The Fallschirmjäger, elite troops of German Forces during World War II, participated very actively in Italian Front, from Sicily until last days in North Italy. They were frequently deployed at the vanguard of attacks and as the bulwark of a defence.

The Fallschirmjäger during the Battle of Monte Cassino held out for months against repeated assaults and heavy bombardment from Allies. Here they gained the nickname of the "Green Devils" from the Allied forces for their distinctive ¾-length splinter pattern camouflage jackets and their tenacious defence of the ruined town and monastery on the mountain above against far superior numbers.

German paratroopers (fallschirmjäger) at Pomigliano airfield near Naples, preparing to leave for Sicily.

(ECPAD) (Coloured by Doug)

Fallschirmjäger Regiment 3. in Sicily July/August 1943.

(ECPAD ref. F1465) (Coloured by Doug)

(ECPAD) (Coloured by Doug)

II/Fallschirmjäger and Paracadutisti of III/185º Battaglione 'Nembo' led by Capitano.

(ECPAD) (Coloured by Doug)

4.Fallschirmjäger Division, at Anzio in Italy, January 1944

(ECPAD) (Coloured by Doug)

4 Fallschirmjäger Division, at Anzio in Italy, January 1944. The trooper shows off a captured British ‘Bren’ Light Machine Gun and is leaning on a wooden case marked: “Luftdichter Patronenkasten” (Air tight sealed ammunition boxes, for 1500 x 7.92 Mauser or 9mm cartridges)

(Coloured by Doug)

An Italian Paracadutisti carrying a Beretta Mod.38A SMG and wearing a 'Samurai' ammunition vest, chats to Fallschirmjägers of 1.Fj.DIv. somewhere in Italy between late 1943 and early 1944

(Coloured by Doug)

Fallschirmjäger Unteroffizier - Italy - Sept. 1943

(Coloured by Doug)

Fallschirmjäger in Italy - Photos from the Bundesarchiv

A German soldier with an MG 34 machine gun at Nettuno in Italy

Two German paratroopers smoking a cigarette. Italy 1943

4 Fallschirmjäger Division, at Anzio in Italy, January 1944

German paratroopers in a forest at Monte Cassino, Italy, 1943-1944

German paratroopers with FG 42 rifle and MP 40 submachine gun in Italy guarding a cache of captured weapons, 1943.

German parachute troops fighting as infantry, Italy 1943

German Paratrooper in a forest in Italy 1943

German paratroopers fight in Sicily - Italy 1943

German paratroopers at Monte Cassino

German paratroopers in the cellar of a destroyed house in Cassino, Italy, 1944

Nettuno, Italy. German paratrooper (Fallschirmjäger), smoking a cigarette. 1943

German paratrooper sergeant, Monte Cassino, Italy, 1943-1944

In the morning, Fallschirmjägers from 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division discharging equipment during Operation Achse, plan prepared by German OKW to disarm the Italian Army after the armistice with Allied forces. Rome, Italy. 8 September 1943

A German paratrooper puts his MG-42 heavy machine gun on a mount

German paratrooper in Italy

Fallschirmjager in Italy

Fallschirmjäger in Italy, January 1944

German paratroopers, Italy 1943

Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) on sentry duty. Monte Cassino, Italy 1943

Portrait of a German Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) with an MG 42, a 7.9mm general purpose machine gun, during the early days of the Battle of Monte Cassino. The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four assaults by the Allies against the Winter Line in Italy held by the Germans and Italians during the Italian Campaign that lasted for four months. The intention was a breakthrough to Rome. Although the Allies secured a victory, the Axis forces inflicted heavy losses; an estimated 55,000 Allied casualties. Cassino, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy. January 1944

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Fallschirmjager Italy 1944

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German Paratroopers from Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5/Division Hermann Göring during the march on the Italian front on 1 October 1943. Some were carrying MG 42. They were the few remnants from the Tunisian campaign, during their short stay in Italy before leaving for the eastern front in early November 1943

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