Kurt Student

Kurt Student (1890–1978) was a prominent German Luftwaffe general and a pioneering figure in the development of airborne warfare during World War II. Serving as the commander of the Fallschirmjäger, Germany's elite paratrooper division, he led the first major airborne operation in history—the Battle for The Hague in May 1940. Student also masterminded the invasion of Crete in May 1941, marking the largest airborne assault of the war .Wikipédia+15pantheon.world+15+15

Born in Birkholz, Brandenburg, Student began his military career as a fighter pilot during World War I, achieving six confirmed aerial victories. After the war, he focused on the development of airborne tactics and glider operations, which were initially inspired by Soviet military experiments. In 1938, he was appointed to establish Germany’s first parachute battalion, laying the groundwork for the Fallschirmjäger .+2+2+2Despite his military successes, Student's legacy is marred by his involvement in war crimes during the Battle of Crete, where he authorized reprisals against civilians and the mistreatment of prisoners of war. In 1947, he was convicted of war crimes but received a relatively lenient sentence and was released in 1948 .Spartacus Educational+16+16howold.co+16+2howold.co+2+2

One of his notable quotes reflects his strategic mindset:

"For fear of dropping the troops in the sea, the pilots tended to drop them too far inland—some of them actually in the British lines. The weapon containers often fell wide of the troops, which was another handicap that contributed to our excessive casualties." BrainyQuote+8+8+8

This statement underscores the challenges and complexities of airborne operations during the war.