12th Luftwaffe Field Division (Germany)
12.Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 12th Luftwaffe Field Division | |
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Active | 1942 – May 1945 |
Country |
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Branch |
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Type | Luftwaffe Field Division infantry |
Size | 4,000 - 12.000 men |
Engagements |
12.Luftwaffen-Feld-Division was formed within the German Nazi Luftwaffe Field Division at the end of 1942, from Flieger-Regiment 12, and assigned to Army Group North in early 1943.[1]
- Wehrmacht
It was transferred from the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) to the Wehrmacht (German Army) on 1 November 1943.[1] To better distinguish it in post-war literature, the division is called 12.Feld-Division(L); however, an official renaming did not occur.[2]
Battles
The division suffered heavy losses during the retreat from Leningrad.[1] It took part in the retreat to Latvia and in the battles of the Courland Pocket.[1] In April 1944 the 13th Luftwaffe Field Division was incorporated in the division. It was withdrawn to East Prussia where it surrendered in the area of Danzig/Gotenhafen in May 1945.[1]
Order of battle
12. Feld-Division (L) 1944:
- Jäger-Regiment 23 (L)
- Jäger-Regiment 24 (L)
- Jäger-Regiment 25 (L)
- Artillerie-Regiment 12 (L)
- Füsilier-Battaillon 12 (L)
- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 12 (L)[lower-alpha 1]
- Pioneer-Battaillon 12 (L)[lower-alpha 2]
- Nachrichten-Abteilung 12 (L)[lower-alpha 3]
- Feldersatz-Battaillon 12 (L)[lower-alpha 4]
- Divisionseinheiten 12 (L)[lower-alpha 5]
Commanders
- Generalleutnant Herbert Kettner, 1942 - 15 November 1943
- Generalmajor Gottfried Weber, 15 November 1943 - 15 November 1944
- Oberst Wolfgang Kretzschmar, 15 November 1944 - 27 December 1944
- Generalmajor Gottfried Weber, 27 December 1944 - 10 April 1945
- Generalleutnant Franz Schlieper, 10 April 1945 to May 1945
Notes
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "12. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division". Axis History. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "12. Feld-Division (L)". Lexikon Der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 21 April 2014.