6.Fallschrim-Jäger-Division
Lineage
  • 6.Fallschrim-Jäger-Division
    		•
    Campaigns
  • Western Front 1944
  • Destroyed France 1944
  • Reformed Holland 1944
  • Holland 1944-1945
    		•
    History Formed 6.44 in Amiens (AOK.15). While the division was forming, FJR.16 was flown to Stendal and later to Vilna for action in Lithuania, and would be renamed Fallschirm-Grenadier-Regiment 3, belonging to Fallschirm-Panzer-Korps Hermann Göring. The remainder of the division (battlegroup strength only) went into action immediately in Normandy, and was mostly destroyed. The remaining small groups were to have been incorporated into the new parachute ad-hoc unit, Division Erdmann, but could not be pulled out of the frontline in time.

    The division was ordered reformed on 10.15.44 in Meppel, Holland. The division was formed from the few remaining remnants of the old division, and from Luftwaffe-Festungs-Battailone II, XXIX, XXXI, XXXVIII, XXIX and XXXX.

    While still in the process of reforming, initially with a total strength of only two battalions, the division was thrown into the battle for the Arnhem corridor. After Arnhem, the division remained in Holland and fought against the Canadian first Army, and fought hard in the defense of the Reichswald and against the British Rhine crossing. The division surrendered to the British in May 1945, at Zutphen in Festung Holland.
    Organization
    General Composition
    Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 16
    Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 17
    Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 18
    Fallschirm-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 6
    Fallschirm-Granatwerfer-Abteilung 6
    Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 6
    Fallschirm-Flak-Abteilung 6
    Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 6
    Fallschirm-Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 6
    Fallschirm-Sanitäts-Abteilung 6
    Nachschubführer der 6.Fallschirm-Jäger-Division

    Added later were the following units:

    Fallschirm-Feldersatz-Bataillon 6
    Commanders GenLt. Rüdiger von Heyking 5.01.44 - 9.03.44
    ObLt. Harry Herrmann 9.03.44 - 10.1.44
    GenLt. Hermann Plocher 10.01.44 - 5.08.45
    War Service
    Date
    Higher HQ
    Location
    7.44 AOK.15 forming in Amiens
    8.44 I. SS AK / Pz.AOK.5 Northern France
    9.44 LXXXVIII.AK / Fs.AOK.1 Arnhem, Kleve, Kalkar, Marienbaum and Xanten
    10.44 - 11.44 Heeresgruppe B forming in Meppel
    12.44 LXXXVIII.AK / AOK.15 Arnhem
    1.45 LXXXVIII.AK / AOK.25 Arnhem, Wesel
    2.45 - 3.45 XXXXVII.AK / Fs.AOK.1 Kleve, Wesel
    4.45 LXXXVIII.AK / AOK.25 Festung Holland (Zutphen)