his forces out along the coast to fend off any seaborne invasion. Despite the dispersion of Allied units, the Fallschirmjager actually only managed to seize the single airfield at Maleme before being reinforced by the Gebirgsjager on D-Day + 1, which is what tipped the balance of the operation in Germany's favor. This isn't to say that the Fallschirmjager weren't good or even great fighters, but they didn't achieve anything spectacular. The paratroopers actually failed to take the airfields at Heraklion and Rethymnon and had to pass the responsibility onto the German mountain troops, by which time the British garrison was running out of supplies and in the process of evacuating anyways. It's also not fair to compare the Germans' victory on Crete to the Allied failure during Market Garden. The Allies did not have all the air support in the world, for starters. Brereton's refusal to land glider troops on D-Day was part of the reason why the 82nd Abn Div was unable to capture the bridge at Nijmegen on the first day, and is what eventually stymied the operation as a whole. And providing air support to the 1st Abn Div at Arnhem was almost impossible due to the poor communication equipment. Ultimately, the failure at Market Garden was operational one, not due to a lack of skill or effort on the part of Allied paratroopers.

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

Love your videos!

[@oneshotme]

My dad was a paratrooper so yes it has been shown they can get the job done and hold till back up reinforces them. He (my dad) just made it on height and weight to become one Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@pierre-francoishenrion8433]

In our area, Luxembourg, the memory of the bulge is still vivid, especially Bastogne fight with Mac Aulife famous reply : "Nuts". I pretty much liked chapter about italian an japanese ones as these were unkwown to me. Most appreciated.

[@garyhardison9265]

In my opinion, the 1st FJR Division set the standard early in the war and with their early success got the attention of Allied Leaders who in turn created their own Paratrooper Units. By 1943, the 82nd Division was jumping into Italy. setting the standard and later during the Normandy Invasion participated again.

[@mikesbaseballcards]

Very information which I didn't know about.

[@conservos2349]

I do not at all agree with the description of the Crete operation. What the German paratroopers accomplished in Crete was one of the greatest feats of soldiery of all time. British code breakers knew the attack was coming, and even knew about the objectives. They were waiting for the Germans when they began to drop in. Still, the Fallschirmjäger conquered the island anyway.

[@johntillman6068]

The reason German paras succeeded, albeit at great cost, was because British artillery batteries didn't have machine guns and lacked infantry support.

[@jugbywellington1134]

A pyrrhic victory, at best.

[@afriendlycadian9857]

Negate to mention that the losses were so high the fallechirmjager were never used again. And had the British arty been ropeway defended they wouldn't have won

[@redaug4212]

>"the Fallschirmjäger conquered the island" The Fallschirmjager did not conquer the island, the Gebirgsjager "mountain troops" did. The Fallschirmjager only managed to capture one airfield, and only because the British withdrew. After that the responsibility was handed down to the mountain troops to take the remaining airfields and pursue the retreating Allies. >"British code breakers knew the attack was coming, and even knew about the objectives" The British did not know enough about the German objectives to prepare a proper defense, hence why General Freyberg spread his forces out along the coast instead of focusing on defending the airfields. He thought that the attacks were going to be seaborne, and continued to worry about the threat of amphibious landings despite the obvious airborne invasion.

[@mitjed]

The Allies was so impressed with the German paratroopers in Crete that they created their own Paratroopers divisions. But the German command missed their chance to never use the Paratroopers again. They could have used it for the invasion of England.

[@jorgesuanezotaola8420]

Nice video, I think you should have included French paratroopers in Indochina, as well as developed a bit more on the German paratroopers in the Italian campaign were they played a major role.

[@oddballsok]

WW2...DUH..

[@lordbeaverhistory]

It would have been nice to hear about the Lions of Cassino, the 1st Fallschirmjäger Division. Those guys held the Monte Cassino, the centre if the Gustav Line for half a year against the Elite of the Polish, British and American units

[@stevennorth6484]

Until the Americans & British flattened the monastery believing the Germans were using it for defence, which they weren't, as agreed by all sides, they were on another hill close by.

[@Papahof960]

I think the biggest thing to consider about paratroopers in general is that, from the beginning of the battle to the end, they knew they would be surrounded so there is no retreat. It takes a special bried of men to understand this and go into battle anyway. This is why they needed to be volunteers and the best within their respective military.

