The Canadian Army Journal

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airborne division. Western powers were slower to recognize the potential of airborne
forces but two actions would play a large role in changing western perceptions. On
May 10, 1940 a small German force quickly captured a critical feature of the Belgian
defences at Eben Emael 2 , opening the way for the German advance into Belgium. Then,
one year later, the German seizure of Crete by airborne forces convinced the British and
Americans of the utility of this new capability, precipitating a massive development of
western airborne forces. 3
Canada developed an airborne capability in step with its allies but the reasons had
more to do with politics than military capability. Indeed, throughout the Canadian
experience with airborne forces, there has always been a conflict between political
expediency and military requirement. As the former paratrooper Professor Bernd Horn
described it:
The Canadian attitude to airborne forces has always been schizophrenic and
driven by political purpose rather than by doctrine and operational necessity.
The failure to properly identify a consistent and pervasive role for airborne
forces led to a roller coaster existence, dependent on the personalities in
power and political expedients of the day. 4
Canada initially established the 1 st Canadian Parachute Battalion (1 st Cdn Para Bn)
for homeland defence and then sent it to fight with British airborne forces during The
Second World War. Following the war, the Battalion was disbanded and only a small
kernel of the capability remained in the Special Air Service (SAS) Company. This
company evolved into the Mobile Striking Force (MSF) and then the Defence of Canada
Force (DCF) before the Canadian Airborne Regiment (Cdn AB Regt) was established in
the 1960s. The Cdn AB Regt was eventually disbanded for political reasons in 1995
following the tragic murder of a Somali prisoner. Today, only a small measure of
parachute (as opposed to airborne 5 ) capability remains scattered throughout the
Canadian Forces. It now appears as if political motives and military lobbying are at play
to renew Canadian airborne capability. The Conservative Government has promised to
create a new airborne battalion of 650 troops with the necessary transport in Trenton,
Ontario. Prime Minister Harper clearly stated during the election campaign that “The
government of the day disbanded the Airborne Regiment to avoid getting to the bottom
of a particular incident.” 6
Canadian Army Journal Vol. 11.1 Spring 2008
Combat camera IS2005-0160