OT - WWII quiz

[paulderynck]

In which WWII campaign did British and German paratroops parachute into the same drop zone within minutes of one another?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

In which WWII campaign did British and German paratroops parachute into the same drop zone within minutes of one another?

Warspite1

Is this a trick question? I didn't think the Germans used their Fallshirmjaeger(?) as paratroopers after the losses taken at Crete.

It can't have been in Norway, the Low Countries or France.

If not a trick question then I can only guess at some small scale operation in the Aegean Islands or somewhere else in the Eastern Mediterranean after the collapse of Italy.

[paulderynck]

It's not a trick question.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

It's not a trick question.

Warspite1

In which case - and assuming my guesses were wrong - it's a very cunning question [&o]

[warspite1]

Tunisia?

[Orm]

I take a wild guess at Crete.

[Extraneous]

Sicily

[paulderynck]

Sicily is correct. On July 13, 1943, approx 1800 German Paratroopers from 1st Fallshirmjaeger (yes correct spelling) Division were dropped behind German lines along the Simeto river to reinforce a German Panzergruppe already dug-in there. Moments after the Germans landed, the Red Devils of the British Parachute Brigade were dropped into the same area.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

Sicily is correct. On July 13, 1943, approx 1800 German Paratroopers from 1st Fallshirmjaeger (yes correct spelling) Division were dropped behind German lines along the Simeto river to reinforce a German Panzergruppe already dug-in there. Moments after the Germans landed, the Red Devils of the British Parachute Brigade were dropped into the same area.

Warspite1

Good question. Mind you I was very close - apart from it not being in the Aegean or Eastern Med and not being post Italy exiting the war......[;)]

[paulderynck]

Yes, but that close only counts with H-bombs.

[Extraneous]

Did you know that while dropping into Sicily one Allied paratrooper was asked by one of the parachuting German fallshirmjaeger "Have you seen my machine pistol?".

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Extraneous

Did you know that while dropping into Sicily one Allied paratrooper was asked by one of the parachuting German fallshirmjaeger "Have you seen my machine pistol?".

Warspite1

I hope that - with customary British politeness - said paratrooper did not feel obliged to hand it over.

"sorry old boy - here you are, I was wondering where that came from, you should take better care of it, you never know when you will need it next" [:D]

[ezzler]

Brigadier G. W. Lathbury Commanded.
He was later at Arnhem, and was the officer injured while cut off with Urquhart. 
Roy Urquhart then shot a German soldier being the only senior British officer to have directly killed an enemy in the war. Lathbury was left the Dutch. He escaped Arnhem later on.

[patchogue]

Surely Italy was still in the war (as an axis power) during the Sicily campaign

[paulderynck]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Extraneous

Did you know that while dropping into Sicily one Allied paratrooper was asked by one of the parachuting German fallshirmjaeger "Have you seen my machine pistol?".

Warspite1

I hope that - with customary British politeness - said paratrooper did not feel obliged to hand it over.

"sorry old boy - here you are, I was wondering where that came from, you should take better care of it, you never know when you will need it next" [:D]

In the account I read said paratrooper spun around and emptied his sten gun in the direction of the question.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: patchogue

Surely Italy was still in the war (as an axis power) during the Sicily campaign

Warspite1

If that was in response to my earlier comment, then yes it was. I was simply using some self deprecating humour as my "educated guess" was complete &@£?!&@ [;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Extraneous

Did you know that while dropping into Sicily one Allied paratrooper was asked by one of the parachuting German fallshirmjaeger "Have you seen my machine pistol?".

Warspite1

I hope that - with customary British politeness - said paratrooper did not feel obliged to hand it over.

"sorry old boy - here you are, I was wondering where that came from, you should take better care of it, you never know when you will need it next" [:D]

In the account I read said paratrooper spun around and emptied his sten gun in the direction of the question.

Warspite1

On reflection, perhaps a wiser course of action than my suggestion [:D]

[micheljq]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

Sicily is correct. On July 13, 1943, approx 1800 German Paratroopers from 1st Fallshirmjaeger (yes correct spelling) Division were dropped behind German lines along the Simeto river to reinforce a German Panzergruppe already dug-in there. Moments after the Germans landed, the Red Devils of the British Parachute Brigade were dropped into the same area.

How this story finishes?

[paulderynck]

Sorry Michel, my source mentioned the occurrence but not final outcome, other than most of the Germans did reach and reinforce the Panzergruppe. I don't know what happened to the Red Devils precisely, although based on one of the other posts, many must have survived to be dropped at Arnhem. AAMOF my source did not really say what their mission was. It seems the two moved off in different directions once they got organized.

Perhaps Extraneous knows as he is a superb web researcher.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

Sorry Michel, my source mentioned the occurrence but not final outcome, other than most of the Germans did reach and reinforce the Panzergruppe. I don't know what happened to the Red Devils precisely, although based on one of the other posts, many must have survived to be dropped at Arnhem. AAMOF my source did not really say what their mission was. It seems the two moved off in different directions once they got organized.

Perhaps Extraneous knows as he is a superb web researcher.

Warspite1

I asume there must have been a successful outcome because the 1st Airborne was used to secure the port of Taranto in early September.