The Green Devils of Normandy: Fallschirmjager in D-Day: German with Adam Brooker Of all the forces that the Germans had available in the defence of Normandy, few had the reputation of the elite Fallschirmjӓger. Also known as the ‘Green Devils’ by Allied forces who fought against them, these highly trained paratroopers were renowned for being tenacious in defence, unwavering in their efforts to hold the ground they were ordered to defend, even in the grimmest of situations.

Allied forces would be stopped by determined Fallschirmjӓger in defence, and forced to stop and mass for a counter-attack, but they would find that by the time they had done this, the Fallschirmjӓger had already moved back to prepared positions in the next bocage over, and it would happen all over again.
When in attack, they would carry out ‘perfect’ surprise attacks, in an action on the 11th July, Jagers from the 1st Battalion 9th Fallschirmjӓger Regiment, suspecting a major assault in the fighting around St Lo, began a surprise attack against the 1st Battalion US 115th Infantry Regiment, which the US Commander described as “ ... beautifully executed and planned”. They firstly sent a platoon forward to cut as many field telephone lines that they could find to disrupt communications. They then called in a savage mortar and artillery bombardment on the Allied positions. German paratroopers followed close behind the rolling bombardment, and with complete surprise they overran the forward positions, and proceeded to hit a gap between two US companies.
Savage fighting ensued and Fallschirmjӓger proceeded to take out the allied mortar positions in the rear, with isolated US platoons stuck in their foxholes, trying to hold their ground.  At the end of the day, the paratroopers had delayed the US attack by 6 hours and the 1st Battalion US 115th Infantry Regiment had lost a third of its strength. The US 29th Infantry Division commander told his corps commander, “The stuff ahead is pretty stout..” and it showed. Over the next three days similar stories of resolute defence and savage counterattacks whenever possible played out. The Fallschirmjӓger eventually retreated from the area around St Lo, on July 19th, but they had made them pay dearly for every foot.

In Flames Of War, the Fallschirmjӓger are the elite of the German ground troops, they are Fearless, and Veteran, so have both a 3+ motivation and skill value. They are perfect for both assault and defence, with their large unit size and veteran skill of 3+, they are dishing out the pain in assault, and they have the numbers to hold in defence for a long time. One of the great German D-Day Command Cards that represent how good the Fallschirmjӓger were in aggressive surprise attacks is the  2nd Fallschirmjager Division ‘Defence of Brest’ Card. For 2 points this Card gives all Fallschirmjager Platoons in the Formation the Spearhead rule, with the only condition being that you must replace one Fallschirmjӓger platoon with a Beach Defence Infantry Platoon. I guess this is reflecting how part of the company would still be raw recruits that need seasoning, as they have not had time to train up to the standard of the rest of the company. I think that this is quite a good card, as it allows you to insert into your formation a very useful cheap unit that you can sit on one of your objectives, while you use your expensive Fallschirmjager platoons to push ahead and capture the enemy’s.

I have written up a list composed entirely of Fallschirmjӓger troops, just to see how it will come out. It has two large Fallschirmjӓger Platoons that, while expensive, are very big with 11 stands per platoon, and will give you staying power. You will need to use these aggressively to get the best out of them, trying to advance through cover and using your movement orders to close towards the enemy as quickly as possible. The Spearhead rule given by the Command Card will also help in this. There is also 2 mortar platoons to soften up any objectives held by infantry, or to screen your troops as they advance. For anti tank work you have 3 x 7.5cm anti-tank guns, as well as 4 x StuG and some Panzerfausts and Panzerschrecks passed out among the infantry platoons.

Fallschirmjӓger Company  Fallschirmjager Company HQ – 2 x MP40 SMG teams with Panzerfaust – 5 pts Fallschirmjager Platoon – 10 x MG42 & K98 rifle teams with Panzerfaust, Panzerschreck – 17pts Fallschirmjager Platoon – 10 x MG42 & K98 rifle teams with Panzerfaust, Panzerschreck – 17pts Beach Defence Grenadier Platoon – 7 x MG42 & K98 rifle teams, with sMG34 HMG, Panzerschreck – 6 pts Fallschirmjager 8cm Mortar Platoon – 4 x 8cm Stummel mortar – 8 pts Fallschirmjager 12cm Mortar Platoon – 3 x 12cm mortar – 8 pts Fallschirmjager 7.5cm Tank-Hunter Platoon – 3 x 7.5cm gun – 13 pts   Support   Fallschirmjager Stug Assault Gun Platoon – 4 x StuG (7.5cm) – 23 pts Command Cards Lucky – 1 pts 2nd Fallschirmjager Div ‘ Defence of Brest’ – 2 pts Total – 100 pts

The only other thing I would like to add if I had the points would be some 2cm light AA guns, these are good for defending an objective against light armour and infantry as well as keeping the Jabos honest. They also keep with the Luftwaffe theme.

Having the spearhead rule will allow you to have the HQ, large Fallschirmjӓger platoons, and the StuGs as your offensive assault force, and the other units in your formation to defend your objectives. It is still an elite, small force that will require you to have a plan for your assaults, and to pick out your opponents units in order of priority, but I think it will still be fun to play. Also with the release of some great new Fallschirmjӓger sculpts in the D-Day: German range, what more excuses do you need to make a force of these Green Devils?