Kampfgeschwader 53

Geschwaderkommodore:

• Ob Philipp Zoch, 1.5.39 - 31.7.39
• Ob Erich Stahl, 1.8.39 - 12.40
• Ob Paul Weitkus, 15.12.40 - 31.10.42
• Ob Karl-Eduard Wilke, 1.11.42 - 31.3.43
• ObLt Fritz O. Pockrandt, 14.4.43 - 4.45

Stab:

Formed 1.5.39 in Ansbach from Stab/KG355. Disbanded 15.3.45.

Bases:

1.5.39 - 3.2.40	Ansbach		He 111
3.2.40 - 1.5.40	Schwäbisch-Hall		He 111
1.5.40 - 18.5.40	Roth		He 111
18.5.40 - 25.5.40	Wiesbaden-Erbenheim		He 111
25.5.40 - 18.6.41	Lille-Nord		He 111
18.6.41 - 9.7.41	Radom		He 111
9.7.41 - 4.8.41	Minsk-Dubinskaya		He 111
4.8.41 - 1.10.41	Orscha		He 111
1.10.41 - 10.6.42	Schatalowka-Ost		He 111
10.6.42 - 5.8.42	Korowje-Selo		He 111
5.8.42 - 8.42	Smolensk-Nord		He 111
8.42 - 9.9.42	Seschtschinskaya		He 111
9.9.42 - 2.43	Korowje-Selo		He 111
2.43 - 4.43	Pleskau		He 111
4.43 - 7.43	Korowje-Selo		He 111
7.43 - 10.9.43	Olsufjewo		He 111
10.9.43 - 24.9.43	Gomel-Süd		He 111
24.9.43 - 24.10.43	Bobruisk		He 111
24.10.43 - 22.11.43	Rotmistrowka		He 111
22.11.43 - 5.12.43	Winnitsa		He 111
5.12.43 - 16.1.44	Rauchowka		He 111
16.1.44 - 12.2.44	Schaulen		He 111
12.2.44 - 22.2.44	Proskurow		He 111
22.2.44 - 1.5.44	Kowno		He 111
1.5.44 - 25.7.44	Radom		He 111
25.7.44 - 17.8.44	Jesau		He 111
17.8.44 - 27.8.44	Toul		He 111
27.8.44 - 5.9.44	Lachen-Speyersdorf		He 111
5.9.44 - 10.44	Reppen		He 111
10.44 - 3.45	Bad Zwischenahn		He 111

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• ObLt Karl Mehnert, 1.5.39 - 10.5.40
• ObLt Erich Kaufmann, 16.5.40 - 12.41
• Maj Joachim Wienholtz, 12.41 - 30.3.42
• Maj Fritz O. Pockrandt, 11.4.42 - 13.4.43
• Maj Karl Rauer, 17.4.43 - 9.44
• Maj Martin Vetter, 15.10.44 - 3.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Ansbach from I./KG355. Disbanded 9.9.44.

Reformed 9.9.44 in Varelbusch from III./KG3 for airborne V1 launchings. Disbanded 15.3.45.

Bases:

