11th Luftwaffe Field Division

Last updated
11th Luftwaffe Field Division
Active1942–1945
CountryFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Type Infantry
Size Division
Engagements

The 11th Luftwaffe Field Division (German : 11.Luftwaffen-Feld-Division) was an infantry division of the Luftwaffe branch of the Wehrmacht that fought in World War II. It was formed at Troop Training Camp Munsterlager, in Luftgau IV (Dresden region), in October 1942. The cadre used to create this unit was Flieger-Regiment 31, which had been stationed in Hilversum since 1941. The Division was organized around two Jager Regiments: Luftwaffen-Jager-Regiment 21 and Luftwaffen-Jager-Regiment 22 with three battalions each. The Division did not initially contain a Panzer-Jager battalion but did an Infanteriegeschutz-Kompanie (or specialized infantry heavy weapons company) and a Panzer-Jager Kompanie in each regiment. The Flak Battalion comprised four batteries. Batteries I and II comprised six Flak 38 Guns each 2 cm Flak 30, Flak 38 and Flakvierling 38 and III Battery comprised three quadruple barreled Flakvierling 38 Guns. Number IV Battery comprised four Flak 36 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41 Guns. The Artillery Regiment initially also contained two Artillerie-Abteilung of four batteries of towed (by the Opel Blitz) vehicles 7.5 cm FK 38, with four guns in each. There was also a Pioneer-Battalion, a Bicycle or Radfabr-Kompanie (which acted as the division's reconnaissance), a signals company and a supply company. [Note 1] [Note 2] [1] In January 1943 it was sent to Greece to combat increased partisan activity and served in Army Group E. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Operational history

From 1 January 1943 till August 1944 it was stationed in the occupied Greece, under LXVIII Army Corps (Wehrmacht) as part of Army Group E. From February 1943 until April 1943 the Division was stationed in Crete and other surrounding islands but moved back to the mainland by April 1943 [7] and was moved to occupied Greek Macedonia on September of that year. In November 1943 the Division was absorbed into the Heer as Felddivision 11 (L). The Flak Battalion was also removed by Hermann Goring at this time and returned to the Luftwaffe . On 9 August 1944 this division was implicated in the largest roundup in Athens, the Raid of Kokkinia, with hundreds of civilians participating in the resistance executed, thousands of hostages sent to concentration camps, burning down of entire house blocks, and significant atrocities. [8] [9]

In the later half on 1943 elements of the Division operated with the Brandenburgers commandos during the Dodecanese campaign and the Battle of Leros, which resulted in a British defeat. It took part in August 1944 in Operation Kondor, in which atrocities were committed against civilians. In September 1944 it began its move Northwards along with other German forces to withdraw from the Balkans. In February 1945 the division was assigned to the XV SS Cossack Cavalry Corps, in addition to the corps' existing 1st and 2nd Cossack Cavalry Divisions and took part in Operation Spring Awakening along with Army Group F. [11] [3] On 8 May 1945 The Division surrendered to British forces at Klagenfurt. On balance Munoz states, "The Division operated with greater success than most other Luftwaffe Field Divisions." [12]

Commanders

Notes

Footnotes
  1. ↑ On the 30 August 1943 an additional artillery battalion was added. I Artllerie-Abteilung now had three batteries of four towed 7.5 cm FK 38 guns. II Artllerie-Abteilung now had three batteries of four towed Canon de 75 modèle 1897 howitzers modified for modern battlefield conditions, i.e. their wooden wheels were replaced with all metal ones, like German anti-tank guns. The Third, III Artllerie-Abteilung had two batteries of four towed Canon de 75 modèle 1897 howitzers. [1]
  2. ↑ By the spring of 1943 divisional Panzer-Jager Abteilung (battalion) had been established as two companies of nine 5 cm Pak 38 anti-tank guns and five 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti tank guns. There was also a battery of four 75mm L48 long barreled Sturmgeschütz III assault guns. However, one source says that only the battalion headquarters and 1 Panzer-Jager Kompanie were created. [1]
  3. ↑ Of three companies.
  4. ↑ In November 1943 This battalion was removed from the division and became I Flak-Abteilung of Flak Regiment 28 (motorisiert).
  5. ↑ In August 1943 the Divisions Supply Support Elements were increased significantly. [7]
  6. ↑ The III Artillerie-Abteilung now consisted of two batteries of four Yugoslav Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider Guns each and one battery of four Russian 152 mm howitzer M1910/37 Guns.
  7. ↑ In the summer of 1944 I Artillerie-Abteilung and II Artillerie-Abteilung now exchanged their 75mm guns for 10.5 cm leFH 18M howitzers, each possessing three batteries of four guns.
  8. ↑ The Bicycle or Radfabr Kompanie had been expanded to a battalion of three companies to act as the division's reconnaissance unit.
  9. ↑ The The Panzer-Jager Battalion consisted of one company of 12 7.5 cm Pak 40 Anti Tank Guns and one battery of 10 75mm L48 Long Barreled Sturmgeschutz IV Assault Guns.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 Munoz 2025, pp. 103.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mitcham & 2007v2, pp. 309–310.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Munoz 2025, pp. 102–117.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mitcham 1985, pp. 431–432.
  5. ↑ Munoz 2025, pp. 102.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Munoz 2025, pp. 107.
  7. 1 2 Munoz 2025, pp. 104.
  8. ↑ Chandrinos, Iasonas (2012). ΤΟ ΤΙΜΩΡΟ ΧΕΡΙ ΤΟΥ ΛΑΟΥ, Η ΔΡΑΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΣ ΟΠΛΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΑΤΕΧΟΜΕΝΗ ΠΡΩΤΕΥΟΥΣΑ 1942–1944 (in Greek). Thessaloniki: Επίκεντρο. p. 148. ISBN   9789603103882.
  9. ↑ Χανδρινός, Ιάσωνας (2018). Χάλαρη, Μαριάννα (ed.). "Έλληνες όμηροι και καταναγκαστικοί εργάτες στη ναζιστική Γερμανία, επίμετρο στο: Ρόμπερτ Στράιμπελ, Απρίλιος στο Στάιν, μυθιστόρημα" . University of Regensburg (in Greek). Αθήνα: Αλφειός. p. 359. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  10. ↑ Munoz 2025, pp. 108.
  11. ↑ Newland, Samuel J. (1991). Cossacks in the German Army, 1941-1945. London, England: Frank Cass. p. 164. ISBN   0-7146-3351-8.
  12. ↑ Munoz 2025, pp. 114.
  13. 1 2 3 Mitcham & 2007v2, pp. 310.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Munoz 2025, pp. 117.

References

    Sources

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