9th Luftwaffe Field Division (Germany)

The 9th Luftwaffe Field Division (German: 9.Luftwaffen-Feld-Division) was an infantry division of the Luftwaffe branch of the Wehrmacht that fought in World War II. It was formed using surplus ground crew of the Luftwaffe and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to June 1944. It was badly mauled during the Soviet offensive of January 1944 near Leningrad. It was later merged with the 225th Infantry Division.

9th Luftwaffe Field Division
Active1942–1944
Country Nazi Germany
BranchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsWorld War II

Operational history

The 9th Luftwaffe Field Division, one of several such divisions of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), was formed in October 1942 in Eastern Prussia, in the Arys Troop Maneuver Area, under the command of Oberst[Note 1] Hans Erdmann. Intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from the 62nd Air Regiment. In December 1942, it was assigned to Army Group North on the Eastern Front. Posted to a sector near Leningrad, it defended its frontlines for over 12 months.[1]

Commanders
  • Oberst Hans Erdmann (October 1942–September 1943);
  • Oberst Anton-Carl Longin (September–November 1943);
  • Generalleutnant[Note 2] Paul Winter (November 1943);
  • Oberst Ernst Michael (November 1943–January 1944) †;
  • Oberst Heinrich Geerkens (January 1944) †.[1][Note 3]

Notes
Footnotes
  1. The rank of oberst is equivalent to that of colonel in the United States Army.[2]
  2. The rank of generalleutnant is equivalent to that of major general in the United States Army.[2]
  3. Ranks stated are those at the time of taking command.[1]
Citations
  1. Mitcham 2007a, pp. 307–308.
  2. Mitcham 2007b, p. 197.

References
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007a). German Order of Battle, Volume Two: 291st–999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3437-0.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007b). German Order of Battle, Volume Three: Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen SS Divisions in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3438-7.


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