Under the East German Army Staff Under the German Army Staff
Garrison/HQ
Military Training Area Lehnin
Colors
Orange
Engagements
None
Commanders
Current commander
None; unit disbanded in 1991
Insignia
Basic NVA Parachutist's Badge (left) and the NVA Parachutist's Badge displaying the device awarded after 40 jumps (right)
Although initially formed based on the parachute battalion, this unit had a different mission and organization. The Luftsturmregiment 40 came about as the result of a change in Soviet tactics based on their recent experience in Afghanistan. These tactics emphasized the more mobile warfare afforded by the use of helicopter air assault operations. While LStR 40 retained in full the airborne capability of its predecessor unit, more emphasis was placed on readiness to conduct air assault operations than had previously been the case.
Like its predecessor unit, Luftsturmregiment 40 carried the added title "Willi Sänger," in honor of a famed German Communist and resistance fighter against the Nazis.[1]
Colors ceremony at the Military Training Area Lenin in Brück, where new soldiers of LStR 40 were sworn in
Luftsturmregiment 40 was formed on December 1, 1986 under the Order No. 96/86 of the Minister for National Defense and Order No. 30/86 of the Chief of Land Forces.[2] It was stationed in the vicinity of the military training area on Lehnin near Potsdam, Germany.[2] On October 3, 1990, the regiment was taken over by the West German Bundeswehr.[2] On March 31, 1991, it was disbanded by the German Federal Armed Forces Command East.
The Luftsturmregiment 40 never saw combat or deployment outside East Germany, except for Warsaw Pact training exercises. The events leading up to the Fall of the Wall saw the only "real" use of the Regiment. Due to the elite nature of the unit and the highly-restrictive selection process, its members were regarded as especially loyal and the unit as a whole was considered "politically reliable" by East German leadership.
As a result of the Monday demonstrations in Leipzig in November 1989, the Luftsturmregiment 40 and other selected units in the 1st Motorized Rifle Division were mobilized for possible deployment into the city.[3] A few days before the announced Monday demonstration, several hundred members of Luftsturmregiment 40 were sent to Leipzig,[1] and housed in local military barracks. This was done at night and under the strictest secrecy. The regiment was to be used to assist the police and special units of the Stasi Department XXII (Counterterrorism) to suppress the popular resistance.[1]
Ultimately, the order to move in against the demonstrators was never given.
Paratroopers of Luftsturmregiment 40 studying a map during a field exercise.
Training
Luftsturmregiment 40 paratroopers were known to be trained in Kyeok Sul Do by North Korean instructors in 1988.[4]
Equipment
Uniforms
The uniforms of the regiment's paratroopers, like those of all the Land Forces of the NVA, were based on uniforms of the former Wehrmacht, adapted to Soviet uniform and equipment standards. In the early years they wore the field service suit for reconnaissance aircraft of the NVA. It consisted of a hooded jacket and trousers, both in camouflage on a blue-gray tone. Lace-up shoes replaced the usual boots, a leather cap replaced the steel helmet. In later years, the airborne helmet of the Polish paratroopers was introduced, which had earflaps.
Weapons
RPG-7D formerly used by LStR 40
Kalashnikovs of the DDR, from top to bottom: MPi-K, MPi-KM, MPi-69, MPi-KS, MPi-KMS-72, MPi-AK-74, MPi-AK-74NK
In keeping with the airborne and air assault capabilities of the unit, LStR 40 utilized only light weapons, usually standard gear from the main Land Forces of the NVA. Paratrooper-specific variations were used when available.
These included the RPG-7D, which was designed to be separated into two pieces for easier transportation, and the MPi-KMS-72 and MPi-AK-74NK, folding-stock models of the AKM and AK-74 respectively.
