The 1st Assault Regiment seems, to have been an experimental unit, designed to be the spearhead of an air-borne attack. Although the assault regiment (fig. 4) constituted somewhat like an ordinary parachute regiment, it has not only graduate parachutists but also glider pilots among its personnel. In Crete only two of its companies landed near Allied troops, both being in gliders; but the remainder of the regiment was probably at least in part landed in Ju-52's, or even dropped by parachute (though not from gliders). It is believed that only about 50 gliders may have been used. Each glider carried a single combat group with all its armament. In theory the sections of the regiment transported by gliders could immediately make ready their arms and large quantities of ammunition and explosives, and could on account of this facility pass to serious attack in very little time. Although all the men carried by glider were graduate parachutists, only the glider pilot carried a parachute. Fatalities were high because a number of gliders were hit by AA fire and fell in flames. The supposition that the 1st Assault Regiment was an experimental regiment is borne out by the fact that Brigadier General Ramcke took command during the campaign in Crete, whereas the regiment was commanded both before and again after the campaign by Brigadier General Meindl.