Photo comparison- Brit and German Paras

Ta , curious which group is that you've taken them from ? as its always good to link your source to save upset/copyright unless of course its your own picture with yourself in it. Also means if theres anything else on the site people can have a nosey if they want

good photos,
i was led to believe that the stowage of the mp40 would lead to broken ribs that way, something to do with the german parachute attaching at the rear of the harness and at the point of deployment the body was lurched forward against the harness and moreover against the gun causing the injuries.

i may well be mis-informed but hey, the photos are nice.

jeks

good photos,
I was led to believe that the stowage of the mp40 would lead to broken ribs that way, something to do with the german parachute attaching at the rear of the harness and at the point of deployment the body was lurched forward against the harness and moreover against the gun causing the injuries.

I may well be mis-informed but hey, the photos are nice.

jeks

I've heard the same story , but can't work out why they didn't use leg drop bags instead

Certainly correct to say they had different gas bags for that reason so would be logical that you wouldn't then put an MP40 near you that can cause damage need to get a book of the shelf. Bloody right hassle to find one (gas bag not me the piece of kit) which I'd need for MP40 mags so if anyone sees one let me know cos bandoliers (sp) will be for effect .

Knockensacks away, I'll be able to ask if my bum looks big in it and not be offended when you all say YES

they used the cannisters instead, originally they dropped with only their pistol to hand, and made their way to the cannister. however by Krete, they began to carry weapons on the drop and pick equipment up from the cannisters. but as you say old 'un leg bags, with hindsight, would have seemed an easier alternative, ala allied airborne.

helga , i think spearhead did repro gas bags, definitaly seen them about, i will have a peruse about and stick some sites for you.

Thanks Jek

It's well-documented that many of the leg bags used by the Allies at D-Day were ripped off by the prop wash as the men jumped, leaving them with no weapon save a knife.

Even at Crete, the Germans were still using separate cannisters for weapons - I've read tales of Fallschirmjaeger holding off enemy troops with just a Luger.

I thought you had to jump clutching your bag in front of you . Either way it was rough being airborne on either side.

helga,
Fallschirmjager gas mask bags
http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-German-Fallsch ... dZViewItem

cant find any others at moment but sure i've seen elsewhere

Thanks jek will stick that in favs as there maybes other stuff to order from keith

I think they didnt use leg bags as the german chute gave you a very fast descent as it was wiht a very hard landing. that and you fall face first (as opposed to legs down wiht uk chutes) as the point of contact on the back is very low.

I`ve seen similar pics before with the MP40 stuck in the harness, I reckon this was just to give hands free whilst boarding the plane, once hooked up it seems it was held in the hands as they didn`t need to hold lines on the chute during the descent. On the FJ training film which Helga posted there`s a chap landing, holding an MP40 out in front of him.

Bet thats purely pr propoganda if it was feasable to do that they would have done it and not jumped at crete with only pistols and had to get cut to ribbons getting to their supply canisters.

Bear in mind the german parachute tactic of dropping into a hot LZ virtually unarmed was so moronic that their casualties were horrific and they were never used in a jump role en masse after crete.

I'm sure if they could have jumped wiht mp40s slung they would not have gone in unarmed... it just makes no sense, from what i've read on german paratrooper chutes you needed your hands free to land properly no hold guns.

Bizzarly german pilots parachutes worked like brit ones, they dropped you in a standing position and you could steer them.

I think the FJ used that particular type of chute because it deployed quicker, allowing drops at a lower height...but still a bizarre choice.
You have a point about using the hands when landing but if the chap in the film managed it then its doable with a short smg, just not easy.
Whilst they used the canisters to drop the weapons, was it compulsory for each man to place his in there, maybe for rifles as they are so long and unweildy ?

Thank you Click it just saves more than anything someone complaining and misinterpretations. Also means I can have a nosey at the rest of the website

Ah I shall work my way to that section I've seen some really good pics of events in Poland (reenactment) always interesting to see what people are doing elsewhere, and of course being female I'm nosey

Off to look at the Galeria

Weapons and Equipment Containers

Because of the rather athletic forward landing roll necessitated by their parachute harness, the German paratrooper could carry little more than a pistol and some grenades on his person. Therefore, many weapons containers, called Waffenhalter, had to be carried and dropped. A single 40 man plus platoon of Fallschirmjaeger needed no less than fourteen containers just for weapons and a basic ammunition supply. The containers were carried either under the Wings or in a bomb-bay. Each container could hold over 200 pounds of equipment and the maximum loaded weight was 260 pounds. It was five long and about 16 inches square. The container had a crash pad at one end and the parachute was connected at the other end. Some containers were equipped with a pair of small wheels and a tow bar that could be clipped onto the container after the drop. This allowed the container to be towed from the drop zone. The number one priority of the troops upon landing was to find their containers. colored bands or other markings were used to aid retrieval by the correct units and to indicate which items the container carried.

http://www.feldgrau.com/articles.php?ID=18

Aww ickle leg FJ http://www.angelfire.com/mech/military_ ... jager.html