I Airborne Corps (United Kingdom)
I Airborne Corps | |
---|---|
Active | 1943–1945 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Airborne forces |
Size | Corps |
Part of | First Allied Airborne Army |
Nickname(s) | Red Devils [nb 1] |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Frederick Arthur Montague Browning Richard Nelson Gale |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol |
The I Airborne Corps was an airborne forces corps raised by the British Army during the Second World War. Together with the U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps it was part of the First Allied Airborne Army.
Formation
Under the command of Lieutenant-General Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, the I Airborne Corps was formed in 1943, with the 1st and the 6th Airborne divisions.[2] In August 1944, the corps became part of the First Allied Airborne Army, alongside the U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps.[2]
Later in the war, as well as the 1st and 6th Airborne divisions, the corps had the 1st Special Air Service Brigade, the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade and the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division an air-transportable division under corps command.[3][4] Other units assigned to the corps were the U.S. 82nd, and U.S. 101st Airborne divisions during Operation Market Garden. Lieutenant-General Richard Nelson Gale, who had previously commanded the 6th Airborne Division during the Battle of Normandy, took command of the corps in December 1944.[5]
Notes
- Footnotes
- ↑ The 1st Parachute Brigade had been called the "Rote Teufel" or "Red Devils" by the German troops they had fought in North Africa. The title was officially confirmed by General Sir Harold Alexander and henceforth applied to all British airborne troops.[1]
- Citations
References
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