The 3rd ''Luftwaffe'' Field Division (german: links=no, 3.Luftwaffen-Feld-Division) was an infantry division of the

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

branch of the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...

that fought in World War II. It was formed using surplus ground crew of the ''Luftwaffe'' and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to early 1944 at which time it was disbanded.

Operational history

The 3rd ''Luftwaffe'' Field Division, one of several such divisions of the ''Luftwaffe'', was formed in mid-1942 in Gross-Born Troop Maneuver Area, under the command of ''

Generalmajor is the Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and Royal Danish Air Force. As a two-star ...

'' Robert Pistorious. Intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from surplus ''Luftwaffe'' (German Air Force) ground crew. Towards the end of 1942, the division was assigned to

Army Group Centre Army Group Centre (german: Heeresgruppe Mitte) was the name of two distinct strategic German Army Groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created on 22 June 1941, as one of three German Army fo ...

on the Eastern Front and fought in engagements at Nevel from November 1942 to October 1943. Responsibility for the division was transferred to the

Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

on 1 November 1943 and designated 3rd Field Division (L). Later that month, it participated in actions at Vitebsk against the Soviet Army and remained on the front lines until January 1944. Shortly afterwards, after suffering heavy losses in the fighting at Vitebsk, the division was disbanded. Surviving personnel were absorbed by the 4th and 6th ''Luftwaffe'' Field Divisions.

Commanders

*''Generalmajor'' Robert Pistorius (Sep 1942 – Jan 1944).

Notes

Footnotes Citations

References

* * {{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Luftwaffe Field Divisions Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1944 1942 establishments in Germany 1944 disestablishments in Germany