Hunters From the Sky (The Third Reich’s Shadow Forces Book 3)

The brave and fanatical men who formed the new German paratroop units, known as the ‘Hunters from the Sky’, made their first shattering contribution to the course of the Second World War during the invasion of Crete in 1941. The capture of the island from the air was an outstanding victory for the paras in the Nazi campaign — but within that success lay the seeds of their decline. Their losses were so severe that they were never again dropped into battle in such large numbers.

Nonetheless, their impact was significant and included action in many well-known operations: the rescue of Mussolini at Gran Sasso, the Battle of Monte Cassino, the Battle of the Bulge, and the capture of Eben-Emael fort, to name but a few.

Author Charles Whiting — well known for his ability to bring to life the major events and personalities of the Second World War — once again uses his research and expertise to tell the story of these remarkable men and the commanders who held their fate in their hands. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, official records, and interviews with both German representatives of the parachute divisions and the British military, Whiting provides an authentic historical account of the parachute corps from 1940 to 1945.

From victory in Crete to the battlefront at Bastogne in 1944, the Fallschirmjäger pioneered a new kind of air warfare. This tough new breed of soldier — prepared to be dropped behind enemy lines and engage in combat the moment their boots hit the ground — were the forerunners of parachute regiments now found in every modern army, including the American ‘Screaming Eagles’ and the British ‘Red Devils’.

This book is a testament to the bravery and dedication of those first German paras — willing young volunteers, now so long forgotten.