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 Luftgau I, in Konigsberg, East Prussia. The Majority of the Division was trained at Heerestruppenubungsplatz Gross-Born. The infantry recruits came from Flieger-Regiment 10, a cadre regiment under the command of Oberst Robert Pistorius. The New Division's infantry complement lacked a regimental headquarters, but did have four independently led infantry battalions. ^[1] Its Artillery Battalion contained three batteries of 10.5 cm leFH 18M Towed Guns (by the Raupenschlepper Ost or Opel Blitz vehicles). ^[2] The Panzer-Jager Battalion contained three batteries of 7.5 cm Pak 40 Towed Anti Tank Guns and a battery of 75mm L24 Short Barreled Sturmgeschütz III Assault Guns. The Flak Battalion contained three companies of three Batteries of four, armed with the single barreled Flak 38 2 cm Flak 30, Flak 38 and Flakvierling 38, three batteries of four of the Flak 37 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37 and four Flak 36 guns 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41. It served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to early 1944 at which time it was disbanded. ^[2]

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 5]} Gustav Wilke. Intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from surplus Luftwaffe (German Air Force) ground crew. The division included four battalions of infantry, as well as artillery, 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 the 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. ^[3]

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, the division itself was disbanded shortly afterwards. Its surviving personnel were absorbed by the 28th Jager Division. ^{[Note 6] [3]}

Commanders

• Oberst Gustav Wilke (30 September 1942 – 16 January 1943; 14 April – 14 June 1943; 23 July — 30 September 1943);
• Generalmajor ^{[Note 7]} Werner Zech (17 January – 13 April 1943);
• Oberst Anton Longin (15 June – 22 July 1943);
• Generalmajor Rudolf Petrauschke (1 October 1943 – February 1944). ^{[3] [Note 8]}

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. ^[7]

Notes

Footnotes

1. After the detachment of the Flak Battalion in December 1943 this Comprised a company of towed 75mm Pak 40 anti-tank guns, 37mm Flak company mounted on halftracks, and an assault gun battery of Sturmgeschutz III 75mm L24 assault guns. ^[2]
2. Detached 1 November 1943 & returned to Luftwaffe Control & redesignated 1 Flak-Abteilung/Flak Regiment 40. ^[2]
3. The Divisions Artillery Regiment now contained three battalions. II-III Artillerie-Abteilung contained three batteries of 10.5 cm leFH 18M. I Artillerie-Abteilung contained three batteries of 15 cm sFH 18 Howitzers. ^[4]
4. After the detachment of the Flak Battalion in December 1943 this Comprised a company of towed 75mm Pak 40 anti-tank guns, 37mm Flak company mounted on halftracks, and an assault gun battery of Sturmgeschutz III 75mm L24 assault guns. ^[2]
5. The rank of Oberst is equivalent to that of colonel in the United States Army. ^[5]
6. The Division took 1,300 casualties of Men Killed & Wounded in the Soviet Leningrad-Novgorod offensive. ^[6]
7. The rank of generalmajor is equivalent to that of brigadier general in the United States Army. ^[5]
8. Ranks stated are those at the time of taking command. ^[3]

Citations

1. Munoz 2025, pp. 9.
2. Munoz 2025, pp. 9–16.
3. Mitcham 2007a, pp. 299–300.
4. Munoz 2025, pp. 59.
5. Mitcham 2007b, p. 197.
6. Munoz 2025, pp. 14.
7. 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.
• Mitcham, Samuel W. (1985). German Order of Battle World War II. Trowbridge, Wiltshire: Leo Cooper in association with Secker & Warburg Limited, London. ISBN   0-436-28200-3.