The 3rd Parachute Division was an elite[1][2] military unit of Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe that was active during World War II. Its formation began in October 1943 in France near Reims. From February 1944 near Brest. In March 1944 division was reinforced by soldiers from the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Parachute Regiment.[3]
The 3rd Parachute Division was an airbornedivision which fought during World War II. It was formed during 1943–44 around a cadre consisting of the veteran 3rd Battalion, 1st Parachute Regiment. The Division was well equipped with 930 MG42s. Each company had 20 MG 42s and 43 sub machine guns while a squad had 2 MG42s and 5 sub machine guns.
It arrived in Normandy on 10 June, by truck after a night drive from Brittany. It was at full strength and consisted of young German volunteers, and numbered 15,976 soldiers and officers. Its level of training and excellent weapon systems prompted the commander of the US 29th Infantry Division to remark, "Those Germans are the best damned soldiers I ever saw. They're smart and they don't know what 'fear' means. They come in and they keep coming until they get their job done or you kill 'em."[4]
The division went into combat in June 1944 in Normandy and inflicted heavy losses on the Allied forces opposing them. Nominally, the unit was to be motorised, but by June it still had no more than 40% of its authorised motor transport, even after seizing vehicles from French civilians. This was to have an impact when trying to move the division towards the invasion front.
In August it was near virtually destroyed by mass aerial bombing in the area of Falaise. Formed again in Belgium from replacements from 22nd, 51st, 53rd Luftwaffe Field Regiments. During September 1944 it fought as a part of Kampfgruppe "Becker" in Arnhem area before participating in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. It surrendered in April 1945 to American troops in Ruhr.[5]
Commanding officers
Generalmajor Walter Barenthin, 13 September 1943 – 14 February 1944
Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf, 17 February 1944 – 20 August 1944
General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl (acting), 20 August 1944 – 22 August 1944
Generalmajor Walter Wadehn, 22 August 1944 – 5 January 1945
Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf, 6 January 1945 – 1 March 1945
Oberst Helmut von Hoffmann, 1 March 1945 – 8 March 1945
^Nowakowski Tomasz, Skotnicki Mariusz, Zbiegniewski Jerzy Niemieckie wojska spadochronowe 1936–1945 page 182
^Joseph Balkoski, Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy, ISBN0-8117-2682-7
^Nowakowski Tomasz, Skotnicki Mariusz, Zbiegniewski Jerzy Niemieckie Wojkska Spadochronowe 1936–1945 page 183
^Nowakowski Tomasz, Skotnicki Mariusz, Zbiegniewski Jerzy page 182,183
Further reading
Schimpf, Richard; Dewey Janet E (1989). Fighting of the 3rd Parachute Division during the invasion of France from June to August 1944. United States. Army, Europe. Historical Division. Foreign Military Studies Branch.
Hans Wijers: Battle of the Bulge, Vol. 3: The 3rd Fallschirmjager Division in Action, December 1944 – January 1945. Stackpole 2014, ISBN978-0811713528.
April 30, 2023
parachute, division, germany, parachute, division, elite, military, unit, nazi, germany, luftwaffe, that, active, during, world, formation, began, october, 1943, france, near, reims, from, february, 1944, near, brest, march, 1944, division, reinforced, soldier. The 3rd Parachute Division was an elite 1 2 military unit of Nazi Germany s Luftwaffe that was active during World War II Its formation began in October 1943 in France near Reims From February 1944 near Brest In March 1944 division was reinforced by soldiers from the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Parachute Regiment 3 3rd Parachute DivisionUnit insigniaActive1943 45Country GermanyBranch LuftwaffeTypeFallschirmjagerRoleAirborne forcesSizeDivisionEngagementsWorld War IICommandersNotablecommandersRichard Schimpf Contents 1 Operational history 2 Commanding officers 3 Organization in June 1944 4 References 5 Further readingOperational history EditThe 3rd Parachute Division was an airborne division which fought during World War II It was formed during 1943 44 around a cadre consisting of the veteran 3rd Battalion 1st Parachute Regiment The Division was well equipped with 930 MG42s Each company had 20 MG 42s and 43 sub machine guns while a squad had 2 MG42s and 5 sub machine guns It arrived in Normandy on 10 June by truck after a night drive from Brittany It was at full strength and consisted of young German volunteers and numbered 15 976 soldiers and officers Its level of training and excellent weapon systems prompted the commander of the US 29th Infantry Division to remark Those Germans are the best damned soldiers I ever saw They re smart and they don t know what fear means They come in and they keep coming until they get their job done or you kill em 4 The division went into combat in June 1944 in Normandy and inflicted heavy losses on the Allied forces opposing them Nominally the unit was to be motorised but by June it still had no more than 40 of its authorised motor transport even after seizing vehicles from French civilians This was to have an impact when trying to move the division towards the invasion front In August it was near virtually destroyed by mass aerial bombing in the area of Falaise Formed again in Belgium from replacements from 22nd 51st 53rd Luftwaffe Field Regiments During September 1944 it fought as a part of Kampfgruppe Becker in Arnhem area before participating in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest It surrendered in April 1945 to American troops in Ruhr 5 Commanding officers EditGeneralmajor Walter Barenthin 13 September 1943 14 February 1944 Generalleutnant Dipl Ing Richard Schimpf 17 February 1944 20 August 1944 General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl acting 20 August 1944 22 August 1944 Generalmajor Walter Wadehn 22 August 1944 5 January 1945 Generalleutnant Dipl Ing Richard Schimpf 6 January 1945 1 March 1945 Oberst Helmut von Hoffmann 1 March 1945 8 March 1945 Oberst Karl Heinz Becker 8 March 1945 8 April 1945 Oberst Hummel 8 April 1945 16 April 1945Organization in June 1944 EditCommander General Major Schimpf 6 HQ Staff 3rd Mortar Battalion 3rd Anti Tank Battalion 3rd Artillery Battalion 3rd Engineer Battalion 3rd Signal Battalion 5th Fallschirmjager Regiment 8th Fallschirmjager Regiment 9th Fallschirmjager Regiment Supply troopsReferences Edit Joseph Balkoski Beyond the Beachhead The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy ISBN 0 8117 2682 7 Citizen Soldiers Stephen Ambrose ISBN 978 0 684 81525 1 Nowakowski Tomasz Skotnicki Mariusz Zbiegniewski Jerzy Niemieckie wojska spadochronowe 1936 1945 page 182 Joseph Balkoski Beyond the Beachhead The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy ISBN 0 8117 2682 7 Nowakowski Tomasz Skotnicki Mariusz Zbiegniewski Jerzy Niemieckie Wojkska Spadochronowe 1936 1945 page 183 Nowakowski Tomasz Skotnicki Mariusz Zbiegniewski Jerzy page 182 183Further reading EditSchimpf Richard Dewey Janet E 1989 Fighting of the 3rd Parachute Division during the invasion of France from June to August 1944 United States Army Europe Historical Division Foreign Military Studies Branch Hans Wijers Battle of the Bulge Vol 3 The 3rd Fallschirmjager Division in Action December 1944 January 1945 Stackpole 2014 ISBN 978 0811713528 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 3rd Parachute Division Germany amp oldid 1144584149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