[@iankingsleys2818]

No mention of the crossing the Rhine in 1945=Operation Varsity and I Operation Plunder with British & US Para It was the largest airborne attack in history

[@proud_tobe_texan2890]

My great great grandfather and great grandfather on opposite sides of the family were both in the US 101st Airborne and saw action during the Battle of the Bulge my great great grandfather was awarded the bronze star with oak leaf clusters for pulling a wounded man out of battle, he and my great grandfather were both wounded in the battle but survived and lived until 2010 and 2005 respectively hope you guys are doing all right up there Belton and Charles (also my great great grandfather who's last name was Jonas which is considered a Jewish last name even tho he was Christian was kept from seeing battle for a while until the Bulge) they were among the 13 of my family members who saw action during WWll, 1 my fifth cousin even saw the first American shots of the war since he was aboard USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor he was sadly among those MIA/KIA aboard her

[@mckappe]

Come folgore dal cielo! Come nembo di tempesta!

[@Loki_Trek]

For me, the best one is the US airborne. They were the most successful, although the bravest, and by far, the one that gets my most respect would be the Italians fighting to the bitter end with outdated equipment and on a suicide mission. That makes you realize that Italian soldiers could have been a threat if they had been better equipped and more organized.

[@hessischeBoa]

My grandfather was a paratrooper and a senior sergeant in the Luftwaffe. Was both on the Eastern Front and on the Western Front. It ended up in British captivity in the Netherlands.

[@Norlamon]

German & Italians paratroopers imo were superior. Both displayed magnificent valour and combat skills. Allied paratroopers did amazing but the advantage they had when considering the strenght of the contending armies kinda dilutes their true valour.

[@wargey3431]

Yea clearly 1 parachute division dropped in the middle of 3 veteran panzer divisions is clearly having superior firepower and soldiers Infact he did a bit of a disservice to 1st airborne they held the bridge for 7 days longer than expected and it was the failure of 30 corps and the 82nd to capture the bridges at Nijmegen that caused their defeat

[@kennedywilson8825]

I mean the German paratroopers literally lost to Greek farmers armed with pikes and muskets. Their doctrine of dropping their guns then jumping out was a horrendous and caused their downfall.

[@ScrubbersGhost]

@@wargey3431 this info does not get mentioned enough really

[@wolfplayer7815]

@@wargey3431 The 101st would've been taken out if it wasn't for Pattons 3rd Army

[@wargey3431]

@@wolfplayer7815 exactly paratroopers are not supposed to hold in extended combat if they don’t get relieved they get destroyed

[@BillyBOB-sm3rl]

I think the Brits had the toughest paras. The Germans were highly trained in the beginning. Later on, they weren't even jump qualified.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Informative & enjoyable Video about Paratroopers Units during WW2 ..thanks For sharing ...I think during WW2 German Paratroopers Units were Toughest ones amongst Four Countries ...I think Light infantry divisions are Naming as (Commandos )....While Paratroopers considering as Special Parachute independent divisions for most decisive tasks they are supporting & tossing with their own Artilleries , Tanks, Armor Vehicles ,Drones & special Equipment s

[@schizoidboy]

Interesting thing about the Smoke Jumpers. During WWII there was a paratrooper unit made up of African Americans, but rather then send them to fight in the war they were used as smoke-jumpers who put out fires started by firebombs dropped from Japanese balloon-bombs. They went unrecognized for many years, not just because of racism but also because the news about the balloon bombs was suppressed by the U.S. government.

[@barryrammer7906]

Ok thanks

[@janiceduke1205]

The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed The Triple Nickels, was an all-black airborne unit of the United States Army during World War II.

[@orcinus6802]

The all African American 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion that you are referring to completed their training as smoke jumpers in July, 1945. The Japanese had stopped using balloon bombs in April, 1945. None of the fire calls the 555th responded to from July 14, 1945 until they were relieved from fire duty in October 10, 1945 were actually caused by balloon bombs.

[@rojayreid908]

Still they didn't use them in the peak of the war.

[@schizoidboy]

@@orcinus6802 Sadly I wondered how often they were used, and I believe they weren't happy about not seeing action. After all soldiers become paratroopers to fight.

[@thebossman9176]

I'm surprised this was overlooked. It was the brave Polish soldiers from 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade which were staying on the river bank providing cover for the retreating British Paras. Without them many would not have made it back across. At least tell the full version and do the justice for the men who fell saving the British again and again, be it Battle of Britain or Market Garden.

