Editing Battle of the Bulge (section)

===Operation Stösser===
{{Main|Operation Stösser}}
Operation Stösser was a paratroop drop into the American rear in the [[High Fens]] ({{langx|fr|link=no|Hautes Fagnes}}; {{langx|de|link=no|Hohes Venn}}; {{langx|nl|Hoge Venen}}) area. The objective was the "[[Baraque Michel]]" crossroads. It was led by [[Oberst]] Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte, considered by Germans to be a hero of the [[Battle of Crete]].{{sfn|Goldstein|Dillon|Wenger|1994|p=88}}

It was the German paratroopers' only nighttime drop during World War II. Heydte was given only eight days to prepare prior to the assault. He was not allowed to use his own regiment because their movement might alert the Allies to the impending counterattack. Instead, he was provided with a ''Kampfgruppe'' of 800 men. The [[2nd Parachute Corps (Germany)|II Parachute Corps]] was tasked with contributing 100 men from each of its regiments. In loyalty to their commander, 150 men from Heydte's own unit, the [[6th Parachute Division (Germany)|6th Parachute Regiment]], went against orders and joined him.{{sfn|Parker|2004|p=130}} They had little time to establish any [[unit cohesion]] or train together.

The parachute drop was a complete failure. Heydte ended up with a total of around 300 troops. Too small and too weak to counter the Allies, they abandoned plans to take the crossroads and instead converted the mission to reconnaissance. With only enough ammunition for a single fight, they withdrew towards Germany and attacked the rear of the American lines. Only about 100 of his weary men finally reached the German rear.{{sfn|Parker|2004|p=137}}