Kampfgeschwader 3
Encyclopedia
Kampfgeschwader 3 "Blitz" (KG 3) was a Luftwaffe
bomber wing during World War II
.
Its units participated on all of the fronts
in the European Theatre until it was disbanded in September-October 1944. It operated two of the major German bomber types; the Dornier Do 17
and the Junkers Ju 88
.
./KG 3, II Gruppe and III Gruppe. I Gruppe was not formed until September 1939 near Magdeburg
, made up of personnel from II., and III.Gruppe.
While training in the summer of 1939 the Geschwader "worked up" on the Dornier Do 17Z.
III./KG 3 did not become operational until April 1940 and consequently missed the Polish Campaign.
Poland
During the Polish campaign II. and III. Gruppes operated from Heiligenbeil
in East Prussia
. The unit participated in the Battle of Bzura, and carried out raids in the areas of Tczew
, Narew
, Praha and Warsaw
. The Geschwader ceased attacks on 21 September and were ordered to western Germany to face a possible Allied attack. KG 3 had committed 9 Dorniers of its Stab unit, 38 from II./KG 3, and 39 from III./KG 3.
but instead spent the spring training and resting in preparation for the decisive western offensive in 1940.
France and the Low Countries
KG 3 began the campaign in the west with a strength of 112 Do 17s and Ju 88s, with 92 Serviceable. KG supported the offensive through the Ardennes and Belgium, later bombed the Allied ports Ostend
and Dunkirk, during the Allied evacuation
.
II./KG 3 supported the crucial breakthrough at Sedan
. Other elements supported the drive to the Swiss
border, encircling the French forces on the Maginot Line
.
For operations over Britain KG 3 was moved to airfields at St Trond and Le Culot in Belgium.
Battle of Britain
At he beginning of the battle KG 3 had a total of 108 bombers, of which 88 were combat ready. KG 3 operated during all phases of the battle. In March 1941 II. Gruppe left for bases in Poland
. During their relocation the unit stopped at Oldenburg
for conversion onto the Ju 88 which was completed on 16 March. The rest of the Geschwader had converted to the Ju 88 by early June 1941.
Channel Front
During 1941-44 KG 3 flew raids against Britain and anti-shipping missions in support of the U-Boat
s during the Battle of the Atlantic campaign.
In February 1942 IV.(Erg)./KG 3 assisted the German warships Scharnhorst
and Gneisenau
in their famous "Channel Dash"
.
From July 1944 to January 1945 the Luftwaffe air-launched approximately 1,176 V-1 flying bombs from modified Heinkel He 111 H-22s of III./KG 3 and KG 53 (based in the Netherlands
) flying over the North Sea. Research after the war estimated a 40% failure rate of air-launched V-1s, and the He-111s were extremely vulnerable to night fighter attack, as the launch lit up the area around the aircraft for several seconds.
it participated in the bombing of Belgrade
.
After the surrender of the Yugoslavs it supported the defeat of the Greek and British in mainland Greece and then during the Battle of Crete
.
Russia
During the initial phase of the war in the east KG 3 participated in the Battle of Kiev
and was credited with 450 aircraft on the ground, its gunners were credited with 21 aircraft shot down in aerial combat, 30 tanks, 488 vehicles, 349 rail cars, seven armoured trains, 27 artillery positions, and 14 bridges.
The unit supported all three German Army Groups on the Eastern Front. When the Luftwaffe lost air superiority in summer of 1943 the Geschwaders losses stood at over 70 aircrews on the central sector of the front.
From January - June 1943 KG 3 formed a Train busting Staffel, 9.(Eis)/KG 3, using Ju 88Cs. It operated into June with success, its fate is unknown, it was probably disbanded in late 1943.
15.(Kroat.)/KG 3 was a unit made up of Croatian volunteers flying the Dornier Do 17
Z, which saw action on the eastern front until 1944.
On 14 October 1943 the unit took part in a short strategic bombing campaign in Russia. USAAF formations had been flying shuttle missions to Soviet territory after bombing German targets. The operation , named Zaunkönig, struck at American airfields in Russia, as well as Soviet targets. KG 53 and KG 55 took part in the attack, destroying some 44 B-17 bombers and damaging 26 others. Another 15 fighters were also destroyed. However, the Soviets began Operation Bagration soon after, and the Kampfgeschwaders switched back to supporting ground forces.
