US Airborne Soldier vs German Soldier: Sicily, Normandy, and Operation Market Garden, 1943-44

The US Airborne force fielded some of the toughest, best-trained and most resourceful troops of World War II – all necessary qualities in a force that was lightly armed and would be surrounded from the moment it landed on the battlefield.

The German Wehrmacht grew to rely on a series of defensive measures to combat the airborne threat, including fortifications, localized reserves, and special training to help intercept and disrupt airborne troops both in the air and on the ground. Despite su...