German 6th Parachute Division
Encyclopedia
The 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division (6th Parachute Division) was a fallschirmjäger
(airborne) division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.
The division was formed in France in June 1944, commanded by Rüdiger von Heyking. It contained the 16th, 17th and 18th Fallschirmjäger Regiments, and the 6th Fallschirmjäger Artillery Regiment.
The 16th Regiment was transferred to the Eastern Front
before the division saw combat, and would later be redesignated as 3rd Fallschirm-Grenadier-Regiment and assigned to Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier Division 2 Hermann Göring
. The remainder of the division was sent into combat in Normandy in July and took heavy losses; it was withdrawn to the Netherlands to rebuild, and saw combat there later in the year. In early 1945, it fought in the Battle of the Reichswald, and surrendered to Allied forces in May.
Fallschirmjäger
are German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....
(airborne) division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.
The division was formed in France in June 1944, commanded by Rüdiger von Heyking. It contained the 16th, 17th and 18th Fallschirmjäger Regiments, and the 6th Fallschirmjäger Artillery Regiment.
The 16th Regiment was transferred to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
before the division saw combat, and would later be redesignated as 3rd Fallschirm-Grenadier-Regiment and assigned to Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier Division 2 Hermann Göring
Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier Division 2 Hermann Göring
Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 2 "Hermann Göring" was formed on 24 September 1944 in the area of Radom.-Commanding officers:*Generalmajor Erich Walther, 24 September 1944 - November 1944*Oberst Wilhelm Söth, November 1944 - January 1945...
. The remainder of the division was sent into combat in Normandy in July and took heavy losses; it was withdrawn to the Netherlands to rebuild, and saw combat there later in the year. In early 1945, it fought in the Battle of the Reichswald, and surrendered to Allied forces in May.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Rüdiger von Heyking, 1 May 1944 – 3 September 1944
- Oberst Harry HerrmannHarry HerrmannHarry Herrmann was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II and in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 3 September 1944 – 1 October 1944 - Generalleutnant Hermann PlocherHermann PlocherHermann Plocher was a Luftwaffe commander during World War II and Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipient...
, 1 October 1944 – 8 May 1945