Fallschirmjaeger in the West

[Conacher1941]

It seems to me that there is a rather hight number of German paras in the west, judging from the thread German PoW and Casualties in Normandy, where it mentions 4 FJ Divs plus a FJ Regt.
Why was there so many paras facing the western allies instead of in the east or Italy?

Cheers,
...Conacher

[RichTO90]

It seems to me that there is a rather hight number of German paras in the west, judging from the thread German PoW and Casualties in Normandy, where it mentions 4 FJ Divs plus a FJ Regt.
Why was there so many paras facing the western allies instead of in the east or Italy?

Cheers,
...Conacher

The key is that "eventually" there were that many, and that all of them were forming. So in the spring of 1944 there were two active in Italy, (1 and 4) and four forming in France and Germany (2, 3, 5, and 6). But of those, only 3 FJD was reasonably ready for combat, while 5 was committed as an assembly of seperate regiments and 6 was only committed in August as a regimental-size kampfgruppe. France was simply a favored place for forming and training new divisions.

[Conacher1941]

So you're saying that numerous FJ Divs served over the course of the Normandy campaign, being cycled in and out of the line rather than concurrently?

Cheers,
...Conacher

[RichTO90]

So you're saying that numerous FJ Divs served over the course of the Normandy campaign, being cycled in and out of the line rather than concurrently?

Cheers,
...Conacher

No, how did you get that impression?

3 FJD HQ was at Morlaix with its elements mostly deployed NW of Rennes. It was ordered to Normandy sometime after 6 June and began to arrive near Brecy by 10 June and St Lo by 12 June. It was then engaged continuously with 7 AOK throughout the campaign.

5 FJD was west of Rennes and was forming using elements of 3 FJD, was only at about two-thirds strength and was lacking most heavy equipment. It was committed later in June with the earliest elements arriving about 25 June, and then was also continuously engaged.

FJR 6 of 2 FJD was the only part of the division in France on 6 June, attached to 91 ID in the Cotentin. It never rejoined the division and fought continuously in Normandy. The rest of the division was transferred from Wahn to Brest on 12 June and was destroyed there in September.

6 FJD was only formed in June and was assigned to 15 AOK for organization and training. Elements were sent to France in mid August.

Is that clearer?

[Conacher1941]

O.K, so when you said "eventually" they served there, you meant that they simply hadn't begun the campaign there?

...Conacher

[RichTO90]

O.K, so when you said "eventually" they served there, you meant that they simply hadn't begun the campaign there?

...Conacher

Exactly!