The I Fallschirmkorps (1st Parachute Corps) was one of the main German Luftwaffe Corps during World War II.

History

This Corps was formed on 1 January 1944 in Rome from Alfred Schlemm's headquarters staff, including from the II Luftwaffe Field Corps and the XIII Luftwaffe Air Corps. The Corps fought exclusively in Italy. During it existence, it was composed of the 1st and 4th Parachute Divisions and several Infantry Divisions. The 1st Parachute Corps were initially dispatched from Rome to bolster the

Winter Line The Winter Line was a series of German and Italian military fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt and commanded by Albert Kesselring. The series of three lines was designed to defend a western section of ...

along the

Garigliano River The Garigliano () is a river in central Italy. It forms at the confluence of the rivers Gari (also known as the Rapido) and Liri. Garigliano is actually a deformation of "Gari-Lirano" (which in Italian means something like "Gari from the Liri"). ...

, but were urgently transferred to oppose the Allied beachhead at

Anzio Anzio (, also , ) is a town and ''comune'' on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome. Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a Port, fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine I ...

as part of

Operation Shingle The Battle of Anzio was a battle of the Italian Campaign of World War II that took place from January 22, 1944 (beginning with the Allied amphibious landing known as Operation Shingle) to June 5, 1944 (ending with the capture of Rome). The ope ...

. By 18 January 1944, under orders from Field Marshal Alfred Kesselring, their role specifically involved protecting the coastal sector near Rome. The 1st Parachute Corps were made headquarters in charge of the operation to defend the coastal area of Anzio for three days until passing command to Colonel General

Eberhard von Mackensen Friedrich August Eberhard von Mackensen (24 September 1889 – 19 May 1969) was a German general and war criminal during World War II who served as commander of the 1st Panzer Army and the 14th Army. Following the war, Mackensen stood trial for ...

, commander of the Fourteenth Army in northern Italy. And at 0830 on the 22nd, Kesselring directed General

Heinrich von Vietinghoff Heinrich Gottfried Otto Richard von Vietinghoff genannt Scheel (6 December 1887 – 23 February 1952) was a German general (''Generaloberst'') of the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oa ...

to transfer the headquarters and all combat troops that could be spared of the I Parachute Corps to the Anzio area as quickly as possible. Allied troops landed in Anzio on 22 January 1944. At 1700, the I Parachute Corps established a defensive line at the Anzio beachhead and took command of all arriving troops, by which point it was clear a major landing was taking place. Of the 1st Parachute Corps, only the 29th Panzer Division were reported to put up significant resistance during the landing. The Corps fought at Anzio for the next three months. Schlemm was cited in the official Armed Forces Communiqué and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his efforts. Later on, the Corps fought in the

Battle of Monte Cassino The Battle of Monte Cassino, also known as the Battle for Rome and the Battle for Cassino, was a series of four assaults made by the Allies against German forces in Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War II. The ultimate objective was ...

and

Battle of Bologna The Battle of Bologna was fought in Bologna, Italy from 9–21 April 1945 during the Second World War, as part of the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy. The Allied forces were victorious, with the Polish II Corps and supporting Allied units capturin ...

. The Corps capitulated on 3 May 1945 in the Trento – Bolzano – Belluno area in Northern Italy.

Commanding officer

* General der Flieger

Alfred Schlemm Alfred Schlemm (18 December 1894 – 24 January 1986) was a German ''General der Fallschirmtruppe'' in the Wehrmacht. His last command in World War II opposed the advance of the First Canadian Army through the Reichswald in February 1945. Early ...

(1 January 1944 - 1 November 1944) * General der Fallschirmtruppe

Richard Heidrich __NOTOC__ Richard Heidrich (27 July 1896 – 22 December 1947) was a German paratroop general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany. Heidrich was taken prison ...

(1 November 1944 - 23 January 1945) * Generalleutnant

Hellmuth Böhlke __NOTOC__ Hellmuth Böhlke (7 February 1893 – 8 April 1956) was a German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded the 334. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, ...

(acting, 23 January 1945 - 7 February 1945) * General der Fallschirmtruppe Richard Heidrich (7 February 1945 - 3 May 1945)

Sources

{{Corps of the Luftwaffe Airborne units and formations of Germany Patachute,01 Military units and formations established in 1944 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945