The title is self explanatory but I will say it again I want Hungarian Paratroopers
but before we go to pictures lets go over the background
Background
The Hungarians were looking at incorporating Paratroopers into the Royal Hungarian Honvéd ( Honvéd means Defender of the Homeland , and is used in place of Army or Landwehr) as early as 1938, they were developing this independently of the Germans, but were aware of the Germans secretly trying to develop their own Fallschirmjager Forces. These troops were envisioned essentially as a kind of early elite special forces unit, to jump offensively into enemy territory to take command and communication centres, and to harass and slow enemy units.
The command of the Hungarian Paratroopers was given to Captain Vitéz Bertalan who was a WW1 veteran, who had led many raids behind Italian lines at night, as well as aggressive reconnaissance and capturing enemy prisoners, and a proponent of what is now called Asymmetric Warfare.
Initially knowing the Germans were attempting the same thing with the Fallschirmjager, they attempted to get support for their own program from the Germans, such as training, equipment (parachutes), jump procedures and tactics, but the Germans refused all requests. So they developed their own program from trial and error and their own limited experience. They purchased equipment from a variety of nations, they initially had a mix of British, Italian, German parachutes, and on their first jump from an obsolete Italian bomber, a Caproni CA-101 they had a 50% injury rate, with most injuries being the paratroopers breaking their legs on landing.
The issues noted from this include the unsuitability of the Caproni CA-101, which they nicknamed flying coffins , with it being very slow, and only able to carry 6 to 7 paratroopers. The mix of parachutes, causing issues with packing the chutes properly, and standardisation, and the lack of specialist jump gear for the troopers, for example in early jumps they used summer pilot coveralls, with officers boots, which did not support their ankles at all ( so a contributing factor in many broken legs), and also no proper helmets for head protection.
The troops were also trained in WW1 Stormtrooper tactics, with hand to hand combat, mass hand grenade barrages in assault and the use of the M1917 fighting knife, for close assaults. It was clear that they would need to be trained for this type of fighting given their role as elite light infantry, who would need to quickly assault enemy positions soon after landing.
They quickly realised without proper equipment they would be suffering needless casualties, so new planes were bought from Italy in 1939, as Germany was still refusing to help in any way, wanting to keep its elite airborne forces a secret, but Italy which was also developing its own program, would at least help to provide planes. Five Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 Marsupiale (Marsupial) transport aircraft were purchased, which were faster and could take up to 24 paratroopers per plane, they also had a top speed of 369 km/h compared to the 210 km/h of the older CA.101.
Additionally the Hungarians developed their own parachute system, a Hungarian aeronautical engineer Akos Hehs, who had been interested in parachutes, had developed his own parachute system, called the Hehs Parachute or 39M H. Gy Parachute System. It consisted of a dual parachute system, which had a main and reserve chute, which could be opened either by a static line when jumping from an aircraft, or by a pull wire on the harness itself. So it could be used either in mass combat jumps or in free fall jumps, this pre-dated other systems used by the allies, and his patent was bought by the United States in 1941, which they used to develop their own parachutes that were later used by American Paratroopers. This system also introduced the pilot chute system ( or brake chute system), a small chute that opened before the main canopy, which helped controlled opening of the chute and safe landing, similar to a drogue chute in modern parachutes. After WW2 he was brought to the US and helped work on parachutes for the NASA space program.
A new parachutist badge was also made, a grinning skull and crossed swords in front of a parachute and wings, to signify the deadly and dangerous nature of their unit, and also mobility of their service, this had taken inspiration from the Austro-Hungarian assault troops of WW1, the Stormtroopers who had a skull and a crossed stick grenade badge on their uniforms. This was well liked by the paratroopers and worn with pride. To them the parachutist badge was to represent that the “Paratrooper service demands fearless, completely reliable warriors, who can bring to the fore their sense of duty, and intend to fight a merciless fight, behind enemy lines to their last breath without a hope of return.” and was worn as such. A badge with a similar design but incorporating a wreath was also made, to signify 25 jumps for veteran paratroopers.
They practiced with their new equipment which performed well, the new SM.75 was a significant improvement from the slower CA.101, and their new chutes performed well. But as usual there were accidents, and several paratroopers were killed in practice jumps, both new recruits and experienced men of multiple jumps. This surely affected the other men training, but the now Major Bertalan found an effective way to inspire confidence in the troops and their equipment. After any fatal accident, he would perform the next jump with the killed paratroopers parachute, to show that they could trust their equipment. This example of confidence and bravery inspired his troops greatly, and they loved him for it, not only was he willing to face possible death with his troops, but he was also quickly approaching 40, showing he would do anything asked of them himself.
Despite all the money and effort put into developing their own equipment and procedures, they only made one combat jump, which was marred by a SM.75 crash on take-off, which killed 17 paratroopers as well as the unit Commander Major Bertalan. It was 1941 and they were going to jump into nearby Yugoslavia to secure a bridge to help with the Hungarian attack into their previous ally. The Germans asked for their help in invading Yugoslavia and in return they would get part of it that bordered Hungary that had ethnic Hungarians, this was distasteful to some Hungarians, with the Prime Minister committing suicide over this betrayal, given they had only signed a Treaty of Friendship in 1940 with Yugoslavia. The five SM.75’s were to take off under full combat load and drop a company from the Battalion to secure a bridge in Szenttamás (now Srbobran, Serbia) to help the Hungarian assault. It was noted that they appeared to be overloaded with paratroopers plus canisters with equipment, but this should not have affected lift off, just a longer take off.
