Background Operation Stösser
friedrich august freiherr von der heydte commanded operation
friedrich august freiherr von der heydte, hero of legendary if ill-fated airborne assault on crete, summoned on 8 december , told prepare mission, not given details. heydte given 8 days prepare. wanted use own regiment, forbidden because movement might alert allies impending counterattack. instead, provided kampfgruppe of 800 men. ii parachute corps tasked contributing 100 men each of regiments. instead of contributing best men ordered, regiments sent misfits , troublemakers. heydte not afford resist strongly. cousin of claus von stauffenberg, central figure in july 20, 1944 assassination attempt on hitler, under scrutiny.
in loyalty command, 150 men heydte s own unit, 6th parachute regiment, disobeyed orders , joined him. avoid alerting allied forces, german command planned conduct drop without reconnaissance or current aerial photographs.
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