Most of the units Gruppes were disbanded by October 1944. It appears the last unit, 14.(Eis)/KG 3 was disbanded on 4 March 1945, its remaining personnel went to KG 76.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
bomber wing during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Its units participated on all of the fronts
Front (military)
A military front or battlefront is a contested armed frontier between opposing forces. This can be a local or tactical front, or it can range to a theater...
in the European Theatre until it was disbanded in September-October 1944. It operated two of the major German bomber types; the Dornier Do 17
Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...
and the Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
.
History
Kampfgeschwader 3 was formed on 1 May 1939 at Fürstenwalde in eastern Germany with StabStab (Luftwaffe designation)
During World War II, the suffix Stab was used in the German Luftwaffe to designate a headquarters unit. This applied to subordinate units in each Gruppe or Geschwader — the equivalent units to wings and groups in other air forces.These command units used the green colour of their aircraft...
./KG 3, II Gruppe and III Gruppe. I Gruppe was not formed until September 1939 near Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, made up of personnel from II., and III.Gruppe.
While training in the summer of 1939 the Geschwader "worked up" on the Dornier Do 17Z.
III./KG 3 did not become operational until April 1940 and consequently missed the Polish Campaign.
PolandInvasion of Poland (1939)The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
During the Polish campaign II. and III. Gruppes operated from HeiligenbeilHeiligenbeil
The term Heiligenbeil can refer to:*The German name of Mamonovo, Russia*Heiligenbeil concentration camp built near Mamonovo*Heiligenbeil Pocket, part of the Eastern Front of World War II...
in East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
. The unit participated in the Battle of Bzura, and carried out raids in the areas of Tczew
Tczew
Tczew is a town on the Vistula River in Eastern Pomerania, Kociewie, northern Poland with 60,279 inhabitants . It is an important railway junction with a classification yard dating to the Prussian Eastern Railway...
, Narew
Narew
The Narew River , in western Belarus and north-eastern Poland, is a left tributary of the Vistula river...
, Praha and Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. The Geschwader ceased attacks on 21 September and were ordered to western Germany to face a possible Allied attack. KG 3 had committed 9 Dorniers of its Stab unit, 38 from II./KG 3, and 39 from III./KG 3.
Denmark and Norway
The unit did not participate in Operation WeserübungOperation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
but instead spent the spring training and resting in preparation for the decisive western offensive in 1940.
France and the Low CountriesBattle of FranceIn the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
KG 3 began the campaign in the west with a strength of 112 Do 17s and Ju 88s, with 92 Serviceable. KG supported the offensive through the Ardennes and Belgium, later bombed the Allied ports OstendOstend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
and Dunkirk, during the Allied evacuation
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
.
II./KG 3 supported the crucial breakthrough at Sedan
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. Other elements supported the drive to the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
border, encircling the French forces on the Maginot Line
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
.
For operations over Britain KG 3 was moved to airfields at St Trond and Le Culot in Belgium.
Battle of BritainBattle of BritainThe Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
At he beginning of the battle KG 3 had a total of 108 bombers, of which 88 were combat ready. KG 3 operated during all phases of the battle. In March 1941 II. Gruppe left for bases in PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. During their relocation the unit stopped at Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
for conversion onto the Ju 88 which was completed on 16 March. The rest of the Geschwader had converted to the Ju 88 by early June 1941.
Channel FrontWestern Front (World War II)The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
During 1941-44 KG 3 flew raids against Britain and anti-shipping missions in support of the U-BoatU-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s during the Battle of the Atlantic campaign.
