3. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division - Parachute Division

Kommandeure:

• GenMaj Walter Barenthin, 13 Sep 1943 - 14 Feb 1944
• GenLt Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf, 17 Feb 1944 - 20 Aug 1944
• Gen Eugen Meindl (acting), 20 Aug 1944 - 22 Aug 1944
• GenMaj Walter Wadehn, 22 Aug 1944 - 5 Jan 1945
• GenLt Richard Schimpf, 6 Jan 1945 - 1 Mar 1945
• Oberst Helmut von Hoffmann, 1 Mar 1945 - 8 Mar 1945
• Oberst Karl-Heinz Becker, 8 Mar 1945 - 8 Apr 1945
• Oberst Hummel, 8 Apr 1945 - 16 Apr 1945

Richard Schimpf was wounded on 20 Aug 1944 and remained in hospital until 5 Jan 1945. He became POW on 8 Mar 1945.

Ia:

• Maj Ottmar Meyerkort, Oct 1943 - 9 Aug 1944
• Obstlt Lutz Wagner, 9 Aug 1944 - 1 Oct 1944
• Obstlt Fritz Plass, 1 Oct 1944 - 25 Feb 1945
• Maj Wilhelm Weber, 25 Feb 1945 - 1 Mar 1945
• Obstlt Harald Mors, 1 Mar 1945 - 9 Mar 1945
• Maj Ernst Borchers, 9 Mar 1945 - 16 Apr 1945

Formed Oct 1943 in Reims (formation officially ordered 1 Nov 1943, to be completed 1 Feb 1944). In about February 1944, the division moved to the Brest area, under II.FsAK / Heeresgruppe D. The Division was not ready for combat until May 1944, now under II.FsAK / AOK.7. The division consisted of the following units:

• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 5
• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 8
• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 9
• Fallschirm-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 3
• Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 3
• Fallschirm-Flak-Abteilung 3
• Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 3
• Fallschirm-Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 3
• Fallschirm-Sanitäts-Abteilung 3

Later two more units were formed:

• Fallschirm-Granatwerfer-Bataillon 3
• Fallschirm-Feldersatz Bataillon 3, from Nov 1944

On 6 Jun 1944 the division was stationed about midway between Quimper and Brest, and went into combat under II.FsAK / AOK.7. Saw heavy combat in Normandy, which severly depleted the division (partly destroyed in the Falaise pocket). During August and September the division fought on, while withdrawing to the German border, ending up in Aachen in September 1944. From 24 Sep 1944 to 5 Oct 1944 the division was rebuilt in Oldenzaal, Belgium. The following units were used to rebuild the division:

• Luftwaffe-Festung-Batailione XXVI,XXX,XXXII,XXXIII,XXXIV, XXXV and XXXVII.
• parts of Flieger-Regimenter 22, 51 and 53.

Saw some action in Arnhem during this time, initially known as Kampfgrupp eBecker. The division participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and was again decimated in the defensive battles in Germany of 1945. The division was ordered to Niederbreisig on 15 Mar 1945 by OB West, to be rebuilt again. FJR.9 had been totally destroyed and was replaced by the independentFJR.6. The division surrendered in the Ruhr-pocket.

The division operated under the following headquarters:

Feb 1944 - Apr 1944	II.FsAK / Heeresgruppe D	while forming
May 1944 - Aug 1944	II.FsAK / AOK.7	St. Lo, Falaise, Chambois, Bernay, Rouen, Montdidier, Cambrai
Sep 1944	LXXIV.AK / AOK.7	Tirlemont, Maastricht, Aachen
Oct 1944	Heeresgruppe B	reforming at Oldenzaal
Nov 1944	Heeresgruppe B	Kranenburg, Arnhem, Dären, Hürtgenwald
Dec 1944 - Jan 1945	LVII.AK / AOK.15	Battle of the Bulge (Stadtkull, Manderfeld, Bütgenbach, St. Vith)
Feb 1945 - Mar 1945	LXXIV.AK / Pz.AOK.5	Manderfeld, Euskirchen, Remagen, Mehlem, Eifel
Apr 1945	XII.SS AK / Pz.AOK.5	Remagen, Ruhr-pocket

Replacement troops were provided by the Fallschirm-Ersatz Bataillon 2 in Stendal.