Although the other commanders did not want him to go, Major Bertalan insisted he go, as he was the only combat veteran and was not willing to let him men jump without him. His plane crashed soon after take-off, and with the fuel and ammunition carried it exploded, killing 17 and a huge blow to unit morale, despite this the paratroopers insisted they continue the mission. They were late and landed at dusk, and without maps, which were in the lead plane, and although missing their jump mark they marched the 30 kilometres to their objective and proceeded to take it linking with other Hungarian forces. This was their first successful campaign and although the jump was not a 100% success, the following fighting did show the other good qualities of the paratrooper program, with the paratroopers noted for being excellent close assault troops, bravely taking enemy positions, and excellent espirit de corps. It was found later the crash was caused by improper storage of that plane during winter, which caused the hydraulic elevator trim to not function correctly.
After this there was no other combat jump for the Paratroopers into enemy territory, mostly due to how the war was progressing. They did do some supply jumps in July 1941 to help supply the Hungarian 1st Mountain Brigade, during the invasion of the Soviet Union, they had been advancing so fast they had outpaced their supply units, so were supplied by air. Ten paratroopers jumped in with the supplies to secure them south of Kolomea in the Ukraine, this was their last airborne operation. But mostly the army wanted to keep them back as an elite reserve that did not make most of the officers and NCO’s happy, as they wanted to go join the fight.
Another way for the Paratrooper officers and NCO’s to get experience on the Eastern Front was to be loaned out on three month “tours” as either PT instructors, platoon leaders, NCOs, or close combat instructors. They were well liked by their fellow soldiers as exemplary soldiers that inspired confidence in the troops around them, often getting stuck in with their troops to show them they were not above getting dirty to get the job done.
In 1943 they got their wish and were called up to help stall the Soviet advance on the Oder in Jan 1943 after the defeat at Stalingrad, with the Hungarian 2nd Army being wiped out in the Soviet Little Saturn Offensive. The Hungarians knowing they were outnumbered and with very little effective anti tank equipment, could not hope to hold the Soviet tanks. Despite asking for the release of Corps Cramer which had the remaining few Panzer 38t tanks from the German and Hungarian armoured division and the 168 Infantry Division, the Germans refused, and the Hungarians were pushed back.
The paratroopers were called up to relieve the survivors of the retreating Hungarian 2nd Army, and stalled the Soviets where they could during January and February 1943. This fighting withdrawal stopped them from being over-run and allowed 40,000 of the 200,000 Hungarians who went into the Russia to retreat. Despite huge losses, the Paratroopers gained valuable experience and also proved their worth where they could.
Equipment
As for firearms, they were equipped either with the 31M Mannlicher stutzen carbine, ideal for paratrooper jumps due to its short length. Also 37M Frommer service pistols, as a self defence weapon after jumping, which is unusual, as usually only officers get pistols. They also had Solothurn 31M light machine guns, and Solothurn anti tank rifles early in the war for anti tank firepower, which were later replaced with Hungarian produced Panzerfausts when the Germans finally gave them the designs and allowed them to produce them.
They were also equipped initially with the excellent MP35 Bergmann submachine gun from the Germans, until they produced their own submachine gun the Danuvia 39 and 43M sub-machinegun
1-M31
(Obviously with bayonet)
(can be unique weapon that is given to these Paratroopers making them a low BR Paras)
2-M37 Frommer
(Unique pistol that will come with this squad)
3-M31 LMG
(Hungarian MG 30 chambered in different round that the one we have in game can be unique weapon given to this squad)
4-S18-1000(Low BR)
5- Panzerfuast(High BR)
6-MP-35 (Low BR maybe?)
7-Danuvia 39 (Could be High BR SMG or unique gun )
(Normal one)
(Paratrooper variant:The standard Model 39 submachine gun has a one-piece stock. After testing the 39M for paratroopers they found it too long, so a version with a folding wooden butt was produced for paratroopers as the Model 39/A (or 39/AM). These guns were supplied with a special carbine sling. 276 folding stock Model 39/A guns were delivered in 1941.)
(Side note: This Submachine Gun was issued with a standard 35.M type Sword bayonet. 480mm overall, 340mm long double edged blade. 15mm dia socket sleeve. so if we get paratrooper variant pls add bayonet)
8-Danuvia 43
(Premium yes but they can always add bayonet and make it a unique gun for this Paratrooper squad cough AS-44 model 5 cough )
9-Dagger
- These were obviously stuff that was historically used by these troops now lets look at some other guns shall we
Danuvia 44.M
Frommer AR
Frommer FEG
Frommer SLR
And to finish it off the dagger on the top had cool design right Hungarian paratroopers use that kind of design to differentiate themselves(This was the paratrooper coat of arms I guess in hungary)
(The last one is badge worn by Hungarian Paratroopers)
Yeah thats all from me let me know what you guys think
