Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland

Last updated

Nachtschlachtgruppe 12 (Lettisch)
Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland
ActiveMarch – October 1944
CountryFlag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
AllegianceFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
TypeNachtschlachtgruppe
("Night Combat Group")
RoleNight harassment raids
Size2 squadrons
Engagements
Insignia
Squadron code6A [1]
Roundel [2] Latin cross.png
Aircraft flown
Attack Arado Ar 66
Gotha Go 145
Henschel Hs 126
Trainer Bücker Bü 131

Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland was a unit of the German Luftwaffe that served in the Eastern Front in 1944. It was composed almost entirely of Latvian volunteers.

Contents

Unit history

Formation and training

In September 1943 the Germans ordered the creation of a Latvian night bombing unit as part of the Luftwaffe. A flight school, Flugzeugführerschule A/B Libau/Grobin, was established at Liepāja-Grobina in October, which was renamed Ergaenzungs Nachtschlachtgruppe Ostland ("Supplementary Night Combat Group Ostland") on 1 January 1944. [3] The pilots were drawn from former members of the pre-war Latvian Army's Aviation Regiment, the paramilitary Aizsargi , and the Latvian Aero Club. [4] Flying training was carried out in the Bücker Bü 131, and ground crews were trained as mechanics, electricians, ordnance handlers, and anti-aircraft gunners. [3]

Nachtschlachtgruppe 12 (Lettisch)

The first group of pilots graduated in late February, and the 1st Staffel ("Squadron") of Nachtschlachtgruppe 12 (Lettisch), ("12th Night Combat Group (Latvian)") was established on 1 March 1944. [5] It consisted of all Latvian officer and NCO pilots, ground crews, with a few German liaison and administrative personnel, and was equipped with eighteen Arado Ar 66 biplanes, all under the command of a German, Hauptmann Rademacher. [6]

As a Störkampfstaffel ("Harassment squadron") 1./NSGr.12 flew night bombing missions attacking enemy concentrations, infrastructure, and other targets of opportunity. Although the Ar 66 was a two-seater aircraft, they usually flew with only a single pilot, and carried two or three 50 kg (110 lb) or 70 kg (150 lb) anti-personnel or incendiary bombs. Their missions were typically flown at an altitude of around 1,000 m (3,300 ft), up to 50 km (31 mi) behind enemy lines. Each pilot was issued with a pistol and machine gun, in case of a forced landing in enemy territory. [5]

1./NSGr.12 were first based at Vecumi, flying their first combat missions on 26 March. On 26 May they moved to Salas aerodrome in Kārsava, about 50 km (31 mi) south of Vecumi. On 22 June the second Staffel (2./NSGr.12) was formed, joining 1./NSGr.12 at Salas on the 26th. In July NSGr.12 moved north-east to Gulbene, and later eastwards to Kalnciems near Riga. [5] A third Staffel (3./NSGr.12) was created in July, but due to a lack of aircraft, flew no operations, and its equipment and personnel were eventually incorporated into the 1st and 2nd Staffeln. [6]

Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland

On 11 August 1944 the Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland was formed. It consisted of the two active Staffel of NSGr.12, and the third (still in the process of formation), the flight school at Liepāja-Grobina, renamed the Ergaenzungs Fliegergruppe Lettland ("Latvian Supplementary Flying Group"), and an anti-aircraft unit. On 17 August overall command of the Legion was assumed by the Latvian Lieutenant-Colonel Jānis Rucels, with Lt.-Col. Nikolajs Bulmanis commanding NSGr.12. [6] In September the Legion was relocated further east to a base in Tukums, and in early October flew their last combat sorties in the vicinity of Dobele. The Legion was finally evacuated back to Hohensalza (now Inowrocław, Poland). [6]

The trust of the Germans in their local Baltic flyers had been eroded by the desertion of five Estonian pilots from Nachtschlachtgruppe 11 (Estnisch) to neutral Sweden in late September and early October. As a result, the Luftwaffe ordered that the Estonian and Latvian aviation legions be dissolved. [7] Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland was disbanded on 17 October 1944, and its personnel redistributed to German units.

During its operational existence the unit flew about 6,150 sorties, with the loss of six pilots. About 80% of the pilots were awarded the Iron Cross 1st or 2nd class. [6]

In mid-1944 a select group of ten Latvian pilots were transferred to Germany to train in the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Five returned to Latvia in October, but by then the Legion had been disbanded, so they were assigned to Jagdgeschwader 54 . [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinrich Ehrler</span> German World War II flying ace

Heinrich Ehrler was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 208 enemy aircraft shot down in over 400 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, with nine claims over the Western Front which included eight in the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)</span> Structure of German air force

Between 1933 and 1945, the organization of the Luftwaffe underwent several changes. Originally, the German military high command, for their air warfare forces, decided to use an organizational structure similar to the army and navy, treating the aviation branch as a strategic weapon of war. Later on, during the period of rapid rearmament, the Luftwaffe was organized more in a geographical fashion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night Witches</span> All-women Soviet aviation unit

