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Operation Fall Weiss (Hardback)

German Paratroopers in the Poland Campaign, 1939

Military WWI > German Forces & Weaponry WWII > German Forces & Weaponry WWII > Poland in WWII

By Stephan Janzyk
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 176
ISBN: 9781473894617
Published: 23rd August 2017

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Although the fledgling German paratroop operations in Belgium and the Netherlands in 1940, and on Crete in 1941, attracted worldwide attention, less well-known is that the use of paratroopers had been planned for the invasion of Poland in 1939, in an act that began the Second World War. This has given rise to the myth that Adolf Hitler wanted to keep this new, and hitherto little-known, branch of the armed services secret for future projects. However, on several occasions the men of Parachute Regiment 1 were sat ready in their Ju52 transport planes, fully equipped and ready to go. Many of these young and in-experienced paratroopers would go on to experience the full horrors of warfare and for some of them, the Polish Campaign would end in a ‘hero’s death’.

Operation Fall Weiss describes the role of the German paratroopers in the Polish campaign, using war diaries, maps, contemporary documents and photographs, including those from various private collections around the world.

The pictures here are pretty amazing... The information through this book is spectacular.

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The View From The Turret Vlog

In the traditional narrative, the first employment of German paratroopers during World War II occurred during the surprise assault at Fort Eben-Emael in 1940. While that battle marked their first airborne deployment, it obscured the paratroopers’ service during the invasion of Poland the previous year. Stephan Janzyk’s translated Operation Fall Weiss: German Paratroopers in the Poland Campaign, 1939 (originally published as Deckname Fall Weiss: Deutsche Fallschirmjäger im Polenfeldzug 1939) corrects this oversight. Operation Fall Weiss focuses on the creation and employment of German paratroopers from 1936 to 1939. Overall, this book is a well-illustrated presentation of the overlooked role the German airborne forces played in World War II’s opening act.

The book contains an introduction, six short chapters on the individual airborne battalions, a summary, appendices, and a bibliography. It is liberally illustrated with pictures of German paratroopers in their barracks and in Poland, as well as of their return to Germany. The author includes numerous high-quality scans of assorted German documents, including personnel records, awards certificates, and death notices held in private collections, including his own. Additionally, the book follows some individual paratroopers, particularly officers, after the Polish campaign to tell of their later exploits and, in many cases, their deaths or incapacitation later in the war.

Journal of the U.S Army

While the fledgling German paratroop operations in Belgium and the Netherlands in 1940, and on Crete in 1941, attracted worldwide attention, what is not as well known is that the use of paratroopers was planned for the invasion of Poland in 1939, in an act that began the Second World War. This has given rise to the myth that Adolf Hitler wanted to keep this new, and hitherto little-known, branch of the armed services secret for future projects. However, on several occasions the men of Parachute Regiment 1 were sat ready in their Ju52 transport planes, fully equipped and ready to go. "Operation Fall Weiss: German Paratroopers in the Poland Campaign, 1939" by Stephan Janzyk (who is an officer in the parachute regiment, and who has been interested in military history for many years, particularly the formation and early years of the German paratrooper units) deftly and informatively describes the role of the German paratroopers in the Polish campaign using war diaries, maps, contemporary documents and photographs -- including those from various private collections around the world. A remarkably informative and invaluable contribution to the growing library of World War II history collections, "Operation Fall Weiss" is extraordinary and unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Midwest Book Review

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Stone & Stone: Second World War Books

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Military Review (Army University Press)

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U.S. Army's Military Review - December 2017

An especially good book for all those interested in the opening stages of WW2 and in airborne forces operations during the war as a whole.

Read the complete review here.

Military Model Scene, Robin Buckland

This is the previously untold story of the use of German paratroopers during the invasion of Poland. Th photographic selection is excellent and extensive – Highly Recommended.

Read the complete review here.

Firetrench

As featured 'ON THE SHELF'

Wargames Illustrated, September 2017

About Stephan Janzyk

Stephan Janzyk was born in 1985 and comes from Hagenow in Mecklenburg/Western Pomerania. He is an officer in the parachute regiment and holds a Master of Arts in educational sciences. He wrote his thesis on the subject of the socialisation aspects of the Hitler Youth in relation to a later career as an officer in the Wehrmacht. He has been interested in military history for many years, particularly the formation and early years of the German paratrooper units.

Perfect Partner

German Paratroops 1939-45 The Fallschirmjäger (Paperback)

"One cannot even imagine the panic which was caused by rumors of the appearance of parachutists." Field Marshal Kesselring The Fallschirmjäger were the German paratroopers, the elite troops frequently deployed as the vanguard of attacks and as the bulwark of a difficult defence. In 1940 they spearheaded the campaigns Belgium, Holland and France. They also saw action in the battle for Norway, and in the next year took part in major actions in the Balkans and Crete. Airborne operations were curtailed following heavy losses in Crete after which the Fallschirmjäger took part in the final battles…

By Bob Carruthers

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