7. Fliegerdivision
7. Fliegerdivision
(FpN: L 37181; Stabsstaffel: L 22410)
Kommandeur:
Gen.d.Fallschirmtruppe Kurt Student (1 Sep 38 - 14 May 40)
Gen.Maj. Richard Putzier (27 May 40 - 30 Sep 40)
Gen.Lt. Wilhelm Süssmann (1 Oct 40 - 20 May 41) KIA
Oberst Alfred Sturm, acting (20 May 41 - 30 May 41)[1]
Gen.Lt. Erich Petersen (1 Oct 41 - 31 Jul 42)
Gen.Lt. Richard Heidrich (1 Aug 42 - 30 Apr 43)
Formation. (Sep 38)
Formed 1 September 1938 in Berlin for the paratroop branch of the Luftwaffe as the tactical headquarters and staff for these forces.[2]
Germany. (Sep 38 - Mar 40)
1 Sep 39: Stab at Wahlstatt. At this time the Division consisted of two subordinate parachute regiments (FjR 1 and 2) and attached support forces. There was next to no employment of paratroops during the campaign in Poland aside from two battalions that were air-transported into Poland during the last few days of the campaign.[3]
Occupation of Denmark and Norway. (Apr 40)
9 Apr 40: a few separate companies of paratroops took part in the campaign that began this date. They were used to seize airfields prior to the arrival of troops aboard transport aircraft.[4]
Attack on France and the Low Countries. (May 40 - Jun 40)
10 May 40: Division paratroops and support forces played a vital role in seizing key bridges and fortifications along the Albert Canal in Belgium and around Rotterdam in Holland, to mention only the most important.[5]
Balkan Campaign. (Apr 41 - May 41)
6 Apr – 31 May 41: airborne and glider operations along the Corinth Canal in Greece and during the large scale invasion of Crete that commenced on 20 May.[6]
North and Central Russia. (Jun 41 - spring 42)
Fall 41: Stabsstaffel 7. Fliegerdivision renamed Transportstaffel XI. Fliegerkorps and replaced with a Stabskette.[7]
Winter 1941/42- Spring 42: paratroops fought as company- and battalion-size infantry units on the Leningrad front, around Lake Ilmen and along the front between Smolensk and Moscow, then transferred to France.[8]
France. (1942 - Apr 43)
18 Aug 42: Fi 156 belonging to the Stab crashed and burned after take-off on a planned flight from Cerisi to Belle Etoile, 100%, Obstlt.i.G. Graf von Üxküll-Gyllenbrand and one other both killed.[9]
1 May 43: Division refitted and expanded at Avignon in South France and renamed 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division.[10]
Aufklärungsstaffel 7. Fliegerdivision
See under Aufklärungs- units.
Transportstaffel 7. Fliegerdivision
See under Transport- units.
© H.L. deZeng IV, 2023
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References
- ↑ The identity of the Division commander from 31 May 41 to 30 Sep 41 has not been determined.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ U.Balke-KG 2/Teil 1:390; R.Edwards- German Airborne Troops:135-36.
- ↑ Edwards.
- ↑ Edwards.
- ↑ Edwards.
- ↑ N.Kannapin- Feldpostübersicht.
- ↑ Edwards.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
- ↑ Tessin; Edwards.