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).
(source: Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-576-1846-11A)
The 4 Fallschirmjäger Division was formed in Venice, Italy, in November 1943, from elements of 2 Fallschirmjäger Division and volunteers from the Italian 184 and 185 Airborne Division Folgore parachute divisions.
Its first combat action was against the Allied landings at Anzio (Operation Shingle) as part of the I. Fallschirm Korps in January 1944.
After Anzio, the Division fought a rear guard action in front of Rome, and was the last German unit to leave the city on 4 June; it withdrew towards Viterbo Siena Firenze and then managed to halt the Allies at the Futa pass.
In the Winter of 1944/1945 it was positioned on the Gothic Line. In March 1945, the Division had to send the II Battalion, 12 Fallschirmjäger Regiment and the 2nd Company from the Pionier Battalion to the new 10 Fallschirmjager Division, which was being formed in Austria.
It surrendered to the Allies in April 1945.
Back to bottling my Grenache