2nd Flak Division

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2nd Flak Division
(2nd) Air Defense Command Leipzig
German: Flak-Division 2
Luftverteidigungs-Kommando (Nr. 2) Leipzig
Active1 July 1938 – April 1945
CountryFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
TypeAnti-aircraft unit
Role Anti-aircraft warfare
Size Division
Engagements Eastern Front
Battle of the Bulge
Ruhr pocket
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Walter Feyerabend
Heinrich Burchard
Heino von Rantzau
Alfons Luczny

The 2nd Flak Division (German : Flak-Division 2) was a anti-aircraft division unit of the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II. It was initially deployed as a stationary formation in Leipzig for the defense of the German homeland's air space, but became a mobile division in January 1942 and was deployed to the Eastern Front. Eventually, it was shuffled to the Western Front, where it was destroyed in 1945.

Contents

History

On 1 July 1938, the "Air Defense Command Leipzig" (Luftverteidigungs-Kommando Leipzig) staff was assembled in Leipzig. The staff's name received its number on 1 August 1939 and became "2nd Air Defense Command Leipzig" (Luftverteidigungs-Kommando Nr. 2 Leipzig). On 1 September 1941, the name of the formation was changed to 2nd Flak Division (Flak-Division 2). [1] : 138  The initial head of the air defense staff was Walter Feyerabend, who commanded the staff and subsequent divisions in three tenures between July 1938 and 3 February 1942, with interruptions by Heinrich Burchard (in command from 10 April 1940 until 1 July 1941) and Oskar Bertram (in command from 1 September 1941 until 12 January 1942). [2]

In January 1942, the 2nd Flak Division was replaced in its stationary defensive task by 14th Flak Division, which had been newly created for just this purpose. [3] : 311  The 2nd Flak Division was turned into a mobile division for service in the field. It was sent to the Eastern Front, where it was assigned to support Army Group North. It contained the Flak Regiments 41 (at Luga, air support for the army group rear area), 151 (at Medved, support for 16th Army) and 164 (in support of 18th Army), as well as an air signals company and a divisional supply staff. [1] : 138  On 3 February 1942, Feyerabend's third and final tenure as divisional commander ended, and he was replaced by Heino von Rantzau. [2]

In September 1942, the newly inserted 6th Flak Division was deployed to the front. The 2nd Flak Division was subsequently restrained to the army group's rear area. [1] : 138  Von Rantzau was replaced by Alfons Luczny on 1 October 1943. [2]

The withdrawal to the Narva river had resulted in numerous damaged formations; the 2nd Flak Division was bolstered with scattered survivors of the heavily battered 9th Luftwaffe Field Division and 10th Luftwaffe Field Division. [4] : xiii  In February 1944, the 2nd Flak Division was deployed from Luga to Pskov and subsequently to Dorpat. [1] : 138  In 1944, the 2nd Flak Division supported the 18th Army with its flak guns, including on ground level against enemy tanks. [2] By 15 June 1944, the division was part of "Coastal Defense Command East" under Army Detachment Narwa. [5] : 119 

In September 1944, the 2nd Flak Division was sent to the Western Front, where it was reformed with three Assault Flak Regiments and used in the Battle of the Bulge. [1] : 138  On 8 January 1945, the division had a strength of 18 heavy flak batteries and 17 light or medium flak batteries, [2] with the 2 cm Flak counted as light, the 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37 and 5 cm FlaK 41 counted as medium, and the 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41 as well as any other larger calibers counted as heavy flak. [6] : 4  During the Battle of the Bulge, the 2nd Flak Division was involved in numerous friendly fire incidents. [7] : 95 

After the Western Allies had beaten back the German counteroffensive, the 2nd Flak Division was in the Eifel mountain range and found itself, in February 1945, in the city of Bonn. [1] : 138  In March, the division participated in the Battle of Cologne. [2] Eventually, the 2nd Flak Division was annihilated in the Ruhr pocket in April 1945. [1] : 138  The final divisional commander of the war had been a colonel-rank officer named Fritz Laicher, who had held this post since 15 November 1944. [2]

Noteworthy individuals

The 2nd Flak Division was commanded by the following persons: [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tessin, Georg (1966). Die Landstreitkräfte 001–005. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 2. Verlag E. S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN   3764808713.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). "2nd Flak Division". 1st–290th Infantry Divisions in WWII. German Order of Battle. Vol. 1. Stackpole Books. ISBN   9780811746540.
  3. ↑ Tessin, Georg (1967). Die Landstreitkräfte 006–014. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 (in German). Vol. 3. Frankfurt/Main: Verlag E. S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH.
  4. ↑ Steiniger, Erhard (2019). Radio Operator on the Eastern Front: An Illustrated Memoir, 1940–1949. Greenhill Books. ISBN   9781784386184.
  5. ↑ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2001). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Stackpole Books. ISBN   9780811733717.
  6. ↑ Kirchubel, Robert (2007). Luftwaffe Field and Flak Divisions. Concord Publications. ISBN   9623611560.
  7. ↑ Quarrie, Bruce (1999). The Ardennes Offensive: VI Panzer Armee, Northern Sector. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN   1855328534.
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