1.5.39 - 8.39	Ansbach		He 111
8.39 - 8.9.39	Schönfeld		He 111
8.9.39 - 9.9.39	Neudorf		He 111
9.9.39 - 15.9.39	Giessen		He 111
15.9.39 - 6.2.40	Ansbach		He 111
6.2.40 - 10.5.40	Roth-Kiliansdorf		He 111
10.5.40 - 18.5.40	Gelchsheim		He 111
18.5.40 - 21.6.40	Gross-Ostheim		He 111
21.6.40 - 9.7.40	Evreux-le-Courdray		He 111
9.7.40 - 12.7.40	Wevelghem		He 111
12.7.40 - 18.6.41	Vitry-en-Artois		He 111
18.6.41 - 29.6.41	Grojek		He 111
29.6.41 - 2.7.41	Rogoznica		He 111
2.7.41 - 9.7.41	Miedzyrzee		He 111
9.7.41 - 4.8.41	Minsk-Dubinskaya		He 111
4.8.41 - 1.10.41	Orscha		He 111
1.10.41 - 12.41	Schatalowka-Ost		He 111
12.41 - 1.42	Ansbach		He 111
1.42 - 3.42	Riga		He 111
3.42 - 6.42	Korowje-Selo		He 111
6.42 - 8.42	Gostkino		He 111
8.42 - 12.42	Seschtschinskaya		He 111
12.42 - 2.43	Korowje-Selo		He 111
2.43 - 3.43	Pleskau-Süd		He 111
3.43 - 4.43	Gablingen		He 111
4.43 - 7.43	Korowje-Selo		He 111
1.7.43 - 9.43	Olsufjewo		He 111
9.43 - 12.43	Kowno		He 111
12.43 - 22.2.44	Proskurow		He 111
22.2.44 - 1.5.44	Kowno		He 111
1.5.44 - 25.7.44	Radom		He 111
25.7.44 - 21.8.44	Heiligenbeil		He 111
21.8.44 - 9.44	Nancy		He 111
9.44 - 9.9.44	Neubrandenberg		He 111
9.44 - 12.44	Varelbusch*		He 111
12.44 - 3.45	Leck**		He 111

* 1./KG53 at Varelbusch, 2./KG53 at Ahlhorn, 3./KG53 at Vechta.

** detachment at Husum

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• ObLt Kohlbach, 1.5.39 - 7.40
• Maj Reinhold Tamm, 23.7.40 - 18.8.40
• Maj Hans Steinweg, 18.9.40 - 7.41
• ObLt Hans Bader, 25.7.41 - (?)5.42
• ObLt Schulz-Müllensiefen, 5.42 - 14.4.43
• Maj Herbert Wittmann, 25.5.43 - 3.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Schwäbisch-Hall from II./KG355. Began airborne V1 launchings in 10.44. Disbanded 15.3.45.

Bases:

1.5.39 - 8.39	Schwäbisch-Hall		He 111
8.39 - 3.2.40	Roth		He 111
3.2.40 - 1.5.40	Manching		He 111
1.5.40 - 18.5.40	Oedheim		He 111
18.5.40 - 22.6.40	Zellhausen		He 111
22.6.40 - 12.7.40	Schallhausen		He 111
12.7.40 - 18.6.41	Lille-Nord		He 111
18.6.41 - 9.7.41	Radom		He 111
9.7.41 - 4.8.41	Minsk-Dubinskaya		He 111
4.8.41 - 1.10.41	Orscha		He 111
1.10.41 - 10.6.42	Schatalowka-Ost		He 111
10.6.42 - 5.8.42	Korowje-Selo		He 111
5.8.42 - 8.42	Smolensk-Nord		He 111
8.42 - 9.9.42	Seschtschinskaya		He 111
9.9.42 - 12.42	Korowje-Selo		He 111
12.42 - 12.1.43	Greifswald		He 111
12.1.43 - 6.2.43	Voroschilovgrad		He 111
6.2.43 - 15.2.43	Stalino		He 111
15.2.43 - 24.2.43	Dnjepropetrovsk		He 111
24.2.43 - 8.3.43	Kirovograd		He 111
8.3.43 - 19.3.43	Dnjepropetrovsk		He 111
19.3.43 - 4.43	Pleskau		He 111
4.43 - 15.7.43	Gablingen		He 111
15.7.43 - 10.9.43	Olsufjewo		He 111
10.9.43 - 24.9.43	Gomel-Süd		He 111
24.9.43 - 24.10.43	Bobruisk		He 111
24.10.43 - 22.11.43	Rotmistrowka		He 111
22.11.43 - 5.12.43	Winnitsa		He 111
5.12.43 - 16.1.44	Rauchowka		He 111
16.1.44 - 12.2.44	Schaulen		He 111
12.2.44 - 20.2.44	Proskurow		He 111
20.2.44 - 1.6.44	Schaulen		He 111
1.6.44 - 25.7.44	Piastow		He 111
25.7.44 - 17.8.44	Jesau		He 111
17.8.44 - 8.44	Le Bourget, Verdun		He 111
8.44 - 4.9.44	Babenhausen		He 111
4.9.44 - 10.44	Reppen		He 111
10.44 - 3.45	Bad Zwischenahn*		He 111

* 4./KG53 at Bad Zwischenahn, 5./KG53 at Jever, 6./KG53 at Wittmund.

