This is an analysis of paratroop operations in the first half of the Second World War, by Colonel F O Mieschke, who was seconded to the French Army by the Czech Army, and then moved to London with the French after Dunkirk.

Like his book Blitzkrieg (also published by MLRS) this is a soldier's analysis of a new factor in warfare - vertical envelopment.

First created by the Russians, paratroop operations were perfected by the Germans and later adopted witrh great success by the Allies.

This book tells the story of airborne forces in Europe and the operations, including the Low Countries, the Balkans and Crete, and then looks in detail at how to get airborne forces onto the ground and into battle.

A fascinating and well written study with a number of pertinent illustrations.