''Aufklärungsgruppe'' 11 (11th Reconnaissance Group) was a
German Air Force
The German Air Force (german: Luftwaffe, lit=air weapon or air arm, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ''Bundeswehr'') was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War a ...
air reconnaissance
Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including artillery spotting, the collection of imagery ...
group that participated in the
Axis-led
invasion of Yugoslavia
The invasion of Yugoslavia, also known as the April War or Operation 25, or ''Projekt 25'' was a German-led attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II. The order for the invasion was p ...
during
World War II.
The ''Aufklärungsgruppe'' was based in
Großenhain prior to World War II. It was made up of a ''
Gruppenstab'' (headquarters unit) and five ''
Staffeln'' (squadrons).
1.(H)/11
During the
Invasion of Poland, the ''Staffel'' flew reconnaissance missions for the
10th Panzer Division with a
Henschel Hs 126 and three
Heinkel He 46 close reconnaissance aircraft.
2.(F)/11
During the Invasion of Poland, the ''Staffel'' flew reconnaissance missions for
Army Group South with a
Dornier Do 17 F.
3.(F)/11
During the Invasion of Poland, the ''Staffel'' flew reconnaissance missions for
Army Group North with a Do 17 F. In 1941 during the
Balkans campaign, the unit supported the
2nd Army. On 9 August 1943, the ''Staffel'' became the 5. ''Staffel'' of
''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76 (ZG 76—76th Destroyer Wing) which was fighting in
Defense of the Reich
The Defence of the Reich (german: Reichsverteidigung) is the name given to the strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany over German-occupied Europe and Germany during World War II. Its aim was to prevent the ...
.
4.(F)/11
During the Invasion of Poland, the ''Staffel'' flew reconnaissance missions for
4th Army in northern Poland. In 1941 during
Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, 4.(F)/11 was deployed over the combat area of
9th Army which was part of
Army Group Center.
5.(H)/11 (Pz)
The ''Staffel'' was created in 1940 and equipped with the Hs 126. During
Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the unit was linked to the
11th Panzer Division
The 11th Panzer Division ( en, 11th Tank Division) was an armoured division in the German Army during World War II, established in 1940.
The division saw action on the Eastern and Western Fronts during the Second World War. The 11th Panzer Div ...
which was fighting in the southern sector of the Eastern Front.
References
Notes
Bibliography
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Luftwaffe Wings
Air force reconnaissance units and formations
Military units and formations established in 1939
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
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