Fallschirmjager Platoon make up

[TheGreatMarquis]

I agree with Evan on this one. As an extra point on the MP43/44 I have seen a comment, quoted in James Lucas' "Storming Eagles - German Airborne Forces in World War Two", that the veteran Fallschirmjager disliked the weapon intensely, finding it heavy and unreliable. I suspect that's why you won't see many photos of them in Normandy.I recommend Lucas'  book to anyone interested in the fallschirmjager. The author has the advantage of having fought against the fallschirmjager in Tunisia and Italy during the Second World War, had remained in regular contact with many of them after the war and at the time of writing (1988 I think) was a regular attender at meetings of the Fallschirmjager ex-Service Association.He has a degree of first hand knowledge unusual for an historian on the allied side. I've seen it on Amazon in paperback (but from bitter personal experience, whether or not you can actually buy it is another question - don't start me on that one!).

[Evan]

I suspect that's why you won't see many photos of them in Normandy. You won't see any photos of the MP43 in the hands of FJ in Normandy for two simple reasons, A: there were none available to them as most of the few produced up to that point had gone east. B: the Luftwaffe wanted no part in helping the development of a weapon that was a rival to the FG42.

[Centurio Marcus T]

Just ordered Storming Eagles on EbayThanks for putting me onto the book and all the help with the Fallshirmjager set up. I will give the platoon 3 FG-42s and therefore 1 per Squad which may be more realistic and all squad commanders and second in charge will recieve MP-40S.Platoon HQ was 9 strong but i feel drivers and the armourer would be held to the rear so for wargames purposes i will have 6 in this group. 1 Officer,1Sergeant,3 Riflemen and 1medic.1rifleman will have a radio.Rifle sections will be 2x5 man Fire groups with anMG-42 in each.This will be avery impressive Platoon i feel.

[Piers]

All the FJ veterans I spoke with when doing research made the comment that the main weapon they ever saw was the k98.

Everything else was fairly rare as small arms went, especially as the FJ expanded massively in the Late War period.

One of the Normandy veterans I had the pleasure of speaking to, commented that he hever saw any other weapon in his platoon other than k98s and the odd MP40 and MG34s. Even MG42s seemed to have been a valuable commodity. I have an account from one veteran whose entire company had no LMGs or Panzerfaust in Normandy. These are of course personal testimony so should be taken with a pinch of salt as memory is often fallible but I think it clearly shows that the Germans were never as well equipped as wargamers like to believe!

From some anecdotal evidence (and cursory photographic reference) there seems to have been a use by officers and senior NCOs of the FG-42 as almost a status symbol, or mark of length of service. Certainly in photos of Normandy, virtually all those carrying the FG42 seem to be of nco/junior officer rank. I cant say this is fact, but it certainly seems a likely occurance knowing how FJ valued stating their veteran status among the new comers (such as the wearing of the old green bonesack or the Kreta cuff title).

[Parus Ater]

I take personal testimony over a guy wot wrote a book everytime.

[steve]

I knowthis is earlier but may be of some help 1941-42

Luftlande Sturm Jager Company (Parachute)

Company O.C. (Kompaniefuhrer) (MPi)

Kp Trupp : Gruppenfuhrer (ofw), Oberarzt (medic) and 6 jagers ( 8men)
3 x MPi (Gruppenfuher, Feldwebel and Oberjager)
4 x Melder (runner) (K98).

Funk Trupp : Funkmeister (oberjager), Jager
1 x MPi (oberjager) 1 K98

sMG Trupp : Truppenfuhrer (Obj) and 10 jagers (11 men)
1 x MPi (Oberjager), 2 sMG34 ( 5 crew each : 1x MPi and 3x K98)

sGrW Trupp: Truppenfuhrer (Obj) and 12 jagers (13 men)
1 x MPi (oberjager), 2 8cm sGrW ( 6 crew each : 1x MPi and 4x K98)

Panzerbuschen Trupp : Panzerbuchse ( 2 crew)

Total: 36 all ranks
(3 x JU52)

Luftlande Sturm Platoon
(Full strength by Parachute ( 3x JU52))

Stab: - platoon-commander and his 2nd (Stellvertreter)
- Zugtrupp (4 men + 1 medic)

-Unterstützungstrupp (Support group): Gruppenfuhrer (oberjager) MPi
Mortar 5 cm (2 men)
Panzerbüchse (2 men)

1. Jäger-Gruppe: Gruppenführer(Fdw./Oberjäger) + 11 men (12 men)
3 x MPi (Gruppenführer, Stellvertreter and Melder(messenger), 2 x l.MG34, 7 x K98

2. Jäger-Gruppe: Gruppenführer(Fdw./Oberjäger) + 11 men (12 men)
3 x MPi (Gruppenführer, Stellvertreter and Melder(messenger), 2 x l.MG34, 7 x K98
Note : 1x Flamethrower issued if required to each platoon.

Total : 36 all ranks

Each Company has Sprungstarke (Jumping Strength) : Company Command Group (Kompaniefuhrungsgruppe) and 3 Jager Rifle Platoon (Zug).
Total Strength approx : 144 all ranks
w this was earlier 1941-42 but it might help :

[Centurio Marcus T]

Thanks steve for your help ,very appreciated I agree about weapon distribution if any FG42s were about the Nco's would of had them and then K 98S for the rest apart from machine gunners who would i presume of had mainly MG 34s.2 machine guns per squad would have been more than enough fire power,i believe. I think the main problem would have been having enough ammo to keep both guns operational.

[steve]

No worries, i do have alot more information however it all relates to early war especially Crete 1941. Let me know if this is of interest to you

steve

[Centurio Marcus T]

That would be fantastic Steve any info on Fallshirmjagers would be great I have a link below to the Green devils i have painted



viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2295

[TheGreatMarquis]

Parus Ater said "I take personal testimony over a guy wot wrote a book everytime."

But what if the book wot he wrote is a collection of personal testimony (like Storming Eagles, for example)? How do you share the personal testimony, if not in a book?