6. Fallschirm Division

6. Fallschirm Jäger Division

It was formed in June 1944 and was immediately sent to 15th Army.¹ Its intended organization was²:

However, when it arrived at 15th Army it had a very different organization³:

Fallschirmjäger-Rgt. 16 (three battalions, each with four companies. Also 13. Kp. (GrW) and 14. Kp. (Pak))
Fallschirm-Jäger-Lehr-Rgt. (three battalions, each with four companies. Also 13. Kp. (GrW) and 14. Kp. (Pak))
I./Fallschirmjäger-Artl.Rgt. 6 (three batteries, each with four 10,5 cm le.FH 18 howitzers)
s.Werfer-Abteilung 21 (four batteries with 30 cm rocket launchers)
Fallschirm-Pi.Btl. 6 (forming)
Fallschirm-Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 6 (two companies forming)
1 Nachschub-Komp. mot
1 Kraftfahr-Komp. (100 to)

Six weeks later, on 1 August, the division was far from complete. The 16 Fallschirm-Rgt. had been sent to the eastern front and the status of the units of the division was⁴:

Fallsch.Pz.Jäg.Abt. 6

65 % of authorized manpower strength. Seven 7,5 cm Pak (towed).

I./Fs.Art.Rgt. 6

100 % of authorized manpower strength. Twelve 10,5 cm howitzers.⁵

Fs.Pi.Btl. 6

66 % of authorized manpower strength.

Feld.Ers.Btl. 6

42 % of authorized mapower strength.

Fsch.Jäg.Lehr.Rgt.

100 % of authorized mapower strength.

s.Werfer-Abt. 21

100 % of authorized mapower strength. Twenty-three Nebelwerfer.

A Kampfgruppe from the division was sent to bolster German defences against Pattons spearheads and on 12 August it was reported that the Kampfgruppe was located in the area L'Aigle - Moulins⁶, i.e. well east of the area where elements of the 7. Armee were surrounded. It appears to have remained in that area until the breakout from the Falaise pocket.⁷ The Kampfgruppe seems to have consisted of the Fallsch.Jäg.Lehr-Rgt., I./Fallsch.Art.Rgt. 6 and s.Werfer-Abt. 21.⁸

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Notes:

1

G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975).

2

Ibid.

3

AOK 15 O.Qu/Qu.1 Nr. 1687/44 g.Kdos, 17.6.44, T312, R517, F8116504.

4

Anlagen zum KTB LXXXI. A.K. Ia, Gliederung 6. Fsch.-Jg.-Div., Stand vom 1.8.1944, T314, R1593, F000972.

5

The I./Fs.Art.Rgt. 6 was the only unit of the regiment that was combat ready. The II. Abteilung was still not raised, while the III. Abteilung was at the artillery school in Luneville. See Übersicht über den Stand der Art. Einh., Anlage 33 zum KTB des höheren Artilleriekommandeurs der Fallschirmtruppe, KTB Nr. 1, BA-MA RL 33/3. The III. Abteilung was still in Luneville on 18 August. See Höh. Art. Kommandeur Abt Ia, Az 11 Br. B. Nr. 797/44 geh. 18.8.44, BA-MA RL 33/3.

6

LXXXI. A.K. Ia Nr. 25/44 g.Kdos. 12.8.44, T314, R1592, F000511.

7

See situation maps in Anlagen zum KTB LXXXI. A.K. Ia, Lagekarten, T314, R1594, F000003ff.

8

See Anlagen zum KTB LXXXI. A.K. Ia, Gliederung 6. Fsch.-Jg.-Div., Stand vom 14.8.1944, T314, R1593, F000974. The Fallsch.Jäg.Lehr-Rgt. was also called Fallsch.Jäg.Lehr-Rgt. 21.

Fallsch.Pz.Jäg.Abt. 6	65 % of authorized manpower strength. Seven 7,5 cm Pak (towed).
I./Fs.Art.Rgt. 6	100 % of authorized manpower strength. Twelve 10,5 cm howitzers.⁵
Fs.Pi.Btl. 6	66 % of authorized manpower strength.
Feld.Ers.Btl. 6	42 % of authorized mapower strength.
Fsch.Jäg.Lehr.Rgt.	100 % of authorized mapower strength.
s.Werfer-Abt. 21	100 % of authorized mapower strength. Twenty-three Nebelwerfer.

1	G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975).
2	Ibid.
3	AOK 15 O.Qu/Qu.1 Nr. 1687/44 g.Kdos, 17.6.44, T312, R517, F8116504.
4	Anlagen zum KTB LXXXI. A.K. Ia, Gliederung 6. Fsch.-Jg.-Div., Stand vom 1.8.1944, T314, R1593, F000972.
5	The I./Fs.Art.Rgt. 6 was the only unit of the regiment that was combat ready. The II. Abteilung was still not raised, while the III. Abteilung was at the artillery school in Luneville. See Übersicht über den Stand der Art. Einh., Anlage 33 zum KTB des höheren Artilleriekommandeurs der Fallschirmtruppe, KTB Nr. 1, BA-MA RL 33/3. The III. Abteilung was still in Luneville on 18 August. See Höh. Art. Kommandeur Abt Ia, Az 11 Br. B. Nr. 797/44 geh. 18.8.44, BA-MA RL 33/3.
6	LXXXI. A.K. Ia Nr. 25/44 g.Kdos. 12.8.44, T314, R1592, F000511.
7	See situation maps in Anlagen zum KTB LXXXI. A.K. Ia, Lagekarten, T314, R1594, F000003ff.
8	See Anlagen zum KTB LXXXI. A.K. Ia, Gliederung 6. Fsch.-Jg.-Div., Stand vom 14.8.1944, T314, R1593, F000974. The Fallsch.Jäg.Lehr-Rgt. was also called Fallsch.Jäg.Lehr-Rgt. 21.