3rd Parachute Division (Germany)

The 3rd Parachute Division was an elite[1][2] military unit of Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe that was active during World War II. Its formation began in October 1943 in France near Reims. From February 1944 near Brest. In March 1944 division was reinforced by soldiers from the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Parachute Regiment.[3]

3rd Parachute Division
Unit insignia
Active	1943–45
Country	Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Type	Fallschirmjäger
Role	Airborne forces
Size	Division
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Richard Schimpf

Operational history

The 3rd Parachute Division was an airborne division which fought during World War II. It was formed during 1943–44 around a cadre consisting of the veteran 3rd Battalion, 1st Parachute Regiment. The Division was well equipped with 930 MG42s. Each company had 20 MG 42s and 43 sub machine guns while a squad had 2 MG42s and 5 sub machine guns.

It arrived in Normandy on 10 June, by truck after a night drive from Brittany. It was at full strength and consisted of young German volunteers, and numbered 15,976 soldiers and officers. Its level of training and excellent weapon systems prompted the commander of the US 29th Infantry Division to remark, "Those Germans are the best damned soldiers I ever saw. They're smart and they don't know what 'fear' means. They come in and they keep coming until they get their job done or you kill 'em."[4]

The division went into combat in June 1944 in Normandy and inflicted heavy losses on the Allied forces opposing them. Nominally, the unit was to be motorised, but by June it still had no more than 40% of its authorised motor transport, even after seizing vehicles from French civilians. This was to have an impact when trying to move the division towards the invasion front.

In August it was near virtually destroyed by mass aerial bombing in the area of Falaise. Formed again in Belgium from replacements from 22nd, 51st, 53rd Luftwaffe Field Regiments. During September 1944 it fought as a part of Kampfgruppe "Becker" in Arnhem area before participating in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. It surrendered in April 1945 to American troops in Ruhr.[5]

Commanding officers

• Generalmajor Walter Barenthin, 13 September 1943 – 14 February 1944
• Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf, 17 February 1944 – 20 August 1944
• General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl (acting), 20 August 1944 – 22 August 1944
• Generalmajor Walter Wadehn, 22 August 1944 – 5 January 1945
• Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf, 6 January 1945 – 1 March 1945
• Oberst Helmut von Hoffmann, 1 March 1945 – 8 March 1945
• Oberst Karl-Heinz Becker, 8 March 1945 – 8 April 1945
• Oberst Hummel, 8 April 1945 – 16 April 1945

Organization in June 1944

Commander: General Major Schimpf[6]

• HQ Staff
  • 3rd Mortar Battalion
  • 3rd Anti-Tank Battalion
  • 3rd Artillery Battalion
  • 3rd Engineer Battalion
  • 3rd Signal Battalion
• 5th Fallschirmjäger Regiment
• 8th Fallschirmjäger Regiment
• 9th Fallschirmjäger Regiment
• Supply troops

References

1. Joseph Balkoski, Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy, ISBN 0-8117-2682-7
2. Citizen Soldiers, Stephen Ambrose ISBN 978-0-684-81525-1
3. Nowakowski Tomasz, Skotnicki Mariusz, Zbiegniewski Jerzy Niemieckie wojska spadochronowe 1936–1945 page 182
4. Joseph Balkoski, Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy, ISBN 0-8117-2682-7
5. Nowakowski Tomasz, Skotnicki Mariusz, Zbiegniewski Jerzy Niemieckie Wojkska Spadochronowe 1936–1945 page 183
6. Nowakowski Tomasz, Skotnicki Mariusz, Zbiegniewski Jerzy page 182,183

Further reading

• Schimpf, Richard; Dewey Janet E (1989). Fighting of the 3rd Parachute Division during the invasion of France from June to August 1944. United States. Army, Europe. Historical Division. Foreign Military Studies Branch.
• Hans Wijers: Battle of the Bulge, Vol. 3: The 3rd Fallschirmjager Division in Action, December 1944 – January 1945. Stackpole 2014, ISBN 978-0811713528.