NAZI “ROOF CORPS”

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 7

NAZI “ROOF CORPS”

Ever since tho invasion of the Low Countries and France, in which they first made their mark,’ German parachutists have been trained intensively in new techniques. Since parachutists are likely to land on rooftops, they are equipped with tin shears for cutting through roofs and jemmies for prying open skylights and trapdoors, hi addition, they carry a strong light rope of silk, with a steel hook at one end.

To train these troops under conditions simulating those of warfare the entire eastern portion of Bronlberg (formerly a city of Poland) was turned over to them.

Heretofore parachutists have been vulnerable while descending. To overcome this the Germans have devised a new smokescreen that has reduced this, peril by 80 per cent._ A special powder, which is done up in the form of kernels and reacts to the atmosphere when exposed, is stocked in airtight cans. The larger kernels fall the more rapidly, the smaller disintegrating first. The screen thus produced is more effective than ordinary smoke because it is less quickly dispersed by tho wind.

Planes lauding parachutists will drop the smoke screen kernels, and each soldier will carry an additional supply for his own use if he is fired upon. All parachutists, according to official sources, are equipped with light, rapidfiring Mauser rifles of a hitherto unkiioivn type. The rifle is fitted with a telescopic sight that has luminous cross-hairs for night shooting.—Berlin correspondent of the American United Press.