In February 1942 IV.(Erg)./KG 3 assisted the German warships Scharnhorst
German battleship Scharnhorst
Scharnhorst was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of the German Kriegsmarine. She was the lead ship of her class, which included one other ship, Gneisenau. The ship was built at the Kriegsmarinewerft dockyard in Wilhelmshaven; she was laid down on 15...
and Gneisenau
German battleship Gneisenau
Gneisenau was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of the German Kriegsmarine. She was the second vessel of her class, which included one other ship, Scharnhorst. The ship was built at the Deutsche Werke dockyard in Kiel; she was laid down on 6 May 1935...
in their famous "Channel Dash"
Operation Cerberus
The Channel Dash, , was a major naval engagement during World War II in which a German Kriegsmarine squadron consisting of both Scharnhorst class battleships, and heavy cruiser along with escorts, ran a British blockade and successfully sailed from Brest in Brittany to their home bases in Germany...
.
From July 1944 to January 1945 the Luftwaffe air-launched approximately 1,176 V-1 flying bombs from modified Heinkel He 111 H-22s of III./KG 3 and KG 53 (based in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
) flying over the North Sea. Research after the war estimated a 40% failure rate of air-launched V-1s, and the He-111s were extremely vulnerable to night fighter attack, as the launch lit up the area around the aircraft for several seconds.
Yugoslavia and Greece
III./KG 3 retained some of its Do 17s and had 28 on strength during it operations in the Balkans. Under the command of Luftflotte 4Luftflotte 4
Luftflotte 4 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on March 18, 1939 from Luftwaffenkommando Österreich in Vienna. The Luftflotte was redesignated on April 21, 1945 to Luftwaffenkommando 4, and became subordinated to Luftflotte 6. It was the...
it participated in the bombing of Belgrade
Bombing of Belgrade in World War II
The city of Belgrade was bombed during two campaigns in World War II, the first undertaken by the Luftwaffe in 1941, and the latter by Allied air forces in 1944.- German bombing :...
.
After the surrender of the Yugoslavs it supported the defeat of the Greek and British in mainland Greece and then during the Battle of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
.
RussiaOperation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
Battle of Kiev (1941)
The Battle of Kiev was the German name for the operation that resulted in a very large encirclement of Soviet troops in the vicinity of Kiev during World War II. It is considered the largest encirclement of troops in history. The operation ran from 23 August – 26 September 1941 as part of Operation...
and was credited with 450 aircraft on the ground, its gunners were credited with 21 aircraft shot down in aerial combat, 30 tanks, 488 vehicles, 349 rail cars, seven armoured trains, 27 artillery positions, and 14 bridges.
The unit supported all three German Army Groups on the Eastern Front. When the Luftwaffe lost air superiority in summer of 1943 the Geschwaders losses stood at over 70 aircrews on the central sector of the front.
From January - June 1943 KG 3 formed a Train busting Staffel, 9.(Eis)/KG 3, using Ju 88Cs. It operated into June with success, its fate is unknown, it was probably disbanded in late 1943.
15.(Kroat.)/KG 3 was a unit made up of Croatian volunteers flying the Dornier Do 17
Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...
Z, which saw action on the eastern front until 1944.
On 14 October 1943 the unit took part in a short strategic bombing campaign in Russia. USAAF formations had been flying shuttle missions to Soviet territory after bombing German targets. The operation , named Zaunkönig, struck at American airfields in Russia, as well as Soviet targets. KG 53 and KG 55 took part in the attack, destroying some 44 B-17 bombers and damaging 26 others. Another 15 fighters were also destroyed. However, the Soviets began Operation Bagration soon after, and the Kampfgeschwaders switched back to supporting ground forces.
Most of the units Gruppes were disbanded by October 1944. It appears the last unit, 14.(Eis)/KG 3 was disbanded on 4 March 1945, its remaining personnel went to KG 76.
Geschwaderkommodore
- Oberst Wolfgang von Chamier-GlisczinskiWolfgang von Chamier-GlisczinskiWolfgang von Chamier-Glisczinski was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 1 May 1939 – 1 September 1941 - Oberst Heinrich Conrady, 1 September 1941 – 31 October 1942
- Oberst Erich Rathmann (acting), 1942
- Major Jobst-Hinrich von Heydebreck, 1 November 1942 – 3 January 1943 (MIA)
- Oberstlt Walter Lehwess-Litzmann, January 1943 – 7 September 1943 (MIA, Oberst promotion was posthumous)
- Major Fritz Auffhammer, 24 September 1943 – 18 August 1944 - unit officially dissolved.