What did German Glider pilots do after landing??

[marketc47]

Hi,

I am wondering what the German glider pilots did after they had landed their glider. Did they stay with the outfit they had brought in? And went into combat?
Or was their taks to get out of the area and back to an airfield for another lift?

Hans

[JMSmith]

walk!!!!!!

[marketc47]

John,

Thanks for the brilliant answer.
Unfortunatly it was not the kind of information that I am looking for.

I make out from the information that is provided that the German glider pilots did not use any other kind of transportation. Or maybe some more information pop up. That they used a car that they found on the side of the road with the engine running! Or a bicycle!

Anyway, the part that I am looking for is if the German glider pilots were trained and used as infantry just as the British glider pilots.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by marketc47

John,

Thanks for the brilliant answer.
Unfortunatly it was not the kind of information that I am looking for.

I make out from the information that is provided that the German glider pilots did not use any other kind of transportation. Or maybe some more information pop up. That they used a car that they found on the side of the road with the engine running! Or a bicycle!

Anyway, the part that I am looking for is if the German glider pilots were trained and used as infantry just as the British glider pilots.

Now you´ve brought a perfect example with british gliderpilots. I think that you can compare it. German troops mostly were brought with the glider in areas in which infantry was needed. So - but what speaks against that soldiers drive each vehicle what they can find and what will bring them quickly to their target ? Better to drive than walk and save energy - not only typical for german soldiers in WW2, or ?


Regards

JohnnyB

[Empiricist]

Originally Posted by marketc47

Anyway, the part that I am looking for is if the German glider pilots were trained and used as infantry just as the British glider pilots.

Not the British only -- the US ones as well. The USAAF GPs were trained the same as infantry, what is more many times they were trained like Special Forces, although not a hundred percent of them. And the USAAF glider aircrews fought as typical infantry in Operations Market Garden and Varsity.

Regards

[ouidjat]

Hello,

You all said "they were trained and used as infantry..." talking about german glider pilots...
So, I suppose John was serious - and perfectly right - when he briefly answered "They walked"! As use to do all infantery men all over the world, don't they? specialy when they are dropped BEHIND enemy lines, No? No trucks, no tanks, no cars waiting for them; if so it wouldn't be "behind enemy lines", hence no use of gliders.

But anyway, the question is interesting, cause you forgot that Luftwaffe used at least three types of gliders and I suppose a pilot of a Me 323 wasn't suppose to walk, after landing, with the infantery, behind the line as did those of DFSxxx and so on...

Cheers, Franck.

[Empiricist]

Gents,

Slowly but systematically a part of this discussion directs itself to absurdity far from WWII history. It would be good to avoid situation where incomparable factors are compared and abstract history is created.

Originally Posted by marketc47

I am wondering what the German glider pilots did after they had landed their glider.

The German glider pilot was not a taxi driver. He was armed with MP40 and he had to fight together with the troops he carried into battlefield.

Originally Posted by marketc47

Or was their taks to get out of the area and back to an airfield for another lift?

That's American manner of thinking about gliderborne operations according to dramatic American problem of the glider pilots shortage. Remember please that the nazi system educated and trained the biggest number of glider pilots in the world then. Remember also please that the German airborne assaults finished themselves before they started on a grand scale. Crete was the first and the last bigger gliderborne assault of the German armed forces. That's why there were no questions for the German GPs "to walk or not to walk", "to fight or not to fight", "to wait or not to wait" for anything. The German gliderborne operations have never been the same as the Allied ones.

Originally Posted by ouidjat

But anyway, the question is interesting, cause you forgot that Luftwaffe used at least three types of gliders and I suppose a pilot of a Me 323 wasn't suppose to walk, after landing, with the infantery, behind the line as did those of DFSxxx and so on...

What are we talking about? The Me 323s have never taken part in gliderborne assault. For the Germans Crete and Operation Merkur is the last gliderborne invasion. Where do you see in history the Me 323s landing behind enemy lines with glider infantry on their boards to capture big enemy's territory?

[Boandlgramer]

Servus

Some months ago there was a story about a german glider pilot in an magazine.
If you like, I´ll try to find the magazine again and see if I find something of interest for you.

Best regards
Hans ( yes , that´s my name too )

[hucks216]

I believe they were expected to fight with everyone else.

[Peter]

Here is a link with accounts of how the gliders and pilots operated.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/camp...holmbattle.htm

Also, if you could get your hands on the publication Luftwaffe Im Focus 2/2003 you will find a photoreport on Unternehmen Rösselsprung that gives an good account to. Try Google operation Rösselsprung and you will propably find more.

Hope this helps.

Peter