KGr.z.b.V. 700

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KGr. z.b.V. 700

Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 700

(Unit Code: 7V+)


Formation. (Dec 41)

Formed on or about 16 December 1941 at Kraków/S Poland in response to the urgent need for increased transport resources on the central sector of the Eastern Front resulting from the disastrous set-back west of Moscow where the Soviets had launched a powerful counterattack. On 16 December Hitler personally ordered 5 transport Gruppen assembled and immediately assigned to VIII. Fliegerkorps to meet this need. Air crew comprised instructor personnel from a number of FFS C (multi-engine) and BFS (instrument) schools along with Ju 52 transports taken from various units, schools and Luftwaffe establishments. Organizationally, KGr.z.b.V. 700 had a Gruppenstab and four Staffeln (1. – 4.).[1]


Central and North Russia. (Dec 41 - Nov 42)

19 Dec 41: after forming up at Kraków, the Gruppe was used to fly reinforcements, replacements, equipment and supplies forward to the Smolensk area and east thereof, and by the end of the year was based at Orsha.

2 Jan 42: Ju 52 crash landed near Orsha due to engine failure, 90%, 1 WIA.

5 Jan 42: Ju 52 crash landed at Smolensk – engine failure, 80%.

19 Feb 42: transferred from Orsha to Pskov-West to take part in the Demyansk airlift operation. This was a massive effort to fly supplies to II. Armeekorps with 6 divisions totaling 95,000 men that had become encircled on 9 February when Soviet II Guards Rifle Corps cut the last German supply road and the encirclement of the Demyansk pocket was virtually completed. The official, formal start date of the Demyansk airlift was on 12 February. With airlift headquarters at Pskov, 15 transport groups were eventually assembled for the operation, many of the Ju 52s and other aircraft coming from hastily mobilized school assets as well as the active Transportgruppen.[2]

Mar 42: the extent of the Gruppe’s losses during the Demyansk airlift operation are not known, although they were probably significant due to the severe weather conditions and enemy action in and around the pocket.

12 Apr 42: transferred from Pskov-West to Wormditt/East Prussia in early April and had arrived there by this date.[3]

16 Apr 42: ordered by Luftflotte 1 to transfer from Wormditt to Braunschweig-Broitzem/N Germany to rest, refit and re-equip.[4]

May 42: returned to Pskov-West during the second half of May to continued air transport operations in support of Luftflotte 1.[5]

15 May 42: Ju 52 struck the ground while landing at Fp. Tuleblya/21 km SSW of Lake Ilmen, 15%.

9 Jun 42: 2 Ju 52s destroyed on the ground during Russian raid on Fp. Peski near Demyansk, both 100%.

4 Aug 42: Ju 52 crash landed at Pregradnoye, 15%.

9 Aug 42: 2 Ju 52s damaged on the ground during Russian attack on Fp. Dugino/65 km S of Rzhev, 1 WIA.

15-16 Aug 42: several Ju 52 crashes at Demyansk.

16 Aug 42: 2 Staffeln detached and based at Orsha with operations from there and from Orel/West.[6]

21 Aug 42: now operating from Pskov-South.[7]

27 Aug 42: Ju 52 bombed on the ground at Smolensk, 85%.

17 Sep 42: Ju 52 crashed and burned at Pskov, 100%, 3 KIA.

19 Sep 42: Ju 52 shot up by AA fire in the Demyansk area, 80%, Staffelkapitän Hptm. Winter plus 3 others WIA.

7 Oct 42: Ju 52 crashed while taking of from Fp. Pskov, 30%.

9 Nov 42: identified at Salzwedel/N Germany. It is believed the Gruppe departed Pskov around mid-October and was at Salzwedel to rest and refit.[8]

14 Nov 42: Ju 52 force landed at München-Riem, 100%, 2 KIA and 2 WIA.

25 Nov 42: all or elements at Zichenau (Ciechanów)/78 km NNW of Warsaw.[9]


South Russia, Germany and France. (Dec 42 - Apr 43)

30 Nov 42: at Taganrog/60 km W of Rostov to take part in the Stalingrad airlift under VIII. Fliegerkorps.[10]

3 Dec 42: 2 Ju 52s (incl. 7V+CA) destroyed at Stalingrad, both 100%, 1 KIA, 3 MIA and 3 WIA.

15 Dec 42: Gruppe in transfer to Oblivskaya, but was also using Tatsinskaya.[11]

18 Dec 42: Ju 52 (7V+DD) failed to return from a flight to Stalingrad, 100%, 4 MIA.

24 Dec 42: Ju 52 crashed between Tatsinskaya and Taganrog, 95%, 4 KIA.

22-24 Dec 42: 4 Ju 52s destroyed at Stalingrad-Pitomnik and Tatsinskaya, all 100%.

