6th Luftwaffe Field Division (Germany)
| 6th Luftwaffe Field Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1944 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  Luftwaffe |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | World War II
|
The 6th Luftwaffe Field Division (
Eastern Front from late 1942 to June 1944 when it was destroyed during Operation Bagration
.
Operational history
The 6th Luftwaffe Field Division, one of several
such divisions of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), was formed in September 1942 in Gross-Born Troop Maneuver Area, under the command of Oberst Ernst Weber.[Note 1] Intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from surplus Luftwaffe ground crew.[3] In November 1942, it was assigned to the 3rd Panzer Army in Army Group Centre on the Eastern Front and posted to a sector near Nevel. Here it defended against Soviet operations in the area.[1]
In November 1943, responsibility for the division was transferred to the
Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive at Vitebsk within days of the start of the Soviet Army's Operation Bagration on 22 June 1944. The division was destroyed with its commander, Generalleutnant Rudolf Peschel,[Note 3] killed in action on 27 June 1944.[1]
Commanders
- Oberst Ernst Weber (September–November 1942);[Note 4]
- Generalmajor Rüdiger von Heyking (November 1942–November 1943);[Note 5]
- Generalleutnant Rudolf Peschel (November 1943–27 June 1944) †.[1]
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ The rank of oberst is equivalent to that of colonel in the United States Army.[2]
- ^ This artillery regiment later became the 34th Motorised Flak Regiment.[1]
- ^ The rank of generalleutnant is equivalent to that of major general in the United States Army.[2]
- ^ Ranks stated are those at the time of taking command.[1]
- ^ The rank of generalmajor is equivalent to that of brigadier general in the United States Army.[2]
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g Mitcham 2007a, pp. 305–306.
- ^ a b c Mitcham 2007b, p. 197.
- ^ Mitcham 2007a, p. 299.
References
- ISBN 978-0-8117-3437-0.
- ISBN 978-0-8117-3438-7.