LIONS OF CARENTAN, THE: Fallschirmjager Regiment 6, 1943-1945

350 Pages·2011·12.82 MB·English

by  Volker Griesser

Published in the United States of America in 2011 by
CASEMATE
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
and in the United Kingdom by
CASEMATE
17 Cheap Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5DD
© 2011 VS-BOOKS Torsten Verhülsdonk.
Originally Published in Germany as Die Löwen von Carentan—
Das Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6, 1943–45 / VS-BOOKS 2007
ISBN 978-1-61200-006-0
Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-612000-17-6
Cataloging-in-publication data is available from the Library of
Congress and from the British Library.
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CONTENTS

Preface
1. The Initial Organization, 1943
2. Deployment in Italy, 1943
3. Deployment in Russia, 1943/44
4. The Reorganization in Cologne-wahn, 1944
5. Deployment in Normandy, 1944
6. Deployment in Holland, 1944
7. Deployment in the Eifel Region, 1944
8. Parachute Mission in the Ardennes, 1944
9. The Final Battle in the Homeland, 1945
10. Peace
Appendices
Photographic Appendix
Preface

The Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) were
the elite arm of the German Wehrmacht
(Armed Forces). Hermann Göring
assumed control of the Luftwaffe (Air
Force) in 1935, and the Fallschirmjäger
were created from a combination of his
personal paramilitary regiment and
volunteer parachutists. Their subsequent
outstanding achievements in World War II
were based upon two major factors:
voluntary enlistment in the Fallschirm
Division, and outstanding modern and
demanding military training. None rivaled
them in ability and motivation; they were
respected within the German forces and
feared by their opponents.

A new generation of German paras grew out of their early victories. Even
when, during the course of the war, training had to be shortened and
specialized equipment became scarce, the example of the battle-tried
Fallschirmjäger and the aura that surrounded them swept up many young
volunteers, and fighting spirit often compensated for logistical problems.
Much general history has been already written about the origins of the
Fallschirmjäger and their deployment in World War II; the prevalence of
material makes another such history unnecessary here. This project instead
grew from a personal interest in documenting, as seamlessly as possible and
from the scant existing information, the history of the 6th Fallschirmjäger
Regiment (FJR 6). It is not intended to recapitulate once more the global
circumstances of the time; these have been portrayed often enough, usually
from the point of view of the Allies. Rather, the goal of this work is to
illuminate the part that FJR 6 played in the events of the war, seen from
their own unique perspective.
This work aims to capture the authentic nature of Fallschirmjäger service,
as former members of the regiment describe in their own words what they
experienced. In this way, the reader is provided with a wealth of new
information. The photographs included here all stem from private
collections of the former comrades and the author. Most of these pictures
have not been published before in an English-language publication and are
introduced here for the first time. The physical quality of the photographs is
not always of the highest standard; the reader should consider, however, the
circumstances over 60 years ago under which they were created. Yet they
enable the reader to look into the faces of the men who were constantly
fighting on the front lines, their faces etched with exhaustion, pain and
sorrow, but also with hope, assurance, and bold courage. In contrast to the
photographs from the propaganda companies, here we see the true face of
the German Fallschirmjäger.
Furthermore, this account is based on numerous primary sources: official
corps, division and regimental orders; battle reports; war daybooks; as well
as personal documents such as diaries and other handwritten records. I have
drawn on this material to provide the reader with a complete picture of FJR
6’s term of service.
During my first meeting with Alexander Uhlig, the head of the
Fellowship of the 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment veterans group, it became
clear to me that my research should have commenced decades earlier in
order to be able to capture more eyewitness material. Indeed, the news
reached me during writing that a further former member of 6 FJR had been
called to the great hunting ground in the sky. The list of comrades who
were not able to participate in the Fellowship meeting in autumn 2002,
because of health or other reasons, was unfortunately longer that the list of
actual participants. Yet all those present displayed much enthusiasm when
Alexander Uhlig announced the beginning of this project. In the course of
the evening as well as in the following weeks and months, I received many
reports, personal documents and photos; they extended invitations to me
and bestowed me with so much support that I can only describe it as the
‘true spirit of the Fallschirmjäger’. This chronicle could never have been
realized without the active assistance of the comrades of the FJR 6, and I
owe them my earnest thanks.
This book is therefore dedicated to the men of FJR 6, the Lions of
Carentan.
VOLKER GRIESSER
Oberpleis
CHAPTER ONE
The Initial Organization, 1943

FJR 6’s jump training was not neglected in 1943. Due to their capability to conduct air landings via parachute drops and military gliders, the regiment was one of the few that could be deployed for
airborne assaults without considerable restructuring.
The history of FJR 6 began on 13
February 1943, with the creation of the
2nd Fallschirmjäger Division (2 FJD).
Major Egon Liebach took command of the
newly organized regiment. An experienced
paratrooper and troop leader, he had
already taken part in the battle of Crete in
May 1941, and his headquarters lay in
Vannes in the French Bretagne. The 2nd
Battalion, FJR 6 (II./FJR 6), was created
from the former 4th Battalion,
Sturmregiment (Assault Regiment). The
personnel the 1st and 3rd Battalions came
from the veterans of the famous Ramcke
Brigade (named after General Hermann-
Bernhard ‘Gerhard’ Ramcke) – the trial
battalion of the XI Fliegerkorps (Air
Corps) – and the 100th Luftwaffen-Jäger-
Batallion z.b.V. (Luftwaffe Rifle Battalion
for Special Use). Other men included those
fresh from jump training/parachute
school. Some of these Fallschirmjäger were
old hands at soldiering, and had
volunteered for the paras following service
on the Eastern Front. This diverse mixture
of individuals would quickly form into a
hard-hitting troop.

Major Liebach could, to a great extent, count on the battle experience of
his ‘old warriors’. Field exercises and close combat quickly become the
focus of training for FJR 6, and the example set by the veterans guided the
younger soldiers. Despite the fact that all members of the regiment were
graduates of the parachute schools, they received further instruction in