3. Fliegerdivision (2nd)

From Luftwaffedata Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

3. Fliegerdivision (2d Formation)

(FpN: L 54432)


Kommandeur:

[Gen.Maj. Herbert Rieckhoff (15 Jun 43 - 26 Sep 43)]

[Gen.Maj. Werner Zech (26 Sep 43 - 6 Jan 44)]

Gen.Lt. Walter Boenicke (acting?) (20 Jan 44 - 1 Feb 44)

Oberst Dr. Ernst Kühl (1 Feb 44 - 1 Jun 44)

Gen.Maj. Sigismund Freiherr von Falkenstein (1 Jun 44 - 8 May 45)


Formation. (c. Dec 43)

Formed December 1943 at Ropti near Luga on the Leningrad Front in North Russia (ex-Stab/Fliegerführer 1 der Luftflotte 1). Several other sources claim this Stab was formed in January 1943, but based on all available evidence this appears to be a case of confusion with Fliegerführer l/Luftflotte l. However, it is possible that Fliegerführer 1 was informally renamed Stab/3. Fliegerdivision on the earlier date, with formal orders to this effect not being approved at OKL level until nearly a year later. To complicate matters even further, the date of renaming given under the Feldpostnummer is 9 Oct 1943, which suggests an official date of change of around 1 Oct 1943. Finally, the personnel assignment card for Gen.Maj. Rieckhoff gives 15 June 1943 as his date of appointment. In view of this confusion, both Rieckhoff and Gen.Maj. Zech have been set off in brackets above to indicate uncertainty.[1]


North Russia, Estonia and Latvia. (Dec 43 - Oct 44)

Jan 44: Stab moved from Ropti to Idritsa/64 km NW of Nevel.[2]

Feb 44: Stab transferred to Pskov/N Russia. In February it subordinated: II./JG 5, I. and IV./JG 54, II./SG 1, I. and II./SG 3, I./SG 5, NSGr. 1, NSGr. 3, NSGr. 11 and Ln.-Abt. 73.[3]

2 Mar 44: Stab to Petseri/Estonia, remaining there through June in support of ground fighting along the front.[4] (Tessin).

26 Jun 44: Petseri.[5]

18 Jul 44: withdrew to Daugavpils (Dvinsk)/Latvia.[6]

27 Jul – 24 Sep 44: Stab at Jakobstadt (Jekabpils)/144 km SE of Riga and then at Veselava/91 km NE of Riga.[7]

Sep 44: moved to Riga/Latvia (possibly on 27 Sep).[8]

Oct 44: Stab at Skrunda (Schrunden)/NW Latvia in mid-October after Riga taken by Soviet forces. Subordinated: II. and III./SG 3, III./SG 4, NSGr. 3, NSGr. 5 and Ln.-Abt. 73.[9]


West. (Oct 44 - Nov 44)

Oct 44: Stab alerted for reassignment to Luftwaffenkdo. West at the end of October and began moving to Bad Essen/19 km ENE of Osnabrück on 2 November.[10]

6 Nov 44: Stab added to Lw.-Kdo. West distribution list this date.[11]

18 Nov 44: Stab at Bad Essen - assumed command this date over most operational units previously under Lw.-Kdo. West (KG 53, I./KG 51, I./KG 66, (F)/123, etc.).[12]

29 Nov 44: employment in the West cancelled and Stab ordered to transfer immediately from Bad Essen to Tomaschow/SE of Łódź in Central Poland.[13]


Poland, Silesia and Czechoslovakia. (Dec 44 - May 45)

30 Nov 44: assigned to Luftflotte 6 effective this date.[14]

6 Dec 44: Stab at Tomaschow (Tomaszów M.) under VIII. Fliegerkorps/Luftflotte 6 in support of AOK 9.[15]

1 Feb 45: Stab at Sagan/Silesia until 9 February under Luftflotte 6.[16]

1 Mar 45: Stab now at Olomouc (Olmütz)/64 km NW of Brno (Brünn) in Czechoslovakia.[17]

21 Mar 45: Stab at Olomouc (Olmütz) under Luftflotte 6 in support of Pz.AOK 1 and AOK 17, and still there 29 Mar 45.[18]

24 Apr 45: Olomouc (Olmütz).[19]

3 May 45: Olomouc (Olmütz) under Luftwaffenkdo. VIII and providing support for Pz.AOK 1.[20]



© H.L. deZeng IV, 2023

Return to Commands

References

  1. ↑ G.Tessin- Verbände und Truppen der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939-1945. Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte; K.Mehner/R.Teuber-Die deutsche Luftwaffe 1939-1945: Führung und Truppe; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-77 Luftwaffenpersonalamt assignment orders); C.Zweng- Die Dienststellen, Kommandobehörden und Truppenteile der Luftwaffe 1935-1945; H.Plocher-The German Air Force Versus Russia, 1943.
  2. ↑ PRO London: AIR 40 Air Ministry intelligence reports and lists based on ULTRA, “Y” Service intercepts, captured documents and PoW interrogations.
  3. ↑ Tessin.
  4. ↑ Tessin.
  5. ↑ Luftwaffen-Revue magazine, Heft (issue) 1/1985 (reproducing the Luftwaffe’s “Aufmarsch d. fliegende Verbände” order of battle map for 26 June 1944).
  6. ↑ Tessin; M.Holm-website ww2.dk; BNA HW 5/545.
  7. ↑ M.Holm-website ww2.dk.
  8. ↑ Tessin; M.Holm-website ww2.dk.
  9. ↑ PRO London: DEFE 3 ULTRA signal.
  10. ↑ Tessin; M.Holm-website ww2.dk; AIR 40 Air Ministry.
  11. ↑ ULTRA signal HP5996.
  12. ↑ ULTRA HP6781.
  13. ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 40/Kart.
  14. ↑ DEFE 3 ULTRA signal.
  15. ↑ RG 242 (T-501:225/516).
  16. ↑ T-321:50 (Luftflotte 6 KTB u.Anlagen).
  17. ↑ T-321:17/537.
  18. ↑ T-321:50/876.
  19. ↑ J.Rajlich/S.Kokoška/A.Janda-Luftwaffe Over Czech Territory 1945.
  20. ↑ M.Rauchensteiner- Der Krieg in Österreich, 1945:359.
Retrieved from "http://www.luftwaffedata.co.uk/index.php?title=3._Fliegerdivision_(2nd)&oldid=7258"