The German Army was the first to fully realize the benefits of using airborne troops alongside armoured formations, and the first action most of these airborne elements saw was in May 1940, at the historic Eban Emael raid. Airborne forces were an essential part of these Blitzkrieg operations during 1940 and 41. They provided the essential elements of surprise, speed and shock that make up "lightning war". In this book, Bruce Quarrie looks at the creation, evolution and eventual disbandment of the German Airborne Divisions, through highly detailed orders of battle, TOEs and examinations of crucial aspects such as doctrine, training and the concept of vertical envelopment.