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Friedrich Edler von Braun, 1.5.39 - (?)3.40
• Maj Willi Rohrbacher, (?)3.40 - 2.41
• Maj Richard Fabian, 2.41 - 4.42
• Maj Walter Brautkuhl, 4.42 - 5.8.42
• Maj Hans Waldforst, 17.8.42 - 13.9.42
• Maj Hubert Mönch, 21.10.43 - 27.5.43
• Maj Emil Allmendinger, 24.6.43 - 18.3.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Giebelstadt from III./KG355. Began airborne V1 launchings in 10.44. Disbanded 21.3.45.

Bases:

1.5.39 - 8.39	Giebelstadt		He 111
8.39 - 1.10.39	Gross-Ostheim		He 111
1.10.39 - 3.2.40	Giebelstadt		He 111
3.2.40 - 1.5.40	Schwäbisch-Hall		He 111
1.5.40 - 12.7.40	Frankfurt/Rhein-Main		He 111
12.7.40 - 12.40	Lille-Mouvaux		He 111
12.40 - 18.6.41	Lübe*		He 111
18.6.41 - 9.7.41	Radzyn		He 111
9.7.41 - 4.8.41	Minsk-Dubinskaya		He 111
4.8.41 - 1.10.41	Orscha		He 111
1.10.41 - 1.42	Schatalowka-Ost		He 111
1.42 - 15.7.42	Ansbach		He 111
15.7.42 - 16.8.42	Chartres		He 111
16.8.42 - 1.9.42	Smolensk-Nord		He 111
1.9.42 - 20.10.42	Gostkino		He 111
20.10.42 - 4.43	Dno		He 111
4.43 - 1.7.43	Pleskau		He 111
1.7.43 - 19.7.43	Osulfjewo		He 111
19.7.43 - 5.12.43	Gablingen		He 111
5.12.43 - 25.1.44	Puchwitschi		He 111
25.1.44 - 31.1.44	Kowno		He 111
31.1.44 - 9.2.44	Schaulen		He 111
9.2.44 - 21.2.44	Uman		He 111
21.2.44 - 30.3.44	Schaulen		He 111
30.3.44 - 30.4.44	Mielec		He 111
30.4.44 - 9.7.44	Radom		He 111
9.7.44 - 25.7.44	Grojek		He 111
25.7.44 - 17.8.44	Jesau		He 111
17.8.44 - 27.8.44	Toul		He 111
27.8.44 - 6.9.44	Lachen-Speyersdorf		He 111
6.9.44 - 10.44	Nieder-Seyfersdorf		He 111
10.44 - 17.2.45	Schleswig*		He 111
17.2.45 - 3.45	Greifswald**		He 111

* 8./KG53 at Liegnitz, 9./KG53 at Freiwaldau

* 7./KG53 at Leck, 8./KG53 at Schleswig, 9./KG53 at Eggebeck

** 7./KG53 at Alt-Lönnewitz

IV. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Joachim Wienholtz, 4.41 - 12.41
• Maj Andreas Zahn, 4.12.41 - 4.43
• Maj Ludwig Grözinger, 4.43 - 20.8.44

Formed 26.3.41 in Lille-Vembrechis. Disbanded 7.44.

Bases:

3.41 - 1.43	Lille-Vembrechis		He 111
1.43 - 2.44	Orleans-Bricy		He 111
2.44 - 7.44	Szolnok		He 111

15.(kroat.)/KG53:

Staffelkapitän:

• Maj Gerhard Joachim, 12.42 - 6.44

Formed 7.42 in Agram from 10.(kroat.)/KG3. Disbanded 6.44.

Bases:

7.42 - 7.42	Agram		Do 17Z
7.42 - 8.42	Korowje-Selo?		Do 17Z
8.42 - 9.42	Seschtschinskaya?		Do 17Z
9.42 - 12.42	Korowje-Selo?		Do 17Z
12.42 - 6.44	Agram*		Do 17Z

* Sarajevo-Butmir was also used.