many had embarked on a covert rearmament
program and was experimenting with new
kinds of warfare. By 1921, Student had mas-
tered the sport of gliding, and his fertile mind
explored the possibility of its military applica-
tions. Furthermore, between 1924 and 1928,
he functioned in the Soviet Union as an ob-
server and witnessed firsthand large-scale
parachute drops by the Red Army. More than
anything else, the notion of air-dropped in-
fantry fired his imagination. However, Ger-
many still abided by the Versailles Treaty, so
such experiments remained illegal—at least
publicly. Student subsequently fulfilled a stint
of service with the Central Flying Office and
as director of air technology before Adolf
Hitler’s rise to power in 1933.
Intent upon restoring German pride and
military might, Hitler disregarded Versailles
altogether and commenced national rearma-
ment. In 1935, Student joined the newly
formed Luftwaffe as a lieutenant colonel and
established new technical courses for airmen.
Promoted to colonel by 1938, he realized a
personal dream by establishing Germany’s
first school for airborne warfare. He imple-
mented exacting physical and mental stan-
dards for potential paratroopers, whom he en-
visioned as a hard-hitting elite. He also urged
the creation of specialized weapons and
equipment for parachutists, laid the founda-
tion for glider-borne assault troops, and cre-
ated specialized transports to convey
weapons and supplies to drop zones. Signifi-
cantly, Student was also the first military com-
mander to implement psychological screen-
ing of volunteers to ensure they could
withstand the rigors inherent in airborne war-
fare. For months thereafter, the German para-
chute infantry (fallschirmjäger) of the Sev-
enth Fliegerdivision was a closely guarded
secret, but it would became the pride of the
military. The German High Command was so
impressed by Student’s achievements that it
raised him to major general in 1938.
When Germany invaded Poland in Septem-
ber 1939, Student’s 4,000 troops sat idly on the
sidelines because Hitler did not want to com-
promise their existence. It was not until May
1940 that he could conduct his first wartime
drops against the Low Countries. There Stu-
dent directed history’s first airborne assault
against Fort Eben Emael and several strategic
bridges in Belgium. These were quickly se-
cured with little loss, as was the Albert Canal.
In the severe fighting that followed around
Rotterdam, Student sustained a head wound
and spent several months recuperating. But
through surprise and mobility, his paratroop-
ers had proved their value to the Nazi regime.
He gained a promotion to lieutenant general
as a consequence. Allied forces then paid him
an even greater compliment by raising air-
borne forces of their own.
By the time Student resumed active duty in
January 1941, he became tasked with his most
ambitious conquest: the British-held island of
Crete. To accomplish this, he assembled
10,000 parachute and glider personnel,
backed by aerial transport and air cover. Op-
eration Merkur (Mercury) was intended as
the biggest aerial assault in history. Its objec-
tive was to secure an island garrisoned by
27,000 British troops and 14,000 Greek troops
under the command of Gen. Bernard Frey-
burg. Hitler, however, insisted that Student re-
main behind and direct operations from the
mainland. On May 20, 1941, the first German
elements arrived over Crete, but they encoun-
tered fierce resistance. Disregarding heavy
losses, the fallschirmjäger wrested control of
the Maleme airfield from the British, and rein-
forcements were brought in. Additional
troops also arrived by sea over the next two
weeks. The Germans eventually forced Frey-
burg to evacuate the island altogether, al-
though his forces survived intact. The same
could not be said for Student’s: Nearly 7,000
of his handpicked soldiers were casualties.
Hitler concluded that airborne operations
were too costly and grounded the paratroop-
ers for the rest of the war.
German airborne troops subsequently func-
tioned as an elite infantry force, numbering
upward of 150,000 men. Over the next four
years they fought with remarkable stamina,STUDENT, KURT