Operation Stösser

The company pestle was a commando of the German Wehrmacht in World War II in the Ardennes.

Starting position

In support of the Ardennes offensive jumped on the night of 16th to December 17th 1944 German paratroopers behind the American lines in the Ardennes from. Under the leadership of Friedrich August von der Heydte they should engage the allied associations in the back of the front in battles and conquer supply depot and hold them until the arrival of the ground troops.

Planning

According to the original plan from October 1944 3000 paratroops should be used, but could ultimately be just under 1200 provided for the jump operation. It stood ready 150 transport planes, which should bring the soldiers in the landing zone. This was 11 km north of Malmedy on a treeless hills.

Course

The company was from the very beginning under a bad sign. Many paratroopers lived here their first jump, use, hardly one of the pilots had previously experienced an enemy airplane. With difficulty, however, managed nevertheless to guide all the machines to the landing zone. Just before the first paratroopers had jumped out of the aircraft, changing wind was strong, continuously reared. Many soldiers were therefore scattered over a wide area. Immediately after the landing had to unbuckle from their parachutes, not to be dragged away by gusts of wind, the paratroopers.

Nearly 200 paratroopers died that night, as they were thrown by the wind, which reached speeds of up to 60 km / h against trees or other obstacles in the area and there were gathered until the day only 140 soldiers. Their number rose to 19 December 1944 to just under 600. Almost every other paratroopers had fallen, scattered or captured by the Allies been taken. Due to the high losses of the association was practically unable to fight and beat until December 22 back to their own lines through.