Introducing project “Military Insignia”, featuring top quality military heraldry designs. Here you will find designer apparel, accessories and gifts decorated with the Fallschirmjägertruppe Barettabzeichen (Paratrooper Beret Badge). Fallschirmjägertruppe (Paratroopers) is an Army Service Branch of the Bundeswehr, and together with the Infantry, Gebirgsjägertruppe (Mountain Infantry), the Jägertruppe (Light Infantry Corps, or “Forrest Hunter” Troops) they form a combat core of the German Army (Heer) Infantry. The history of airborne troops, and thus the Fallschirmjägertruppe began with establishing of the airborne fighter battalions 106 and 116 (Luftlande-Jägerbataillone 106 Ellwangen and 116 Kempten) on July 3, 1956. Later the first Airborne Brigades - 25 ("Black Forest Brigade") and 26 ("Saarland Brigade") were formed. This was followed by the establishment of the Airborne Brigade 27, which is now part of the Mechanized Infantry Brigade 31 as the Airborne Brigade 31. In 1996, the airborne brigade was disbanded, and served as a base for the new Special Forces formation - Special Operations Division (Division Spezielle Operationen or DSO), formed at its old location in Calw. The Paratrooper Infantry forms the backbone of the German airborne troops. Specially equipped and trained, the paratroopers can be deployed on any difficult terrain for reconnaissance and special missions behind enemy lines. Designed as a light infantry, equipped with small arms, paratroopers are used as fast and mobile force carrying out infantry missions under difficult conditions, capable of both – defensive and offensive operations of urban and non-urban warfare, as well as of water, woodland and open field battle missions. They usually deployed to the areas of operations either by parachute air drops, or by means of light amphibious vehicles, or transport helicopters. Paratrooper’s specialty though is carrying out surprise attack or recon missions behind enemy lines. Since the paratroopers are only partially protected against enemy fire, as are equipped only with light arms and light vehicles, they need support of service branches during long deployments. This is why entire airborne brigades can also be air-dropped to follow the front line paratrooper units into the mission area.