A rather unusual question

[gunner]

Hello to all,
i researched for years to the things that my grandpa ( passed away since 10 years ) done in WWII. I know that he was a paratrooper ( 1. Paratroupers Division ?) and had the rank of an sergeant major in the Luftwaffe. He gave me an pic and said: The guy on the right was my commanding general. But he didnt tell me the name of the general. I think he could be Gen. Heydrich but i am not sure. Is there anybody out there who knows some of " Wehrmachts History" ? Thank you in advance.

Regards

Gunner

Information

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[1886nut]

General Kurt Student

Kurt Student - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you are interested in WWII paratrooper operations from the German perspective, I suggest reading "The Fall Of Eben Emael" about the early blitzkrieg through western Europe.

[gunner]

Thanks Kragnut that helps a lot ! I have only rumors about the things with my grandpa. The widow of his comrade said: They have done things for that they got killed by the russians. But what things and where ? I know that he must been a member of a Spec. OPS Team and was at all places of the European Theatre and Africa in WWII. To get the name of the general brings a lot of light in the story. Thanks again.

Regards

Gunner

[gunner]

Here are two pics of my grandpa. The first is on sicily and the second is titled: Escaped from U.S.captivity 12. of September 1943. It seems that he was not really welcomed.

Regards

Gunner

[Amatikulu]

If he was on Sicily, he would have served under "Smiling" Albert Kesselring

[gunner]

Amatikulu, that is right. He told me that. I think he must had a few commanders. At first in Poland, Netherlands and France i think it was Gen. Student. In Russia ( Smolensk, then near Stalingrad ) and Latvia, Gen.???.
Kreta, Gen. Student. In Africa, Bernhard Ramcke. In Sicily, Italy France and on the Rhine, Marschall A. Kesselring ? On the Rhine he was captured the third time at all and the second time by the U.S. Troops. The second time was a few weeks ago by Free French Forces where he escaped by a jump out of a train, short before the train drives in a tunnel and after a swimming lesson across the Rhine.

Regards

Gunner

[Sunray]

"...sergeant major in the Luftwaffe..." German Para's were Luftwaffe controlled, not Wehrmacht. Any individual service records are long gone. The best you can do is research the 1st Para Division's movements.
1st German Para Div. were a formidable bunch and highly respected. Tangled with Canadians in Italy, regularly. They lost, but not without doing what they were told to do. Your grandpa must have been moved around a lot. The 1st German Para Div. ended the war in Italy.
This is Wikipeda, hence unreliable, but it's a bit. 1st Parachute Division (Germany) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia