Flak-Brigade III

Kommandeure:

• GenMaj Max Hesse, 1 Jun 1940 - 6 Jul 1940
• GenLt Werner Prellberg, 6 Jul 1940 - 20 Jul 1940
• GenMaj Max Hesse, 20 Jul 1940 - 1 Oct 1940
• GenLt Johann Seifert, 1 Oct 1940 - 11 Apr 1941
• GenLt Werner Anton, 12 Apr 1941 - 1 Mar 1942
• GenMaj Johann Edler von Krziwanek, 1 Nov 1943 - 12 Jul 1944
• Oberst Alfred Kuprian, 13 Jul 1944 - Apr 1945

Ia:

• Hptm Wilhelm Kainz, ? - 1945

Formed 1 Jun 1940 in Cambrai for Operation Seelöwe. Mar 1941 to Lumbres. Moved to Ploesti in Autumn 1941 (Sep 1941?), and remained there until 1 Mar 1942, when the brigade was renamed Stab/15. Flak-Division.

Reformed 1 Nov 1943 in Milano, as 3. Flak-Brigade, from Flakführer Oberitalien, with:

• Stab/Flak-Regiment 137 (v)
• Stab/Flak-Regiment 131 (mot.)
• Stab/Flak-Regiment 39 (mot.)
• Luftnachrichten-Betriebs-Kompanie 163

Stab/Flak-Regiment 131 (mot.) left the brigade in Dec 1943, and was replaced by Stab/Flak-Regiment 5 (mot.) and Stab/Flak-Regiment 149 (mot.).

Organisation 1 Mar 1944 (Northern Italy):

• Stab/Flak-Regiment 5 (mot.) in Verona
• Stab/Flak-Regiment 39 (mot.)
• Stab/Flak-Regiment 137 (v)
• Stab/Flak-Regiment 149 (mot.) in Torino
• Luftnachrichten-Betriebs-Kompanie 163

During Mar 1944 - Apr 1944, the brigade apparently also controlled Stab/Flak-Regiment 57 (mot.), 131 (mot.), 105 (mot.), 135 (mot.) and Zieger (78). In this period the 22. Flak-Brigade was apparently under transfer and the new 25. Flak-Division was being formed, resulting in the 3. Flak-Brigade controlling all Flak units in Italy.

After the reorganisation, the brigade ended up controlling the following units (1 May 1944):

• Stab/Flak-Regiment 39 (mot.)
• Stab/Flak-Regiment 105 (mot.)
• Stab/Flak-Regiment 78 (mot.) [Regiment Zieger until Jun 1944]
• Luftnachrichten-Betriebs-Kompanie 163

Stab/Flak-Regiment 78 (mot.) left the brigade in May 1944, and was replaced by Stab/Flak-Regiment 135 (mot.); Stab/Flak-Regiment 78 (mot.) returned Jun 1944, and Stab/Flak-Regiment 135 (mot.) was transferred back to the 22. Flak-Brigade.

Stab/Flak-Regiment 39 (mot.) left the brigade in Aug 1944; Stab/Flak-Regiment 105 (mot.) left the brigade in Oct 1944 and was replaced by Stab/Flak-Regiment 39 (mot.)

Oct 1944 in Cremona. Organisation Dec 1944:

• Stab/Flak-Regiment 39 (mot.)
• Stab/Flak-Regiment 78 (mot.)
• Luftnachrichten-Betriebs-Kompanie 163

Surrendered in northern Italy May 1945.

Subordinated to:

Airfields and Air Base Locations
Date	Unit
Jun 1940 - Mar 1941	II. Flakkorps
Mar 1941 - Sep 1941?	6. Flak-Division
Sep 1941 - Mar 1942	10. Flak-Division
Nov 1943 - Apr 1944	General der Flakartillerie Süd
Apr 1944 - Sep 1944	Luftflotte 2
Sep 1944 - May 1945	Komm.Gen.d.Dt.Lw. in Italien