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wiking62 -> RE: Luftwaffe field divisions (3/9/2010 8:47:06 PM)
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In 1942 Hitler authorised the formation of the Luftwaffe Field divisions, however most of these divisions were inadequately trained, especially for combat on the Eastern Front. Here is a very brief history of each divison.
1st Luftwaffe Field division
Completed training in early 1943 and committed to AGN. First major engagement was in the withdrawal from Leningrad in January 1944. Suffered such heavy losses that it had to be disbanded.
2nd Luftwaffe Field division
Formed in 1942-43 and sent to AGC. Field Marshal Ernst Busch was not happy with this division and had it disbanded in early 1944. Most of the divisions men remained on the Eastern Front and were captured when AGC was smashed by the Russian offensive in July/August 1944.
3rd Luftwaffe Field division
Formed in 1942-43 and sent to AGC in late 1943. Disbanded in 1944. The divisions manpower remained on the Eastern Front.
4th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed 1942-43 and sent to AGC. In July 1944 the division was virtually destroyed at Vitebsk along with the rest of 3rd Panzer Army’s LIII Corps.
5th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed 1942-43 and sent to Southern sector of Eastern Front. Suffered very heavy casualties in the Russian winter offensive of 1942-43 and disbanded.
6th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed winter 1942-43 and sent to AGC. Attached to LIII Corps of 3rd Panzer Army and encircled and destroyed at Vitebsk.
7th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed late 1942 and sent to Army Group Don. As part of Army Detachment Hollidt the division tried to hold the Upper Chir river line. The 7th was badly mauled but did not collapse completely. Disbanded in May 1943 and manpower absorbed into the 15th Luftwaffe Field division.
8th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed 1942 and sent to Army Detachment Hollidt. Fought along the Upper Chir river line during winter of 1942/43 and had to be withdrawn and disbanded in the summer of 1943.
9th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed late 1942 and sent to Northern sector of Eastern Front in January 1943. Heavily engaged in the retreat from Leningrad in February 1944 and disbanded due to heavy casualties.
10th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed in 1942 and sent to AGN in January 1943. Part of 18th Army that was besieging Leningrad. Russian assaults to relieve Leningrad smashed the division and further heavy losses in the retreat through the Baltics to the Narva River led to the division being disbanded.
11th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed 1942 and in early 1943 sent to the Aegean Islands. February 1944 transferred to Megara area of Greece and participated in anti partisan operations. September 1944 retreated through the Balkans and was still in action on the Southern sector of the Eastern Front in 1945.
12th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed 1942-43 and sent to AGN. Heavy casualties in the retreat from Leningrad, but received a large number of replacements from Field divisions that were disbanded in early 1944. October 1944 the 12th was in action during the retreat through Latvia and took part in the battles of the Kurland Pocket. Surrendered with the 18th Army at the end of the war.
13th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed 1942 and sent to Northern sector of Eastern Front. The division was virtually destroyed when the Russians broke the siege of Leningrad and had to be disbanded.
14th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed 1942-43 and was not fully trained or equipped when it was sent to Norway to replace the 196th Infantry division. Transferred to the Jutland peninsular in Denmark in early 1944. Returned to Norway in mid 1944 where it remained until the end of the war. The division never saw combat.
15th Luftwaffe Field division
Formed late 1942 and sent to Army Group Don. The 15th fell apart during its first few days in combat. Removed from the front line and absorbed the survivors of the 7th LF division. Sent back to the front and in the autumn of 1943 the division sustained heavy losses around Taganrog. Soon afterwards the division was disbanded, but its manpower remained on the Eastern Front.
Rest to follow later - 16th LF to 22nd LF
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