After tests by Russia and Italy, is it Germany who, at the end of the thirties, introduced the parachutist as a new weapon. The 'Fallschirmjäger' dropped behind enemy lines had a strategic freedom which was an overwhelming demotivation for the counterpart. When Winston Churchill notices the fighting potential of the German paratrooper in Holland and Belgium, he presses for a same unit in Great Britain. The British developed a new parachute, the so-called 'X-model'. This was a parachute that deployed gradually and was less straining on the body, in contrary with the German that opened with a hard jerk. Was the German paratrooper hanging as a ragdoll under his chute, the British variant gave the paratrooper some sort of stable position during the descent, thanks to the positioning of the straps. The straps came together in one clasp that could be released with one smack after landing. The paratrooper could release himself fast from his gear. The 'X-model' was built from 28 segments, that together made a 8.50 metre wide parachute. Every segment was built up from four strips. The outer strip was woven tighter than the inner strip (the top), so the air could gradually escape through the fabric and this prevented swinging (see the outline below on the left). The Americans used the same parachute as the British during World War Two.

The German and American paratrooper folded their own parachute, the British left this to a woman, the WAAF (Woman Auxiliary Royal Air Force). This saved a lot of time in the education, because there was no individual training in this procedure. The biggest problem during operating with paratroopers was the transport of sufficient supplies. The paratrooper carried usually just his rifle or a sub-machinegun.

1: M1C paratrooper shell helmet with liner, camouflage net and strip burlap camouflage 2: M1942 paratrooper jacket with reinforced sleeves 3: M1942 paratrooper pants with reinforced knees and pocket tie straps 4: Corcoran 'jump boots' 5: M1936 suspenders 6: M1936 pistol belt 7: M1911A1 .45 cal. pistol and M1916 russet leather holster8: M1942 first aid pouch with Carlisle field bandage9: M3 fighting knife and M8 10: M1A1 carbine with folding stock 11: M1910 canteen and cover 12: Gas detection armband 13: M43 mussette bag 14: M42 entrenching tool with folding handle 15: Paratrooperun-lined horse-hide gloves 16: MKIIA1 fragmentation grenades 17: First aid kit 18: M1 carbine ammunition pouch

For the first fast action the personal weapon was enough, but in the long term the heavy weapons were indispensable. These had to be dropped by special delivery. Germany developed a container with a length of 1.20 metre that was carried under the wing of a Ju52. This went almost terribly wrong when the Germans invaded Crete. There was valuable time lost during the search for these containers (one of the reasons Hitler lost its confidants in this elite corps). The allies had the same problem, they gave the paratrooper an extra package of 50 kg that was tied to the leg. Unfortunately this package was often lost during the jump when it was jerked from the leg. To bring in the necessary heavy weaponry and other supplies the allies used great numbers of gliders and transport planes. The Germans used gliders as well but far to few to supply the 'Fallschirmjäger'

On D-Day there were three airborne divisions active, the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Division and the British 6th Airborne Division. Despite of the losses that the Americans suffered on the peninsula Cotentin, the both divisions were of great value. The protection they gave to the amphibious landings was invaluable. The losses on UTAH Beach were very slim. Just as in the British sector where the 6th Airborne Division was operating east of the Orne. The sending in of these divisions prevented that the Germans could bring in reinforcements from the rear and the east and west flanks. This brings me to the question: Why were there no airborne units dropped behind OMAHA Beach ? Without the threat of attacks from the rear, the German troops could focus on the destruction of the amphibious landing over there. The German reinforcements that were brought in, had not to deal with the interference from behind enemy lines dropped allied units. Is it possible that if there were paratroopers dropped at the rear of OMAHA the landing on the beach would have been easier and less bloody, like UTAH and the British SWORD sector? (This with the note that, especially the American para-divisions on the Contentin had enormous losses, due through drowning and crashing gliders.

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