[@First_Sea_Lord_Ford]

They were under British paratrooper doctrine, so fall under British paratroopers for this video. That would be like making a video about the most effective airforce in the Battle of Britain and you complaining that the Polish don't get their own spot when they were under RAF command

[@pauloakwood9208]

agree

[@thebossman9176]

@@First_Sea_Lord_Ford The Polish at least deserve a mention. BoB, Monte Casino, Market Garden, Falaise. Plenty of stuff. It was easy for Brits to put up a big parade after war and not mention her allies other than US & USSR, but then again, we're talking about Brits here. They like arrogance as much as tea. No matter if others achieve far better results, the ones Brits couldn't (during Blitz and BoB 303 shot down a total of 126 planes, a fully British squadron, bit more than 40). Market Garden they stayed and fought to help others escape (Germans even branded the Poles as "Polnishe SS" due to their courage being near fanatical). Monte Casino they helped in storming the monastery & were first on top, and at Falaise, General Maczek's armoured cavalry took the full might of 3 SS Panzer divisions and yet managed to come out on top. So yeah, I think there's enough stuff to mention

[@First_Sea_Lord_Ford]

@@thebossman9176 only arrogance I ever see is from Polish nationalists with a chip on their shoulder. If they were as good as they say they were, then they shouldn't of let their country fall. Britian declared war on Germany ultimately saving Poland from nazi rule. The Polish now act like the allies were the real enemy for not commiting suicide by invading the soviet Union after 6 years of war. The truly heroic Poles understood the situation very well, and were grateful to be able to continue the fight from Britian. The Polish get multiple mentions and multiple parades from the British every year but still act like they were completely forgotten about in comment sections online. I have heard more about 303 squadron than any individual British squadron in the whole war

[@benphillips846]

@@thebossman9176 Come off it man! I was just at a British RAF museum this weekend and they have a whole section devoted to Polish fighter pilots. You don't really hear this behaviour from Australians, Kiwis and South Africans. They fought, had heroic stands, devastating defeats and just got on with it. You know actually I can imagine you didn't get this attitude much from Poles either. Modern age has just bred a bunch of whingers.

[@stephen240]

There is no contest with this question. The Americans were by far the best airborne troops in the Second World War with the British being the only real competition. Most other countries couldn't land enough troops and them sufficiently supplied for any real chance of success against a significant resistance. The only notable non-Western allied Airborne operation was in Crete. That didn't go so well so the Germans never against used the airborne troops as paratroopers.

[@bdfoxfire]

Amazing fact, Captain Richard Todd of the parachute regiment was the officer who relieved the Major commanding the gilder troops which had captured the Pegasus bridge the night before. Later on in his acting career he played the part of that Major in the war movie the longest day, and yes there was the scene where he is relieved by an actor playing the part of Captain Richard Todd . In the movie he gripped " bloody paras, always late".

[@reddevilparatrooper]

Anyone who enlists as a Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman, or Coastie can make it. But not everyone can be a Paratrooper.

[@Savage_Viking]

AATW!

[@aaronrowell6943]

Really it's insane the cost for such niche specialists troops that only really work on certain terrain and weather no wonder only certain nations had a shot

[@fredjones554]

It's amazing how important training is. Paratroopers surviving against insane odds.

[@House.Of.Pain.]

I was in the 82nd Airborne Division (ALL AMERICAN)from 2011-2015 and so I hold a special place in my heart for the Airborne Division. You can always tell a paratrooper by the way that he walks and how he wears his beret. Airborne All the Way!!! AA

[@Thurgosh_OG]

Aren't all US American military divisions 'All American'?

[@timf2279]

AIRBORNE!

[@House.Of.Pain.]

@@Thurgosh_OG I mean technically yes they are because they’re American units lol. But it’s not that simple lol. That’s like being from Britain and saying every single military unit from Britain is all Britain. It’s the name All American. If I’m not mistaken(but this is how it was explained to me while I was still at Bragg from my NCOIC) it’s called All American because when the unit first started there were only 48 states at the time and in the unit there were 48 paratroopers and each one was from each individual state so hence the name All American! But it’s basically the name of the Unit AA All American! Just like there’s 10th Mountain, 173rd Airborne Division, etc etc. It’s the actual name of the unit!

[@House.Of.Pain.]

@@timf2279 “ALL THE WAY” H-Minus 🫡

[@timf2279]

@House of Pain It was during WWI when the 82nd division was sent to France. The French wanted American regiments taken from their divisions and put under French command. The US refused and the 82nd remained "All American" hence the name. You are correct with the 48 men from all the states as well.

[@amadeusamwater]

Training was good in all of the countries units, but American and British paras had the advantage because they had the correct type of delivery transport. They can't be effective unless you can deliver them to where you want them in the correct numbers. That was part of the British problem at Arnhem.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

James Gibbs, British 1st Airborne could have been delivered to Arnhem in greater numbers by flying double missions but the American commander of First Allied Airborne Army, Brereton, insisted on dispersed drops over three days for all three allied airborne divisions.

