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Pals units were also stopped after ww1 after units had their men killed on a single day. In Hull, where I grew up, an entire neighbourhood signed up and then “vanished” in Gallipoli. The government of the day realised the damage to morale (in the short term) and life (after the war) was potentially crippling.
That said, paratroops are supposed to be shock troops deployed to hold places whilst the infantry and armour turn up. They did try it in this invasion to seize airports but it wasn’t a great success.
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Attaching regiments to regional areas started in the 1870s with the Cardwell reforms for example The 15th of Foot became The East Yorkshire Regiment who were amalgamated into The Prince of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment who amalgamated with The Duke of Wellingtons Regiment and The Green Howard’s (by far the best of the 3) into The Yorkshire Regiment.
Pals regiments were part of The Kitchener army the Hull ones may have been called 6th battalion The East Yorkshire Regiment ? They used to take on regular regiments traditions.
For example The Green Howard’s have a regimental day Alma Day a battle in the Crimean war.There were also reserve regiments based on occupations The Post Office rifles, Civil service etc, there is still The Inns of Court Yeomanry(The Devils Own).
Oh and The Artists Rifles.
Dibble
There is another possible reason for the use of so many Paratroopers (lots of the destroyed vehicles are BMD s which are used by them).
Until late in WWI both the British and the Germans chose soldiers for regiments on a regional basis, the London Regiment etc. Towards the end of the war the Germans started forming Stormtrooper battalions from their best and most eager soldiers. It was felt by the British this weakened the regular line infantry.
When the Wehrmacht regrew in the 30s they carried on the idea of elite units, if you weren’t very physical or keen you ended up guarding a sewage works near Brussels.
The British took a while to firm Commando and Paratroop units.
German fighting (not guarding) units tended to press attacks harder than British units.
If you have mass armies it’s advantageous to group the keen soldiers together, it doesn’t take many soldiers in a unit to stay in their foxholes rather than charge for an attack to fail.
What I’m saying in brief is conscript armies tend to be of variable quality and reliability Russia may have just used their best and most reliable troops.