Transport Aircraft
Paratroopers of LStR 40 conducting a training static-line jump from an Antonov An-8 at 350 km/h
To be deployed into combat in the event of war, Luftsturmregiment 40 depended upon the Luftstreitkraefte der NVA to provide it with helicopters for air assault insertions and fixed-wing aircraft for parachute jumps. The regiment trained with the Ilyushin Il-14, the Antonov An-2, Antonov An-8, Antonov An-12, Antonov An-22, Antonov An-26, and the Mil Mi-4 and Mil Mi-8.
The Luftstreitkraefte der NVA did not, however, actually possess enough aircraft or helicopters to move the regiment into combat all at once, meaning that the Soviet Air Force might have had to step in and make up for the shortage in the event of a war with NATO.
Parachutes
A LStR 40 paratrooper descending beneath an opened RS 9/2A
A packed and ready paratrooper's bag
The regiment's last standard model of parachute was the RS 9/2A, with the BE-8 reserve chute. The L-10/2 ST and RL-12/2 ST parachutes were used for HAHO operations. Soldiers of the regiment were trained for HALO jumps as well, but conducted these jumps below the altitude where oxygen equipment would have been needed.
Karl-Heinz Dissberger u. a.: Vom Himmel auf die Erde ins Gefecht. Fallschirmjäger der Nationalen Volksarmee. 2nd Edition. Kabinett Verlag, Zürich u. a. 1999, ISBN3-906572-15-3.
Pelny, Frank (2008). Gjogsul - Military Close Combat in the NPA (in German). Enforcer Pülz. ISBN978-3939700012.
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January 31, 2023
luftsturmregiment, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Luftsturmregiment 40 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Luftsturmregiment 40 LStR 40 Willi Sanger English Air Assault Regiment 40 was a unit of the German Democratic Republic s National People s Army It was formed in 1986 by expanding the existing Parachute Battalion 40 with additional air assault companies and support capability It was directly subordinate to the Land Forces Command Kommando Landstreitkrafte of the East German Army Air Assault Regiment 40Luftsturmregiment 40Air Assault insignia replica Active1986 1991Country East Germany 1986 1990 Germany from 1990 BranchLand Forces of the National People s Army 1986 1990 German Army 1990 1991 TypeRegimentRoleAirborne forcesAir assaultSpecial forcesSize50 HQ approximately 800 including services Part ofUnder the East German Army Staff Under the German Army StaffGarrison HQMilitary Training Area LehninColorsOrangeEngagementsNoneCommandersCurrentcommanderNone unit disbanded in 1991InsigniaBasic NVA Parachutist s Badge left and the NVA Parachutist s Badge displaying the device awarded after 40 jumps right Although initially formed based on the parachute battalion this unit had a different mission and organization The Luftsturmregiment 40 came about as the result of a change in Soviet tactics based on their recent experience in Afghanistan These tactics emphasized the more mobile warfare afforded by the use of helicopter air assault operations While LStR 40 retained in full the airborne capability of its predecessor unit more emphasis was placed on readiness to conduct air assault operations than had previously been the case Like its predecessor unit Luftsturmregiment 40 carried the added title Willi Sanger in honor of a famed German Communist and resistance fighter against the Nazis 1 Contents 1 History 2 Training 3 Equipment 3 1 Uniforms 3 2 Weapons 3 3 Transport Aircraft 3 4 Parachutes 4 See also 5 References 5 1 BibliographyHistory Edit Colors ceremony at the Military Training Area Lenin in Bruck where new soldiers of LStR 40 were sworn in Luftsturmregiment 40 was formed on December 1 1986 under the Order No 96 86 of the Minister for National Defense and Order No 30 86 of the Chief of Land Forces 2 It was stationed in the vicinity of the military training area on Lehnin near Potsdam Germany 2 On October 3 1990 the regiment was taken over by the West German Bundeswehr 2 On March 31 1991 it was disbanded by the German Federal Armed Forces Command East The Luftsturmregiment 40 never saw combat or deployment outside East Germany except for Warsaw Pact training exercises The events leading