4. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division - Parachute Division

Kommandeure:

• GenLt. Heinrich Trettner, 4 Oct 1943 - 4 May 1945

Ia:

• Maj Walter Gericke, Nov 1943 - 22 Jan 1944
• Maj Arnold von Roon, 22 Jan 1944 - 16 Jan 1945
• Maj Siegfried Vehlow, 16 Jan 1945 - May 1945

Formation begun 5 Nov 1943 (to be completed 1 Feb 1944) in Venedig (Venice), from the following units: I./FJR.2, II./FJR.6 and I./Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 (all ex. 2. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division). A large number of Italian paratroopers from the Divisions Dembo and Folgore joined the new division. The new division consisted of the following units:

• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 10
• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 11
• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 12
• Fallschirm-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 4
• Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 4
• Fallschirm-Flak-Abteilung 4
• Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 4
• Fallschirm-Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 4
• Fallschirm-Sanitäts-Abteilung 4
• Fallschirm-Granatwerfer-Bataillon 4, from Jun 1944
• Fallschirm-Feldersatz-Bataillon 4, from Nov 1944

Formation was completed February 1944, and the division went into combat at Anzio, under I.FsAK / AOK.14. The division remained in Italy until the end, and served under the following headquarters:

Dec 1943	Heeresgruppe C	while forming in Venice-Padua-Treviso area
Jan 1944 - May 1944	I.FsAK / AOK.14	Anzio/Nettuno
Jun 1944 - Jul 1944	I.FsAK / AOK.14	Rome, Viterbo, Perugia, Siena and Florens
Aug 1944 - Nov 1944	I.FsAK / AOK.14	Rimini
Dec 1944 - Mar 1945	I.FsAK / AOK.10	Bologna, Via Emilia
Apr 1945	reserve / AOK.10	Ferrara, Verona, Vicenza and Bozen

May 1945, surrendered between Viacenza and Bozen.

NOTE: The division did not have its own artillery after June 1944.

Replacement troops were provided by Fallschirm-Ersatz-Bataillon 1 in Aschersleben.