"Night Witches" was a World War II German nickname for the all-female military aviators of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, known later as the 46th "Taman" Guards Night Bomber Aviation Red Banner and Order of Suvorov Regiment, of the Soviet Air Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Welter</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Kurt Welter was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and the most successful Jet Expert of World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He claimed a total of 63 aerial victories—that is, 63 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—achieved in 93 combat missions. He recorded 56 victories at night, including 33 Mosquitos, and scored more aerial victories from a jet fighter aircraft than anyone else in World War II and possibly in aviation history. However this score is a matter of controversy; research of Royal Air Force losses suggests Welter overclaimed Mosquito victories considerably. Against this, Luftwaffe claims were very strict, requiring confirmation and proof by witnesses: The remains of aircraft shot down and crashed would be verifiable and recorded on the ground in the sector claimed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Drewes</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Martin Drewes was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and night fighter ace during World War II. He was credited with 52 victories of which 43 were claimed at night whilst flying variants of the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defence of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodor Weissenberger</span> German World War II flying ace

Theodor Weissenberger was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a fighter ace credited with 208 enemy aircraft shot down in 375 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed near the Arctic Ocean in the northern sector of the Eastern Front, but he also claimed 33 victories over the Western Front. He claimed eight of these victories over the Western Allies while flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Günther Josten</span> German World War II fighter pilot and wing commander in German Air Force

Günther Josten was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 178 enemy aircraft shot down in 420 combat missions, all of which claimed over the Eastern Front. Following World War II, he served in the newly established West Germany's Air Force in the Bundeswehr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centocelle Airport</span> Airport

Centocelle Airport was an airport situated in Centocelle, a quarter of Rome in Italy. It is also referred to as Rome-Centocelle Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mato Dukovac</span> Croatian World War II flying ace

Mato Dukovac was the leading Croatian fighter ace of World War II, credited with between 40 and 44 confirmed victories. He joined the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia following the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, and then the Luftwaffe, with which he flew combat missions on the Eastern Front. His tours of the Eastern Front spanned October and November 1942, February to June 1943, and October 1943 to March 1944. He defected to the Soviet Union on 20 September 1944 and was returned to Yugoslavia in November 1944. He worked as a flight instructor for the Yugoslav Air Force in Pančevo and Zadar before defecting to Italy in April 1945.

<i>Luftflotte</i> 1 Military unit

Luftflotte 1 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on 1 February 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 1 in Berlin. This Luftwaffe detachment served in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland, supporting Axis forces in area; with command offices in Malpils, Latvia,, Eastern front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerhard Thyben</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Gerhard Thyben was a German military aviator who served in the Luftwaffe from 1940 until the end of World War II and later as an instructor with the Colombian Air Force. As a fighter ace, he claimed 157 enemy aircraft shot down in 385 combat missions, five of which over the Western Allies the other 152 were claimed on the Eastern Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinz Strüning</span> German military aviator (1912–1944)

Heinz Strüning was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 56 nocturnal aerial victories claimed in 280 combat missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Günther Schack</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Günther Schack was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a fighter ace credited with 174 enemy aircraft shot down in 780 combat missions. All of his victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatian Air Force Legion</span> Military unit

The Croatian Air Force Legion, or HZL, was a unit of the Luftwaffe, composed entirely of volunteers drawn from the nazi puppet-state, the Independent State of Croatia. Many of them had previously served in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force in April 1941 during the Nazi Invasion of Yugoslavia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerhard Hoffmann (pilot)</span> German World War II fighter pilot (1919–1945)

Gerhard Hoffmann was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 130 aerial victories—that is, 130 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in an unknown number of combat missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert Lütje</span> German flying ace

Herbert Heinrich Otto Lütje was a German military aviator, a wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II and an officer in the postwar German Air Force. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 50 aerial victories claimed in 247 combat missions. His 47 nocturnal claims made him the twentyfourth most successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare. All of his victories were claimed in Defense of the Reich missions, the majority at night against the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Bomber Command and three daytime claims, one over a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and two Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft.

Helmut Bergmann was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 36 enemy aircraft shot down in 135 combat missions. All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in nocturnal Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command.

Latvian Riflemen Soviet Divisions were military formations of the Red Army during World War II created in 1941 and consisting primarily of ethnic Latvians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudolf Frank</span> German fighter ace and Knights Cross recipient

Rudolf Frank was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 45 enemy aircraft shot down in 183 combat missions. All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in nocturnal Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command.

Generalbezirk Lettland was one of the four administrative subdivisions of Reichskommissariat Ostland, the civilian occupation regime established by Nazi Germany for the administration of the Baltic States and the western part of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.

References

  1. "Maschinenkennungen". lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de (in German). 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  2. "Latvia - Airforce Flag and Aircraft Marking". fotw.net. 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 Zulis, Gunars (2012). "Training at Liepaja-Grobini". latvianaviation.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  4. "Latvian Aviation in WWII". lacplesis.com. 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Zulis, Gunars (2012). "Latvian Aviation Chronology 1941 Onwards". latvianaviation.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Zulis, Gunars (2012). "The Latvian Squadrons in the Luftwaffe". latvianaviation.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  7. Zefirov, Michael (2012). ВВС Эстонии во Второй Мировой [Estonian Air Force in World War II]. airwar.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  8. Zulis, Gunars (2012). "The Selected Few". latvianaviation.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.