1st Luftwaffe Field Division

1st Luftwaffe Field Division (1. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division)
Active	1942–1944
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Engagements	World War II Eastern Front Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive

The 1st Luftwaffe Field Division (German : 1. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division) was an infantry division of the Luftwaffe branch of the Wehrmacht that fought in World War II. It was formed using surplus ground crew of the Luftwaffe in Konigsberg, East Prussia. It served on the Northern Sector of the Eastern Front under Army Group North from late 1942 to early 1944 at which time it was disbanded.

Operational history

The 1st Luftwaffe Field Division, the first of several such divisions, was formed in mid-1942 in Königsberg, Eastern Prussia, under the command of Oberst ^{[Note 2]} Gustav Wilke. Intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from surplus Luftwaffe (German Air Force) ground crew. Infantry recruits came from Flieger-Regiment 10, a cadre regiment under the command of Oberst Robert Pistorius. The division included four battalions of infantry, as well as artillery, anti-tank, engineer and signal units although it lacked regimental staff. After training was completed in December 1942 it was sent to Army Group North as part of Georg Lindemann's 18th Army although still under Luftwaffe command. Stationed near Novgorod, it was transferred to the Army in December 1943. The division saw little fighting until the withdrawal from Leningrad in January 1944 during which it was involved in heavy defensive battles north of Novgorod. ^{[1] [2]}

The division's personnel were inadequately trained for its role as infantry and due to the heavy losses incurred in the Soviet attacks of the 1943/1944 winter, ^{[Note 3]} the division itself was disbanded shortly afterwards. Its surviving personnel were absorbed by the 28th Jager Division. ^[1]

Commanders

The following officers were commanders of the 1st Luftwaffe Field Division: ^{[Note 4]}

• Oberst Gustav Wilke (30 September 1942 – 16 January 1943; 14 April – 14 June 1943; 23 July — 30 September 1943);
• Generalmajor ^{[Note 5]} Werner Zech (17 January – 13 April 1943);
• Oberst Anton Longin (15 June – 22 July 1943);
• Generalmajor Rudolf Petrauschke (1 October 1943 – February 1944). ^[1]

War commentary

At least 680 graves of soldiers of the 1st Luftwaffe Field Division are found at the war cemetery in Veliky Novgorod, where a total of 11.400 German and Spanish soldiers are buried. ^[5]

Notes

Footnotes

1. This comprised a company of towed 75mm Pak 40 anti-tank guns, a 37mm Flak company mounted on halftracks, and an assault gun battery of Sturmgeschutz III 75mm L24 assault guns. ^[2]
2. The rank of Oberst is equivalent to that of colonel in the United States Army. ^[3]
3. Some 1,300 personnel were killed or wounded in the Soviet Leningrad-Novgorod offensive. ^[4]
4. Ranks stated are those at the time of taking command. ^[1]
5. The rank of generalmajor is equivalent to that of brigadier general in the United States Army. ^[3]

Citations

1. Mitcham 2007a, pp. 299–300.
2. Munoz 2025, pp. 9–16.
3. Mitcham 2007b, p. 197.
4. Munoz 2025, pp. 14.
5. de:Kriegsgräberstätte Nowgorod

References

• Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007a). German Order of Battle, Volume Two: 291st–999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN   978-0-8117-3437-0.
• Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007b). German Order of Battle, Volume Three: Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen SS Divisions in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN   978-0-8117-3438-7.
• Munoz, Antonio J. (2025). Hitler's Luftwaffe Infantry, The German Air Force Field Divisions 1942–1945. Frontline Books. ISBN   978-1-03613-033-6.