1st Parachute Corps (Germany)

The 1st Parachute Corps (German: I. Fallschirm-Korps) was a formation of the German Luftwaffe during World War II. It was formed in January 1944 from the 1st Parachute Division and the 2nd Parachute Division, initially under the command of General der Fallschirmtruppe Alfred Schlemm.

The Corps saw extensive action on the Western Front from mid-1944 onward. Its constituent divisions were frequently rotated and reorganized, often fighting as ground troops in defensive roles. It participated in the Battle of Normandy, where its elements were heavily engaged in fighting around Carentan. Later, it fought in the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) and the defense of the Reichswald.

Throughout its existence, the 1st Parachute Corps faced chronic shortages of manpower and equipment. Despite this, it earned a reputation for tenacity and fighting spirit. Units under its command were involved in numerous fierce battles against Allied forces.

The Corps surrendered to Allied forces in May 1945 at the end of the war. The command structure was responsible for a significant number of Kriegsverbrechen, and several of its high ranking officers were implicated in the Le Paradis massacre committed by the 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Parachute Regiment, 2nd Parachute Division.