| 2ndh Luftwaffe Field Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1943 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  Luftwaffe |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | World War II |
The 2nd Luftwaffe Field Division (German : 2. 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 Luftwaffe ground crew and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to October 1943, when it was destroyed and disbanded.
The 2nd Luftwaffe Field Division was one of several Luftwaffe divisions formed in 1942 from surplus ground crew and intended to serve as conventional infantry divisions. The 2nd was raised at Groß Born in September 1942, under the command of Colonel Hellmuth Petzold.
The division was sent in November 1942 to the central sector of the Eastern Front, where it helped repel Soviet attacks in the area around Smolensk.
After the establishment of the II Luftwaffe Field Corps, the division became subordinated to this Corps and was relocated to the Nevel area. The division had the task of securing the connection between Army Groups North and Center. On 6 October 1943, the division was struck by an intense Soviet offensive aimed at the connection between Army Group North and Center.
On the first day of the battle, the division's positions were overrun and a gap with a width of 12 km was created in the frontline. The connection to the neighboring 83rd Infantry Division was lost and the division retreated in panic. Its losses were extraordinarily high, especially in material. The division was therefore dissolved on 15 October 1943, with effect from 1 November 1943.
The 164th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during World War II. Formed in November 1939, the division took part in the invasion of Greece in April 1941. In January 1942, consolidating the Axis seizure of the island during the Battle of Crete, the 164th was reorganized as Fortress Division Kreta (FDK). In mid-1942 the division was transferred to North Africa and re-designated as 164th Light Afrika Division. It surrendered in May 1943 in Tunisia at the end of the North African Campaign.
The 9th Luftwaffe Field 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 and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to June 1944. It was badly mauled during the Soviet offensive of January 1944 near Leningrad. It was later merged with the 225th Infantry Division.
The 4th Luftwaffe Field 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 and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to June 1944 when it was destroyed during Operation Bagration.
The 6th Luftwaffe Field 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 and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to June 1944 when it was destroyed during Operation Bagration.
The 87th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1939 to 1945.
Eduard Hauser was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 13th Panzer Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
The 3rd Luftwaffe Field 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 and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to early 1944 at which time it was disbanded.
Vollrath Lübbe was a German general in the Wehrmacht. A veteran of World War I, he rose to command several divisions during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded by Nazi Germany to recognise successful military leadership.
The 38th Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II. Formed in July 1942, it existed for a little over 15 months before being effectively destroyed in fighting on the Eastern Front in November 1943.
The 1st Luftwaffe Field 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 and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to early 1944 at which time it was disbanded.
Johannes Bäßler was a German officer in the Wehrmacht during World War II who also served in the army of Imperial Germany during World War I. During World War II, he commanded two panzer divisions on the Eastern Front. He later commanded the 242nd Infantry Division which was stationed in the south of France. He died from wounds received during the Battle of Toulon.
The 462nd Volksgrenadier Division was a Volksgrenadier division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1942 to 1944.
The 361st Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1943 to 1945. It was redesignated as a Volksgrenadier division in 1944. It saw active service on the Eastern Front when the Soviets launched Operation Bagration, during which it suffered significant losses. It later fought in France before being absorbed by the 559th Volksgrenadier Division on 10 March 1945.
The 335th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1940 to 1944. It saw active service in France and on the Eastern Front and was destroyed in fighting in Romania in August 1944.
The 336th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1940 to 1944. It saw active service in France and on the Eastern Front. Largely destroyed during the Crimean Offensive, it surrendered to the Soviets at Sevastopol in May 1944.
Johann Joachim Stever was a German officer in the Heer branch of the Wehrmacht during World War II who also served in the army of Imperial Germany during World War I. During World War II, he commanded the 4th Panzer Division for a period of time in 1940. He later commanded the 336th Infantry Division and was then a military area commander in occupied Russia. Promoted to generalleutnant in 1941, he retired from active duty in 1944. He fell into Soviet custody as they advanced into Germany in 1945 and, having not been seen since, is believed to have died.
The 347th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1942 to 1945. Initially based in the Netherlands, it saw active service on the Western Front and was redesignated as a Volksgrenadier division in May 1945.
The 387th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1942 to 1944. It saw active service on the Eastern Front and was destroyed in fighting in Romania in August 1944.
The 5th Luftwaffe Field Division was an infantry division of the Luftwaffe branch of the Wehrmacht that fought in World War II. It was formed using surplus Luftwaffe ground crew and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to mid 1944, when was disbanded.
The 376th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during World War II, active from 1942 to 1944 in two separate instances.