7th Parachute Division (Germany)
7th Parachute Division | |
---|---|
German: 7. Fallschirmjäger-Division | |
Active | 1944–45 |
Disbanded | 1945 |
Country | Germany |
Branch | Luftwaffe |
Type | Fallschirmjäger |
Role | Airborne forces |
Size | Division |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Wolfgang Erdmann |
The 7th Parachute Division (German: 7. Fallschirmjäger-Division) was a fallschirmjäger (airborne) division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.
The division was first formed as Fallschirmjäger-Division Erdmann in early September, 1944 from a collection of training units and remnants of other formations, and named after its commander Wolfgang Erdmann. [1][2] It fought in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands during Operation Market-Garden in September,[3][4][5] and on October 29th was redesignated as the 7. Fallschirmjäger-Division.[6] It contained the 19th, 20th and 21st Fallschirmjäger Regiments and other divisional support units. [7][8]
The division fought on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, surrendering at Oldenburg with the end of hostilities.[9][10]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- "7. Fallschirmjäger-Division". Axis History Factbook. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- "Fallschirmjäger-Division Erdmann". Axis History Factbook. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- "7. Fallschirmjäger-Division". Lexikon der Wehrmacht. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
- Kershaw, Robert (2005). It Never Snows In September: The German View of MARKET-GARDEN and The Battle of Arnhem, September, 1944. Ian Allen Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-3062-6.
- Mitcham, Jr, Samuel (2007). German Order of Battle Volume Two: 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. Stackpole Books. pp. 293–294. ISBN 0-8117-3437-4.