up to the Fall of the Wall saw the only real use of the Regiment Due to the elite nature of the unit and the highly restrictive selection process its members were regarded as especially loyal and the unit as a whole was considered politically reliable by East German leadership As a result of the Monday demonstrations in Leipzig in November 1989 the Luftsturmregiment 40 and other selected units in the 1st Motorized Rifle Division were mobilized for possible deployment into the city 3 A few days before the announced Monday demonstration several hundred members of Luftsturmregiment 40 were sent to Leipzig 1 and housed in local military barracks This was done at night and under the strictest secrecy The regiment was to be used to assist the police and special units of the Stasi Department XXII Counterterrorism to suppress the popular resistance 1 Ultimately the order to move in against the demonstrators was never given Paratroopers of Luftsturmregiment 40 studying a map during a field exercise Training EditLuftsturmregiment 40 paratroopers were known to be trained in Kyeok Sul Do by North Korean instructors in 1988 4 Equipment EditUniforms Edit The uniforms of the regiment s paratroopers like those of all the Land Forces of the NVA were based on uniforms of the former Wehrmacht adapted to Soviet uniform and equipment standards In the early years they wore the field service suit for reconnaissance aircraft of the NVA It consisted of a hooded jacket and trousers both in camouflage on a blue gray tone Lace up shoes replaced the usual boots a leather cap replaced the steel helmet In later years the airborne helmet of the Polish paratroopers was introduced which had earflaps Weapons Edit RPG 7D formerly used by LStR 40 Kalashnikovs of the DDR from top to bottom MPi K MPi KM MPi 69 MPi KS MPi KMS 72 MPi AK 74 MPi AK 74NK In keeping with the airborne and air assault capabilities of the unit LStR 40 utilized only light weapons usually standard gear from the main Land Forces of the NVA Paratrooper specific variations were used when available These included the RPG 7D which was designed to be separated into two pieces for easier transportation and the MPi KMS 72 and MPi AK 74NK folding stock models of the AKM and AK 74 respectively Transport Aircraft Edit Paratroopers of LStR 40 conducting a training static line jump from an Antonov An 8 at 350 km h To be deployed into combat in the event of war Luftsturmregiment 40 depended upon the Luftstreitkraefte der NVA to provide it with helicopters for air assault insertions and fixed wing aircraft for parachute jumps The regiment trained with the Ilyushin Il 14 the Antonov An 2 Antonov An 8 Antonov An 12 Antonov An 22 Antonov An 26 and the Mil Mi 4 and Mil Mi 8 The Luftstreitkraefte der NVA did not however actually possess enough aircraft or helicopters to move the regiment into combat all at once meaning that the Soviet Air Force might have had to step in and make up for the shortage in the event of a war with NATO Parachutes Edit A LStR 40 paratrooper descending beneath an opened RS 9 2A A packed and ready paratrooper s bag The regiment s last standard model of parachute was the RS 9 2A with the BE 8 reserve chute The L 10 2 ST and RL 12 2 ST parachutes were used for HAHO operations Soldiers of the regiment were trained for HALO jumps as well but conducted these jumps below the altitude where oxygen equipment would have been needed See also EditFallschirmjagerbataillon 40References Edit a b c Museum Detailanzeige a b c Luftsturmregiment 40 Bestand Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek https magazin spiegel de EpubDelivery spiegel pdf 13684853 bare URL PDF Pelny 2008 pp 20 22 Bibliography Edit Karl Heinz Dissberger u a Vom Himmel auf die Erde ins Gefecht Fallschirmjager der Nationalen Volksarmee 2nd Edition Kabinett Verlag Zurich u a 1999 ISBN 3 906572 15 3 Pelny Frank 2008 Gjogsul Military Close Combat in the NPA in German Enforcer Pulz ISBN 978 3939700012 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luftsturmregiment 40 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Luftsturmregiment 40 amp oldid 1081882179, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
