4. Flieger DivisionFor an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see

Luftwaffe Organisation 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 ...

(4th Air Division) was one of the primary divisions of the German

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 ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. It was formed on 1 August 1938 in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...

from the Höheren Fliegerkommandeur 5. The Division was redesignated 21. Flieger-Division on 1 November 1938 and relocated to

Braunschweig Braunschweig () or Brunswick ( , from Low German ''Brunswiek'' , Braunschweig dialect: ''Bronswiek'') is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, north of the Harz Mountains at the farthest navigable point of the river Oker, which connects it to the Nor ...

and again renamed to 4. Flieger Division on 1 February 1939. The unit was relocated to

Düsseldorf Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; archaic nl, Dusseldorp ) is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in th ...

on 1 October 1939 and redesignated IV. Fliegerkorps on 11 October 1939 and reformed again in June 1943 in

Smolensk Smolensk ( rus, Смоленск, p=smɐˈlʲensk, a=smolensk_ru.ogg) is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest c ...

Commanders

* Generalmajor Hellmuth Bieneck, 1 August 1938 – 31 January 1939 * General der Flieger

Alfred Keller Alfred Keller (19 September 1882 – 11 February 1974) was a general in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during the Second World War who commanded the ''Luftflotte 1''. His career in the Imperial German Armed Forces began in 1897; he served a ...

, 1 February 1939 – 11 October 1939 * Generalmajor Josef Punzert, June 1943 – 30 June 1943 * Generalleutnant

Hermann Plocher __NOTOC__ Hermann Lukas Plocher (5 January 1901 – 8 December 1980) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Awards * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class ( ...

, 1 July 1943 – 25 August 1943 * Oberst Franz Reuß, 25 August 1943 – 5 April 1945 * Generalmajor

Klaus Uebe __NOTOC__ Klaus Uebe (1 May 1900 – 3 February 1968) was a Luftwaffe general and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards * German Cross in Gold on 29 December 1942 as ''Oberstleutnant im Generalstab'' with com ...

(acting), 25 December 1944 – 24 January 1945

Notes

References

{{Divisions of the Luftwaffe Air divisions of the Wehrmacht Luftwaffe Military units and formations established in 1938 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945