[@andym9571]

But the British at Arnhem held out for nearly 3 times longer than expected. The failure was at Njmegan and the failure to even attempt to take the bridge on the first day as per plan.

[@denepassafiume365]

As a veteran paratrooper having served with the 82nd Airborne from 77-80 I WOULD like to say American paratroopers were the best in WWII. However that would not be entirely accurate. Although training and equipment may vary from country to country the men who volunteer to become paratroopers is a constant. The choice to become part of an elite fighting unit, an inherently dangerous job which others shy away from and knowing full well that they may be, as often is the case, deployed into a combat situation that is unfavorable to them, accept that risk and challenge. All paratroopers worldwide have an ingrained stubbornness, a never quit attitude that makes them get back up no matter how many times they are knocked down. This makes them a very dangerous foe to be reckoned with as history has shown. If wolverines could parachute, that is what an enemy force would be up against.

[@mnijhoff]

The Germans also deployed Fallschirmjäger in the Netherlands on May the 10th. They were tasked with capturing some bridges, airfields and, more important, the royal family and the Dutch government. They managed to capture some (important) bridges and an airfield or two, but they neither got the royal family nor the government. A few hundred of the paratroopers were taken prison and shipped to the UK. They spent the rest of the war in captivity. Although the Fallschirmjäger failed in most of their objectives, they did manage to keep quite a substantial Dutch force busy. Therefor these Dutch troops couldn't be deployed elsewhere.

[@johnryder1713]

The Japanese attacking the Dutch Oilfields on Sumatra were the first known to use the Type 100 SMG of Japan and one of the few time the weapon was used outside China, a scary thought that if an enemy who'd sooner accept death over dishonor had such a weapon in large numbers many touch and go encounters could well have went the other way

[@streetgato9697]

The early 1940 model Type 100 SMG was first used in airborne capacity by Imperial Navy SNLF marine paratroopers to capture Allied airfields in Manado, Celebes in January 1942, one month ahead of the army. For the navy the Type 100 served to supplement the Bergman MP-18 which was the commonly used SMG in the SNLF. The Imperial Army paratroopers did use the Type 100 SMG in Sumatra, and was later used extensively by airborne raiding units in the Philippines. Many of the surviving Type 100 SMGs were captured in the Philippines, mostly in Leyte and Luzon. Apparently the later 1944/45 version of the Type 100 never left Japan and were only used by airborne raiders in Okinawa.

[@johnryder1713]

@@streetgato9697 Well what I heard was it was first used against the Dutch by Ian Hoggs research in Sumatra, after he faced North Koreans armed with rebuilt or left over ones himself, and from James over on TFB TV saying it was a Japanese replacement for old Schmeisser designs, as well as Hoggs statement that no known times, by his research again, that the weapon was ever used against US or British Empire forces

[@streetgato9697]

@@johnryder1713 You mean Ian Hogg the author? I've read several of Hogg's books through the years, and just to be fair a few details on several weapons are inaccurate and outdated by more recent documents, which is quite normal in that field. Well if he said the Type 100 was first used against the Dutch then it's likely by Imperial Navy marine paras in January '42 at Manado which was also defended by the Dutch. The Imperial Army paras raid on the oil refineries in Palembang, Sumatra came later in February '42, which was also defended by the Dutch plus small numbers of Australian and British RAF troops defending the Allied airfield. But contrary to what Hogg stated, US forces definitely encountered the early 1940 model Type 100 in the Philippines. Collectors of that rare weapon can attest to that, as many of the surviving Type 100 were brought back by US troops from the Philippines, mostly in bad or so-called 'battle' condition. I spent time in the Philippines many years ago while in the US military. I remember visiting the Philippine Military Academy museum and they had a Type 100 on display, and the 'D-Day' museum in Leyte also had a few. The Imperial Army conducted their last parachute operations in Leyte in '44 and came up against the US 11th Airborne troops defending the airfields. Other Japanese airborne groups also fought in Negros Island and mostly in the main island of Luzon. A few of the rare Type 100s with folding stock (designated as 'Navy' Type 100) were captured in Saipan. The SNLF paras who raided Manado fought later in Saipan as conventional infantry. The late so-called 'improved' 1944/'45 model Type 100 was said to have never left Japan and only 7,000 units were produced. Yet both Type 100 models were used in Okinawa, in particular on that airborne raid at Kadena airfields. With those examples it's safe to conclude US forces did encountered the Type 100 variants in battles. The Type 100 that Hogg encountered in Korea are probably the late variant. An IJA airborne raiding regiment was stationed in Korea for rest and refitting when the Russians attacked in August 1945, the regiment surrendered there at the end of the war, possibly with all their weapons and equipment.

