 The German invasion force consisted of personnel from all branches of the "Wehrmacht", including veterans from the 22nd Infantry Division, a "Fallschirmjäger" (paratroop) battalion and an amphibious operations company "Küstenjäger" (Coast Raiders) from the Brandenburger special operation units.The Allied garrison of Leros consisted of most of the 234th Infantry Brigade with men of the 2nd The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Lieutenant Colonel Maurice French), the 4th The Buffs (The Royal East Kent Regiment), 1st The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) and the 2nd Company, 2nd Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (Brigadier Robert Tilney), who assumed command on 5 November.There were also regular Italian soldiers, mostly naval personnel, under Admiral Luigi Mascherpa.