5th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)
Encyclopedia
The British 5th Airborne Division was a deception division created in late 1943 as part of Operation Foynes to cover the departure 1st Airborne Division from Italy. It was notionally built up around the 2nd Parachute Brigade, which had been left in Italy when the 1st Airborne Division travelled to Britain.
of the British Twelfth Army in Sicily, subsequently it was depicted as being attached successively to the British Twelfth Army's Polish III Corps (Operation Ferdinand
) and British III Corps (Operation Second Undercut). Finally in December 1944, it was presented to the Germans as the theater airborne reserve until the end of the war.
History
Initially it was portrayed as part of the British XIV CorpsXIV Corps (United Kingdom)
XIV Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I.-World War I:XIV Corps was formed in France on 3 January 1916 under Lieutenant-General the Earl of Cavan...
of the British Twelfth Army in Sicily, subsequently it was depicted as being attached successively to the British Twelfth Army's Polish III Corps (Operation Ferdinand
Operation Ferdinand
Operation Ferdinand can refer to 2 operations in World War 2:* In 1944, Operation Ferdinand was an Allied deception plan, which supported the invasion of southern France in August 1944 by leading the Germans to believe that the objective of the invasion was the Genoa region of Italy.* In 1942,...
) and British III Corps (Operation Second Undercut). Finally in December 1944, it was presented to the Germans as the theater airborne reserve until the end of the war.
Insignia
Like the 4th Airborne Division, the 5th Airborne Division was given its own insignia. This took the form of a bright blue bolt of lightning, formed by five zig-zags on a dark red square. In 1945 this was replaced by the standard insignia used by the 1st, 2nd & 6th Airborne Divisions.Composition
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