[@johnryder1713]

@@streetgato9697 Well actually the ones Hogg encountered were probably just as I say reconstructed so they were more Frankenguns made up from several variants, just as those encountered in Vietcong hands later on. But I have meant to look up more info on such rarer weapons, an interest of mine, but never got to

[@streetgato9697]

@@johnryder1713 Definitely go for it, very interesting subject. I'm far from an expert, but back in the 90's I worked for a weapons auction company, not as a gunsmith, but did documentation and accounting so I've had many encounters with Type 100 collectors- very knowledgeable and nitpicky types I must say. You are correct many of those Type 100 ended up as Frankenguns in China and North Korea. Lots of the rare original ones surfacing among collectors recently are in terrible condition.

[@annehersey9895]

German paratroopers were trained in secret in the Soviet Union in the '30's as Germany was forbidden from having an air force. In return, Germany exported some things (I forget what, sorry) to the Soviets.

[@giozh1137]

German paratroopers had same sistem as soviets bcs they were trained in russia

[@maddrake5127]

The best paratroopers were at 1st Polish Paratroopers Brigade commanded by gen. SOSABOWSKI. They were fighting during Market Garden operation. Some of them had aditional training and were dropped mainly by night to support partisans in Poland and France

[@tinat8810]

My father was in this brigade

[@specrtre]

I had no idea about the hot jumpers going back so, far in history of jumping and being part of training the airborn units

[@fabianpatrizio2865]

Best. 1. Folgore 2. Fallschirmjager 3. US 4. British 5. Japanese 6. Russian

[@GingerJesusSaves]

The best way to judge it, is to ask who are the best paratroopers today. Hands down it is the Red Devils of Great Britain! 🙌

[@ronaldedson496]

Colonel Edson led 1st parachute drop from England to Tripoli November 3, 1942. 82nd airborne airborne assault one week before operation Torch began.

[@michaelpalerino5276]

for the US the 82nd and 101st get all the glory but there were other US parachute divisions. The 11th Airborne fought during the Philippines campaign 1944-45. The 17th Airborne fought in Operation Varsity (crossing the Rhine)

[@lightfootpathfinder8218]

I was surprised not to see operation varsity mentioned. It was the largest airborne operation in history conducted by the US 17th airborne & British 6th airborne divisions and was a success. Also I think allied airborne operations in the Asia Pacific theatre are overlooked in general which is a shame as there was (like you said) many American drops in the Philippines as well as many British drops in Burma.

[@wifi_soldier5076]

Could you cover the Hungarian paratroopers during ww2 and their stand against the Soviets around Budapest. They called an artillery strike on them selfs as the Soviets were attacking with infantry and T34s. The Soviet commander said the paratroopers were "as though as old boots" also the Soviets would execute any Hungarian paratroopers that surrendered.

[@indianajones4321]

Hungarian paratroopers in WW2 are underrated

[@generalpanzerfaust2387]

Soviets when they lose so many men to a single division: "ExEcUtR tHeM tHeY HuRt oUr feelings 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭"

[@Leonardo_33]

great idea

[@wifi_soldier5076]

@@indianajones4321 indeed. They also had really cool camouflaged smocks. As well as lots of Hungarian built SMGs. I think it was one of the largest submachine gun ever made.

[@basileusgaming7047]

@@generalpanzerfaust2387 Germans when they lose a tank to some Belarusian partisan: "ExEcuTe hIs ViLLaGe tHey HuRt oUr FeEliNgS 😭😭😭"

[@midsaid2161]

I m shock when I saw Japan on this list. Imagine yourself as an allied soldier in 1945, u saw hundreds of paratroopers shouting banzai while falling.

[@Trappedinatriangle]

Both of my grandfathers were in the same regiment of the 82nd airborne. They would have enjoyed this video I think.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Dropping parachute troops over the trenches of WW1 would have resulted in worse casualties then the 1st day of the 1st Battle of the Somme. Technically speaking its was me of the 7th Fliegerdivision that took Eben Emael using DFS 230 gliders in this assault. This unit became the 7th Fallschirmjäger Divisionin 1943.

[@josephderrico6254]

Thanks for forgetting about the US 11th Airborne Division.