Fallschirmjaeger (german paratroopers)

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German Paratrooper, Oberjäger Georg Switalla, my good friend. He jumped on Crete and Italy. Opposed my father at Salerno and Monte Cassino. He retreated from Salerno to Pizza by foot until being wounded by a Sherman tank and captured by the Americans, discharged from POW camp in 1947.

I met Willie on the train from Nuernberg to Braunschweig, whilst traveling with a group of German paratroopers to their national reunion. Upon hearing that I am from Texas, he grinned and told me that he had been a POW in Mexia, Texas. Willie's life story is incredible. It mirrors the tragedy and success of Germany. He was born in March of 1918. His father fell on the Western Front in September of 1918. Willie grew up in Berlin and witnessed the turmoil of the Weimar period and the rise of the NSDAP. He jumped on Crete and was severely wounded by mortar fire in the first 15 minutes while trying to attend to his buddy that was hit almost instantly. They survived in a cave, being cared for by local peasants until survivors of the battle found them. He also fought in Africa, Russia, Italy, and France. He retired as a successful businessman. I am proud to had have the opportunity to become his friend.

Bruno was born in Allenstein, East Prussia. He enlisted in the Luftwaffe in 1938. During the invasion of Poland, he was the tail gunner in a Stuka. He then volunteered for the paratroopers and invaded Crete. He was captured on the second day after Graf von B... was killed next to him. He saw action in Russia and then returned to Italy where he was engaged at Monte Cassio. He crossed the Po river several times and was finally captured by the Americans. We met at the Braunschweig reunion and became good friends. We kept in regular contact. Bruno recently passed. 

I met Herr Rabiega at the paratrooper reunion. Upon meeting we had a very nice discussion. Apparently, we sparked because we sought each other out the next day to have breakfast. He is truly a kind and gentle soul! I did not get his name or address at the reunion. After asking everyone in vain who he was, I received a nice Christmas card from him with these pictures. He was initially an aircraft mechanic. Then he volunteered for the paratroopers and was sent to Italy in the Anzio-Nettuno area. He was severely wounded in the leg by an American sniper while jumping a ditch. The wound partially crippled him. Despite his grievous wound and being termed unfit for duty, during the closing days of the war, the German military put him back in the line in the heart of Germany. The big bulge in the lower pocket of his jump smock (Knochensack) is his chess game, which he carried everywhere.

I met Herbert at the Paratrooper reunion in Braunschweig. He is a very quiet reserved man. Note the Knights Cross (Highest Medal Awarded) around Herbert's neck. In Italy, during his first day of combat, Herbert was placed in a bunker with a Panther tank turret on top. On that one day, he knocked out 16 American tanks, thus halting the Allied advance. Such individual actions are what made the Fallschirmjaeger such a formidable foe.

Horst was initially in GSG9. Then when the Germans began the new army, Budiswehr, Horst volunteered to become a paratrooper. He has received a place on this page as he was a child refugee in Dresden when it was bombed... he lived to tell about it. Here he is ready for a jump. He is currently an intricate part of the Nuernberg Paratrooper Association. He has taken me and shown me every time I visit the "Old Eagles." He is truly a gentleman.

Jaeger Tischlinger was in the entire war from Spain to the end. He made every invasion and was never wounded. He did not wear the red cross armband so that he could fight. He always carried an MP38 as seen in the picture. A very interesting man.