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4th Parachute Division (Germany)

4th Parachute Division (Germany)

The4th Parachute Division, (German:4. Fallschirmjäger-Division), was a divisional-sized elite formation in the Luftwaffe duringWorld War II.

German 4th Parachute Division
Active 1943–45
Country Germany
Branch Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross)Luftwaffe
Type Fallschirmjäger
Role Airborne forces
Size Division
Part of I Parachute Corps
Engagements Battle of Anzio
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Heinrich Trettner

History

It was formed inVenice,Italy, in November 1943, from elements of2 Fallschirmjäger Divisionand volunteers from the Italian 184 and 185 Airborne Division Folgore parachute divisions.[1]Its first combat action was against theAlliedlandings at Anzio(Operation Shingle) as part of theI. Fallschirm Korpsin January 1944.[1]

After Anzio, the division fought a rear guard action in front of Rome, and was the last German unit to leave the city on 4 June; it withdrew towards Viterbo Siena Firenze and then managed to halt the Allies at the Futa pass.[2]In the winter of 1944/1945 it was positioned on the Gothic Line. In March 1945, the division had to send the II Battalion,12 Fallschirmjäger Regimentand the 2nd Company from thePionier Battalionto the new10 Fallschirmjager Division, which was being formed in Austria.[2]It then fought atRiminiandBolognaand surrendered to the Allies in April 1945.[3]

War crimes

The division has been implicated in Pedescala massacre (Veneto), between 30 April and 2 May 1945, when 63 civilians were executed.[4][5]

Order of battle

Structure of the division:[6]

  • Headquarters

  • 10th Parachute Regiment

  • 11th Parachute Regiment

  • 12th Parachute Regiment

  • 4th Parachute Artillery Regiment

  • 4th Parachute Tank Destroyer Battalion

  • 4th Parachute Engineer Battalion

  • 4th Parachute Signal Battalion

  • 4th Parachute Anti-Aircraft Battalion

  • 4th Parachute Heavy Mortar Battalion

  • 4th Parachute Field Replacement Battalion

  • 4th Parachute Divisional Supply Group

Commander

  • Heinrich Trettner

References

[1]

Citation Linkwww.axishistory.com“axis.history”. Retrieved 2009-02-03.

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[2]

Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgQuarrie, p 46

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[3]

Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgWindrow, p 17

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[4]

Citation Linkwww.straginazifasciste.it“Pedescala Valdastico 30.4.1945–2.5.1945” (in Italian). Atlas of Nazi and Fascist Massacres in Italy. Retrieved 20 September 2018.

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[5]

Citation Linkwww.straginazifasciste.it“4. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division” (in Italian). Atlas of Nazi and Fascist Massacres in Italy. Retrieved 20 September 2018.

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[6]

Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgGerman Order of Battle, 291st–999th Infantry Division, named infantry divisions, and special divisions in World War II. p. 179.

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[7]

Citation Linkwww.axishistory.com“axis.history”

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[8]

Citation Linkwww.straginazifasciste.it“Pedescala Valdastico 30.4.1945–2.5.1945”

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[9]

Citation Linkwww.straginazifasciste.it“4. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division”

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM
[10]

Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).

Sep 25, 2019, 6:22 AM