14th Luftwaffe Field Division (Wehrmacht)

The 14th Luftwaffe Field Division (14. Luftwaffen-Felddivision) was a Luftwaffe Field Division of the Wehrmacht during World War II. It was transferred to the German Army in November 1943 as the 14th Field Division (L) and spent its entire operational existence on occupation duties in Norway and Denmark. It saw no ground combat during its period of service.

14th Luftwaffe Field Division (14. Luftwaffen-Felddivision)
ActiveLate 1942 – 1945
Country Germany
BranchLuftwaffe then Army
TypeDivision
RoleInfantry
Size10,500
Part ofXXXIII Army Corps
Garrison/HQNorway and Denmark
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Wilhelm Richter

History

In 1942, Adolf Hitler authorised the creation of Luftwaffe field divisions using surplus ground crew. This was done, rather than transferring these men to the German Army, because Hermann Göring personally intervened with Hitler, stating that he was concerned that his men's "fine National Socialist attitudes" would be contaminated. This decision ultimately led to the commitment of many of these inadequately trained divisions mainly to the Eastern Front, where they suffered heavy casualties.[1]

The 14th Luftwaffe Field Division was formed in late 1942 from the 61st Air Regiment. Despite not having completed its training or having been fully equipped, the division was sent to German-occupied Norway in January 1943, in order to replace the 196th Infantry Division which was being shifted to the Eastern Front. The 14th Luftwaffe Field Division initially garrisoned the Mo area, near Bergen, and was transferred to the German Army on 1 November 1943 as the 14th Field Division (L). It was later deployed to the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark. In mid-1944 it was transferred back to Norway and was deployed in the Nordland region, under the control of XXXIII Army Corps, and remained in Norway until the end of the war, when it was disbanded.[2][3]

Organization

The following units made up the division:[4]

  • 27th Luftwaffe Field Regiment
  • 28th Luftwaffe Field Regiment
  • 14th Luftwaffe Field Artillery Regiment
  • 14th Luftwaffe Tank Destroyer Battalion
  • 14th Luftwaffe Bicycle Battalion
  • 14th Luftwaffe Engineer Company
  • 14th Luftwaffe Signal Company
  • 14th Luftwaffe Field Divisional Supply Troops

The 4th Luftwaffe Field Artillery Battalion of the 14th Luftwaffe Field Artillery Regiment became the 1st Motorised Flak Battalion of the 15th Motorised Flak Regiment in October 1943.[4]

Commanders

The following officers commanded the division:[4]

Footnotes
  1. Mitcham 2007a, p. 187.
  2. Mitcham 2007a, pp. 194–195.
  3. Mitcham 2007b, p. 145.
  4. Mitcham 2007a, p. 195.
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References
  • Mitcham, Samuel (2007a). German Order of Battle: 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry divisions, and Special Divisions in World War II. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-3437-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Mitcham, Samuel (2007b). The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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