5th Parachute Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division (5th Parachute Division) was a fallschirmjäger
(airborne) division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.
The division was formed in France in early 1944, commanded by Gustav Wilke. It contained the 13th, 14th and 15th Fallschirmjäger Regiments, and the 5th Fallschirmjäger Artillery Regiment.
The 13th Regiment was attached to 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division in the early stages of the Battle of Normandy
, with the rest of the division committed in July. It took heavy losses, and was withdrawn to the Netherlands to rebuild. After withdrawing through Germany, it was trapped in the Ruhr pocket
in April 1945 and destroyed.
Fallschirmjäger
are German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....
(airborne) division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.
The division was formed in France in early 1944, commanded by Gustav Wilke. It contained the 13th, 14th and 15th Fallschirmjäger Regiments, and the 5th Fallschirmjäger Artillery Regiment.
The 13th Regiment was attached to 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division in the early stages of the Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, with the rest of the division committed in July. It took heavy losses, and was withdrawn to the Netherlands to rebuild. After withdrawing through Germany, it was trapped in the Ruhr pocket
Ruhr Pocket
The Ruhr Pocket was a battle of encirclement that took place in late March and early April 1945, near the end of World War II, in the Ruhr Area of Germany. For all intents and purposes, it marked the end of major organized resistance on Nazi Germany's Western Front, as more than 300,000 troops were...
in April 1945 and destroyed.
Commanding officer
- Generalleutnant Gustav Wilke, 1 April 1944 - 23 September 1944
- Generalmajor Sebastian-Ludwig Heilmann, 23 September 1944 - 12 March 1945
- Oberst Kurt GröschkeKurt GröschkeKurt Gröschke , was a German Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 12 March 1945 - April 1945