Landungen

Landungen is the plural form of Landung, meaning the act of landing. In general use, it denotes the moment when a vehicle, person or equipment moves from water or air to land, or when an aircraft touches down. In a military context, Landung refers to an operation that deploys forces from sea or air onto a shore or otherwise contested area.

There are two broad types of military landings. Luftlandung, or airborne landing, involves dropping troops from aircraft or delivering them by glider, sometimes supported by helicopters. Seelandung, or amphibious landing, occurs when troops and equipment are transported from ships or landing craft directly to a coast, beach or landing zone, often with naval support and specialized vehicles.

Planning and execution of landings require careful coordination of air, sea and ground elements. Key factors include weather, tides and surf, the geography of beaches, and the defensive arrangements of the target area. Pre-landing activities may involve reconnaissance, bombardment, mine clearance and air superiority, followed by the initial wave of troops and the subsequent flow of personnel, vehicles and supplies.

Notable historical landings illustrate the variety of operations that fall under the term. The Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944 are among the most famous amphibious operations. The German invasion of Crete in 1941 is a well-known example of a large airborne landing. Other campaigns, in Italy, Sicily and the Pacific, also hinged on successful landings to establish footholds and enable further advances.

See also: landing craft, air assault, amphibious warfare.