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7th Flieger Division - Student's Fallschirmjager Elite

$24.95

Spearhead - Book 3
By Chris Ellis
Published in 2002 by Ian Allen Publishing, UK
Softcover, 96 Pages
Size - 25cm * 19cm

Formed in July 1938 under Kurt Student, 7th Flieger Division was first used in a minor, reconnaissance role in the attack on Poland; the Fallschirmjager would see heavier action in the West in 1940 and took part in landings in Norway, Denmark, Belgium (Eben Emael) and Holland.

After involvement in the invasion of Greece, the Fallschirmjager's finest hour came in the invasion of Crete and the epic battle to wrest the island from the British defenders. Victorious, but heavily blooded, the Fallschirmjager would henceforth be used as only as infantry and 7th Flieger Division became 1st Fallschirmjager Division, fighting with distinction in Sicily and Italy (particularly at Monte Cassino), finally surrendering near Imola in April 1945. The unit's varied history involves some of the fiercest fighting of World War 2.

Spearhead looks at the cutting edge of war, units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. The series examines the unit's:

Origins and history

Organisation, order of battle and how this changed

Battle history, theatre by theatre

Insignia and Markings

Top people biographies of commanders and personalities

Each book ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness – as seen by itself, its opponents and the wider viewpoint of history – and a full reterence section including:

Critical bibliography

Relevant museums or exhibits

Website links

Re-enactment groups

Memorials

About the author
Chris Ellis has been writing about weapons and military history for 40 years for many publishers; his collaboration with Peter Chamberlain produced the classic British and American Tanks of World War ll. More recent titles include monographs on the German Flak/Pak 88mm and the Schmeisser.

Fully Illustrated