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Osprey Warrior 38 - Fallschirmjager

John Prigent

Warrior 38, Fallschirmjager, German Paratrooper 1939-45, by Bruce Quarrie, illustrated by Velimir Vuksic, ISBN 1-84176-316-8, Osprey Publishing Ltd.

This is an interesting book.  It begins with a brief overview of the purpose of paratroops and glider-borne troops, followed by a four-page chronology of the Fallschirmjaeger from their inauguration to their last combat actions in 1945, including the raising of the various units and all 9 divisions.  Recruitment, training, and clothing, weapons and equipment are then described, as well as the unit esprit de corps and Nazi indoctrination.  A final section deals with combat veterans’ memories of Eben Emael, Crete and the Ardennes.

The main concentration of the photographs and plates is on the Fallschirmjaeger in their paratroop role, with some coverage of their use as elite infantry and their heavy weapons such as anti-tank guns.  This is all excellent stuff, ideal for modellers.  It is understandable in a book this size that, although the raising of the Fallschirm-Panzer-Divisions is mentioned, there is no coverage of their tanks or tank crew dress – maybe Osprey plans another book on these?

Recommended.