6th Parachute Division (Germany) explained

Unit Name:6th Parachute Division
Native Name:German: 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division
Caption:Unit insignia
Dates:1944–45
Type:Fallschirmjäger
Size:Division
Notable Commanders:Rüdiger von Heyking
Hermann Plocher

The 6th Parachute Division (German: 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division) was a Fallschirmjäger (airborne) division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.

The division was formed officially in France in June 1944, commanded by Rüdiger von Heyking. It contained several regiments:

Many members of the division would be the final cadre to receive parachute training.[1]

The 16th Regiment was temporarily added later in the war, but was then transferred to the Eastern Front before the division saw combat, and would later be re-designated as 3rd Fallschirm-Grenadier-Regiment and assigned to Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier Division 2 Hermann Göring. The remainder of the division was sent into combat in Normandy in Kampfgruppe strength only. By July the 17th and 18th regiments had taken heavy losses in both men and materials. The surviving members were withdrawn to the Netherlands to rebuild, and saw combat there later in the year, particularly during Operation Pheasant. In early 1945, it fought in the Battle of the Reichswald, and surrendered to Allied forces in May.[1]

Commanding officers

References

Notes and References

  1. Axis History Factbook