Hitler's Paratrooper: The Life and Battles of Rudolf Witzig

by Gilberto Villahermosa

Overview

“A valuable study . . . a must-read for everybody interested in the topic of German Fallschirmjäger in the Second World War” (Volker Griesser, author of The Lions of Carentan).
 
Rudolf Witzig entered the history books as the heroic captor of Belgium’s supposedly impregnable fortress Eben Emael in May 1940—the first time that glider-borne troops were used in the war. To many people, he is also known as the commander of the battle group that fired the first shots of the Tunisian campaign.
 
Remarkably, next to nothing has been written about him as an individual. This biography, completed with the full support of Witzig’s widow and son, is a comprehensive history of the man and also provides important new detail on the German parachute arm that he served.
 
In the course of his service, Witzig was awarded the coveted Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, even though he had not yet earned the Iron Crosses 2nd and 1st class. To resolve the problem, he was awarded all three on the spot.
 
Witzig was involved in Operation Mercury, the invasion of Crete, but was injured during the fighting. After his recovery, he was sent to Tunisia where he was credited with several successful defensive actions. He ended the war in captivity, surrendering to the Allies on May 8, 1945, the day after his name was placed on the Honour Roll of the Luftwaffe.
 
“A gripping biography, providing a tough, gritty and compelling study of a German soldier.” —Firetrench
 
“A unique, well-written and impeccably researched account of the Third Reich’s evolving fortunes as witnessed on numerous battlefronts by a highly decorated Fallschirmjäger officer.” —Mark J. Reardon, author of Defending Fortress Europe
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473805538
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	02/20/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	37 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Colonel (Retired) Gilberto Villahermosa is an Army Master Parachutist, Strategist, and Military Historian. He holds Masters Degrees from Columbia University and has authored several books, including Hitler's Paratrooper: The Life and Battles of Rudolph Witzig.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

List of Illustrations and Maps ix

Maps xii

Introduction xvii

Prologue: Glory or Death xxi

Chapter 1 A Child of War 1

Chapter 2 Fallschirmjäger 14

Chapter 3 Eben Emael 34

Chapter 4 Crete 74

Chapter 5 The Spearhead Shattered 98

Chapter 6 North Africa: First Battles 115

Chapter 7 North Africa: To the Last Man 137

Chapter 8 From Partisans to the Red Army 161

Chapter 9 Holland: 'No Longer War' 177

Chapter 10 Holland: Last Battles 202

Chapter 11 The New German Army and Retirement 220

Notes 238

Bibliography 253

Index 262