Following the pyrrhic victory of Crete in May 1941, Hitler refused to countenance any further large-scale airborne operations, and the Fallschirmjager took up a new role as elite 'line' infantry. It was in this capacity that they served in the Mediterranean from 1942 to 1945. They reinforced their reputation as some of the toughest troops of World War II through their performance in such battles as EI Alamein and Monte Cassino. This title explains how Germany's airborne forces were developed following the battle for Crete and how their changing was reflected in different organisational structures, training and doctrine.