The paratroopers had to secure the high ground behind the invasion beaches and seize a nearby airfield for Axis transport aircraft to land another division and supplies.<ref name="Greene/Massignani67">Greene/Massignani, p. 67</ref> Airborne units for the invasion included the German "Fliegerdivision 7" (11,000 men) plus the Italian 185th Airborne Division "Folgore" (7,500 men) and the 80th Infantry Division "La Spezia" airlanding division (10,500 men) approximately 29,000 airborne troops.