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Sunday, March 29, 2026

Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke Inspects 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division

Generalleutnant Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (Kommandeur 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division) on an inspection tour to observe the war exercises of his division at Damgan and Morbihan beach in Brittany, France, in May 1943.

In the spring of 1943, as the Axis position in North Africa collapsed and the Allies prepared for major offensives in the Mediterranean and Western Europe, Generalleutnant Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke assumed command of the newly formed 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division. One of the most visible expressions of his leadership during this critical rebuilding phase came during an inspection tour in May 1943, when he observed large-scale war exercises conducted by his paratroopers at Damgan beach and along the Morbihan coast in Brittany, western France.

The 2nd Fallschirmjäger Division was officially activated in February 1943 in the Vannes area of Brittany, under the operational control of the German 7. Armee. It was built around the veteran core of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 (drawn from the remnants of Ramcke’s legendary parachute brigade that had fought in North Africa) and supplemented by new regiments (FJR 6 and FJR 7) formed from Luftwaffe field battalions, air-landing units, and other Luftwaffe ground personnel.

Ramcke, a highly decorated veteran who had earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves) for his actions in Crete and North Africa, was the ideal choice to command this formation. At 54 years old, the former naval infantryman turned paratroop general brought rigorous standards, combat-proven tactics, and an uncompromising emphasis on discipline and readiness. By early 1943, Hitler had largely forbidden large-scale airborne assaults following the costly success on Crete in 1941, so the new division trained primarily as elite shock infantry capable of rapid deployment by air, glider, or ground transport.

The Brittany coast—rugged, windswept, and strategically positioned along the Atlantic Wall—provided an ideal training ground. The Morbihan department (including the Gulf of Morbihan and beaches such as Damgan) offered realistic conditions for practicing beach defense, amphibious counter-landing drills, rapid reinforcement, and combined-arms maneuvers. These exercises simulated potential Allied seaborne or airborne assaults on the French Atlantic coast, which German high command still feared in 1943.

In mid-May 1943, just weeks before the division’s scheduled relocation south to the Ales–Nîmes area, Ramcke conducted a personal inspection tour of the training exercises. Contemporary German records and surviving photographs document the general, typically dressed in his dark-blue uniform with paratrooper insignia, observing troops from elevated positions overlooking the beach and participating in field briefings.

The exercises at Damgan beach and the broader Morbihan coastline focused on several key elements:

Beach defense and anti-landing drills: Paratroopers practiced rapid response to simulated enemy landings, including coordinated machine-gun fire, anti-tank obstacles, and immediate counter-attacks.
Live-fire maneuvers: Units conducted realistic assaults across the dunes and tidal flats, integrating artillery, mortars, and infantry assaults under realistic combat conditions.
Air-landing and mobility training: Although mass parachute drops were limited due to fuel and aircraft shortages, glider and transport-plane coordination was rehearsed, along with rapid movement of heavy weapons and reinforcements.
Leadership and cohesion building: Ramcke emphasized the “Fallschirmjäger spirit”—aggressive close-quarters combat, self-reliance, and tenacious defense—drawing on lessons from North Africa where his brigade had fought with distinction despite being heavily outnumbered.

Ramcke was known for his hands-on style; he frequently walked among the troops, inspected equipment personally, and delivered motivational addresses. These visits served not only to evaluate readiness but also to boost morale among veterans still recovering from the Tunisian disaster and new recruits integrating into an elite unit.

The timing was significant. The division had only been in existence for about three months. Ramcke’s inspection ensured that standards remained high before the formation moved south to join XI Fliegerkorps as a strategic reserve. By late May 1943, the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Division relocated to southern France, later deploying to Italy in the wake of the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Italian armistice.