| II Luftwaffe Field Corps (II.Luftwaffen-Feld-Corps) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1943 |
| Country | .svg/1280px-Flag_of_Germany_(1935%E2%80%931945).svg.png) Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Luftwaffe |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Corps |
| Engagements | |
The II Luftwaffe Field Corps (German: 4.Luftwaffen-Feld-Corps) was an infantry Corps of the Luftwaffe branch of the Wehrmacht that fought in World War II. Formed in early 1943 to command Luftwaffe Field Division's that were intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from surplus Luftwaffe ground crew. This was done as a response by Hermann Goring to the request from the Ostheer, that surplus ground & aircrew no longer needed could serve as infantry in the Wehrmacht. This he said, was to preserve their 'fervent National Socialist Values', as all Luftwaffe personnel had undergone 'Nazi' ideology Indoctrination. Something which had not been done in the Wehrmacht and it was seen by the Nazis as 'Elitist' and had class values which emanated from the days of the Kaiser.[1][2]
During its existence it was under the command of Alfred Schlemm and it was part of Georg-Hans Reinhardts 3rd Panzer Army, it had under its command the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Luftwaffe Divisions. The Corps had the task of securing the connection between Army Groups North and Center & defended this sector against Soviet operations.[3][4] It fought in the Battle of Nevel (1943) and other Battles in the Autumn/Winter of 1943 around Vitebsk in Byelorussia. In November 1943, responsibility for the Luftwaffe Field divisions was transferred to the Army and the Corps was disbanded. [5][6][1]
Commanders
- Generalleutnant Alfred Schlemm[5]
Notes
Footnotes
Citations
- ^ a b Mitcham & 2007v2, pp. 300–306. sfn error: no target: CITEREFMitcham2007v2 (help)
- ^ Munoz 2025, pp. 4–5.
- ^ Mitcham 1985, p. 502.
- ^ Glantz 2016, pp. 26, 38, 56, 218, 276, 278, 285, 293, 340, 348, 376, 380, 391.
- ^ a b Glantz 2016, pp. 26, 38, 41–42, 56, 130, 218, 226, 276–278, 285, 293, 340, 348, 376, 380, 391.
- ^ Munoz 2025, pp. 17–67.
References
- Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007a). German Order of Battle, Volume Two: 291st–999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3437-0.
- Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007b). German Order of Battle, Volume Three: Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen SS Divisions in WWII. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3438-7.
- Munoz, Antonio J. (2025). Hitler's Luftwaffe Infantry, The German Air Force Field Divisions 1942 - 1945. Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-03613-033-6.
- Mitcham, Samuel W. (1985). German Order of Battle World War II. Trowbridge, Wiltshire: Leo Cooper in association with Secker & Warburg Limited, London. ISBN 0-436-28200-3.
- Glantz, David M. (2016). Battle for Belorussia The Red Army's Forgotten Campaign of October 1943-April 1944. Kansas State University, The United States of America: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-2329-7.
