Kampfgeschwader 1
Encyclopedia
Kampfgeschwader 1 (Battle Wing 1) was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during the Second World War. Heinkel He 111
and later Heinkel He 177
bombers.
but moved to Luftflotte 4
on 8 September, before being moved back on 20 September 1939. Main targets included railways and troop concentrations. I./KG 1 took part in the Battle of Bzura.
in Belgium in May 1940. II./KG 1 supported the Fourth Army of Army Group B
but also supported the race to the English Channel
, attacking French targets threatening Army Group A
. On 3 June 1940 II./KG 1 took part in Operation Paula
as did III./KG 1.
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
and later Heinkel He 177
Heinkel He 177
The Heinkel He 177 Greif was the only operational long-range bomber to be operated by the Luftwaffe. Starting its existence as Germany's first purpose-built heavy bomber just before the war, and built in large numbers during World War II, it was also mistakenly tasked, right from its beginnings,...
bombers.
History
Formed from Stab/KG 152 'Hindenburg' at Neubrandeburg on 1 May 1939. I./KG 1 was formed from IV./KG 152, II./KG 1 formed from I./KG 152 on 18 September 1939. III./KG 1 was formed from contribution of I and III./KG 1 on 1 December 1939.Polish Campaign
Initially the unit started out under Luftflotte 1Luftflotte 1
Luftflotte 1 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed February 1, 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 1 in Berlin...
but moved to Luftflotte 4
Luftflotte 4
Luftflotte 4 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on March 18, 1939 from Luftwaffenkommando Österreich in Vienna. The Luftflotte was redesignated on April 21, 1945 to Luftwaffenkommando 4, and became subordinated to Luftflotte 6. It was the...
on 8 September, before being moved back on 20 September 1939. Main targets included railways and troop concentrations. I./KG 1 took part in the Battle of Bzura.
Western Europe
I./KG supported the German Fourth ArmyGerman Fourth Army
The 4th Army was a field army of Imperial Germany during World War I and of the Wehrmacht during World War II-World War I:At the outset of war, the Fourth Army, with the Fifth Army, formed the center of the German armies on the Western Front, moving through Luxembourg and Belgium in support of the...
in Belgium in May 1940. II./KG 1 supported the Fourth Army of Army Group B
Army Group B
Army Group B was the name of three different German Army Groups that saw action during World War II.-Battle for France:The first was involved in the Western Campaign in 1940 in Belgium and the Netherlands which was to be aimed to conquer the Maas bridges after the German airborne actions in Rotterdam...
but also supported the race to the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, attacking French targets threatening Army Group A
Army Group A
Army Group A was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.-Western Front, 1940:During the German invasion of the Low Countries and France Army Group A was under the command of General Gerd von Rundstedt, and was responsible for the break-out through the Ardennes...
. On 3 June 1940 II./KG 1 took part in Operation Paula
Operation Paula
Unternehmen Paula is the German codename given for the Second World War Luftwaffe offensive operation to destroy the remaining units of the Armée de l'Air , or French Air Force during the Battle of France in 1940. On 10 May the German armed forces began its invasion of Western Europe...
as did III./KG 1.
Battle of Britain
I and II./KG 1 conducted operations over Britain. Both took part in Adlertag. III./KG 1 had little involvement and spent the campaign as a training unit.Commanding officers
The following commanded KG 1:- Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Ulrich Otto Eduard KesslerUlrich KesslerUlrich Otto Eduard Kessler was a highly decorated General der Flieger in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 1 May 1939 – 17 December 1939 - OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
Ernst Exss 18 December 1939 – 12 July 1940 - Oberst Josef KammhuberJosef KammhuberJosef Kammhuber was a Career Officer in the German Air Force, and is best known as the first General of the Night Fighters in the Luftwaffe during World War II...
12 July 1940 – 17 July 1940 (acting) - Major General Karl AngersteinKarl AngersteinKarl Angerstein was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II who commanded the I. Fliegerkorps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
18 July 1940 – 1 March 1942 - MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Herbert Loch 2 March 1942 – 30 June 1942 - OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
Paul Schemmel 1 July 1942 – 14 August 1942 (killed in actionKilled in actionKilled in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
14 August 1942) - Major Hans Keppler 15 August 1942 – 3 September 1942 (killed in action 3 September 1942)
- Major Heinrich Lau 4 September 1942 – 15 March 1943
- Obstlt Horst Von Riesen 17 March 1943 – 25 August 1944