Jan 43: Stalingrad airlift under VIII. Fliegerkorps using Taganrog, Mariupol and Kherson.[12]

8 Jan 43: Ju 52 (RF+AN) failed to return from a flight to Stalingrad, 100%, 4 MIA.

10 Jan 43: Ju 52 crashed and burned near Fp. Basargino/22 km WSW of Stalingrad, 100%, 4 KIA.

15 Jan 43: unserviceable Ju 52 at Stalingrad-Pitomnik blown up to prevent capture by the enemy.

20 Jan 43: Ju 52 bombed on the ground at Stalingrad-Gumrak, 100%, 1 KIA.

31 Jan 43: Ju 52 struck the ground at Slavyansk, 90%, Hptm. (Erich?) Köhnke + 4 WIA.

31 Jan 43: Ju 52 (V7+IB) failed to return from Stalingrad, 100%, 4 MIA.

Feb 43: handed over its 34 remaining Ju 52s to other transport units and departed South Russia for Helmstedt/N Germany to rest, refit and re-equip.[13]

Apr 43: following 4 to 6 weeks at Helmstedt, the Gruppe was ordered to Paris – Le Bourget at the beginning of April without aircraft to convert to French LeO 451 transports. New crews were brought in from the training schools to fill up KGr.z.b.V. 700.[14]

26 Apr 43: LeO 451 crashed while taking off from Fp. Paris – Le. Bourget, 55%.

1 May 43: renamed IV./TG 4 at Paris – Le Bourget.[15]


FpN:Gruppenstab with 1. – 4. Staffel (L 43005)


Kommandeur:

Maj. Ferdinand Muggenthaler (c. 16 Dec 41 - 1 May 43?)

Hptm. Heinrich Hans (acting?) ( ? - ? ) 1942



Also see:

ANDRESEN, Hansi, Oblt. Pilot.

BAIER, Gerhard, Lt. Pilot.

BÖTTCHER, Bernhard, Lt.(Kr.O.). MIA.

ELLERMANN, Kurt, Hptm. Staka?

FUCHS, Helmut Hans, Oblt.d.R.

HAIMERL, Karl, Oblt. MIA.

HOFFMANN, Leonhard, Hptm.

HOFFMANN, Walter, Lt.(Kr.O.). Pilot.

LENZ, Hugo, Lt.(Kr.O.).

LÖHE, Wolfgang, Lt.(Kr.O.). Pilot.

MANN, Johannes, Lt. KIA.

SCHLOTTE, Hans, Lt./Oblt. Pilot.

SCHULTE, Walter, Oblt. MIA.

SCHULTZ, Walter, Oblt. MIA.

SCHWEBEL, ? , Lt. WIA.

URBAN, ? , Oblt. MIA.

WINTER, Robert, Hptm. Staka. WIA.

WISCHNEWSKI, Hermann, Fw. RK.

ZANDER, Hans, Maj. Staka?



© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2022).

(1st Draft 2022)

Additional Notes and Losses

28.4.42:Ju 52 (W.Nr. 6753) destroyed by enemy bombing at Demjansk, 100%.[16]

References

  1. ↑ G.Tessin-Tes; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 20/281-84; WFSt Abt. L. (I Op.) Nr. 442182, 16.12.41 in NARA WashDC RG 242/T-77 OKW 2018 file.
  2. ↑ F.Morzik-German Air Force Airlift Operations:137-175.
  3. ↑ PRO London: DEFE 3 ULTRA signal CX/MSS/882/T8.
  4. ↑ ULTRA signal CX/MSS/896/T3.
  5. ↑ PRO London: AIR 40 Air Ministry intelligence documents based on ULTRA and “Y” Service intercepts.
  6. ↑ TSAMO/Podolsk document Lw.-Kdo. Ost Reg.Nr. 2391 g.Kdos. 16.8.42.
  7. ↑ LR evidence.
  8. ↑ Air Ministry intelligence documents-op cit.
  9. ↑ LR evidence.
  10. ↑ LR evidence; K.Kössler article in Jet & Prop Nr. 4/2000.
  11. ↑ PRO London: AIR 40/1979.
  12. ↑ G.Tessin-op cit; K.Kössler article-op cit.
  13. ↑ G.Tessin-op cit; K.Kössler-Transporter – wer kennt sie schon!: Die Kennzeichen der Transportfliegerverbände der Luftwaffe von 1937-1945:24.
  14. ↑ K.Kössler article-op cit; K.Kössler-Transporter-op cit.
  15. ↑ Ob.d.L. order Nr. 7794/43 in Bukowski/Trilus-Fliegerhorst Schönwalde/Berlin: Ausbildungs-und Erprobungsstätte der Luftwaffe 1935-1945:115; K.Kössler-op cit; G.Tessin-op cit; N.Kannapin-Feldpostübersicht.
  16. ↑ RL2-III/1180 30.4.42 pg 5 entry 51.


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