DISCONTINUED KAPITAN Z E/506TH PIR, HOLANDIA 44 (506TH PIR CAPTAIN, HOLLAND 1944, BUST)

The first attempts to use airborne units took place in the US armed forces in the early 1930s, but they turned out to be unsuccessful. Only the outbreak of World War II in Europe accelerated the development of this formation in the United States, and the first parachute unit in the history of the US Army was one of the platoons of the 29th Infantry Regiment, which in 1940 underwent appropriate training. One of the most important figures in the development of American airborne units was General William C. Lee, also known as the father of this formation. During World War II, two airborne divisions were formed: 82nd ("All American") and 101st ("Screaming Eagle"). American troops of this type played a huge role in the first days of the operation in Normandy (June 1944), but also fought later as part of Operation Market-Garden (1944) or Varsity (1945).Richard "Dick" Winters was born on January 21, 1918 and died on January 2, 2011. He was an American airborne officer from the Second World War. He enlisted in the army in August 1941. He completed a basic infantry training course and then was assigned to officer training at Fort Benning. In July 1942, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant. Shortly thereafter, he joined the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (nickname: Screaming Eagles). In the period from the summer of 1942 to June 1944, he underwent continuous command training, as well as parachute training - from 1943 already in Great Britain. During World War II, Richard "Dick" Winters took part in Operation Overlord, he fought in Normandy, France, in Operation Market-Garden and - perhaps most of all - at Bastogne, in the course of the German counteroffensive in the Ardennes at the turn of 1944-1945. In 1945, he served in southern Germany. In the period 1944-1945 he was promoted to the rank of major and became the commander of the E Company, 2nd battalion of his division. For his outstanding service, he was awarded several times, including: the Bronze Star and the Cross for Outstanding Service. The character of "Dick" Winters has become popular all over the world as a result of books by Stephen Ambrose and especially the series "Band of Brothers".