5. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division - Parachute Division

Kommandeure:

• GenLt. Gustav Wilke, 1 Apr 1944 - 23 Sep 1944
• GenMaj. Ludwig Sebastian Heilmann, 16 Nov 1944 - 12 Mar 1945
• Oberst Kurt Gröschke, 12 Mar 1945 - Apr 1945

Heilmann became POW on 12 Mar 1945.

Ia:

• Maj Klaus Tschirner, Apr 1944 - Aug 1944
• Maj Paul Passlick, Aug 1944 - Dec 1944
• ?
• Hptm Charisius, Mar 1945 - May 1945

Formed 2 Mar 1944 in Reims (ordered 5 Nov 1943). The division was formed from the Fallschirm-Jäger-Lehr-Bataillon, III./FJR.3 and III./FJR.4, and a large number of new recuits. The division consisted of the following units:

• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 13
• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 14
• Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 15
• Fallschirm-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 5
• Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 5
• Fallschirm-Flak-Abteilung 5
• Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 5
• Fallschirm-Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 5
• Fallschirm-Sanitäts-Bataillon 5
• Fallschirm-Granatwerfer-Bataillon 5, from Jun 1944
• Fallschirm-Feldersatz-Bataillon 5, from Nov 1944

In May 1944 the division moved to Rennes (6 Jun 1944 HQ at Rennes, reserve under AOK.7). The division was not ready for combat on D-Day, and only FJR.15 was transferred to the frontline. As the regiment only had its II. Battalion ready, a new I./FJR.15 was formed from I./FJR.13 (ex. III./FJR.3) and a new III./FJR.15 from I./FJR.14 (ex. III./FJR.4). The FJR.15 operated together with the 17. SS Panzer-Grenadier Division. Most of the division was severly decimated in the fighting in Normandy during July 1944. The remnants fought on during August 1944. The Division received new recruits in September 1944 and was partly reformed from parts of Flieger-Regimenten 22, 51 and 53.Fallschirm-Granatwerfer-Bataillon 5 and Stab, I./FAR.5 was transferred to the 7. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division.

In October 1944 the division was rebuilt in the Den Haag-Amsterdam area (ordered 24 Sep 1944 to 1 Nov 1944). A new Fallschirm-Granatwerfer-Bataillon 5 was added in November 1944, together with a new FAR.5. Luftwaffen-Festungs-Bataillon XXV was absorbed on 20 Feb 1945, and the division was ordered to refit 15 Mar 1945 by OB. West.

Most of the division surrendered at Nürnburgring in Mar 1945, while the rest surrendered in the Ruhr-pocket and at Harz. The division served under the following headquarters:

Apr 1944	Heeresgruppe D	forming in Reims
May 1944	II. FsAK / AOK.7	forming in Reims
Jun 1944	reserve / AOK.7	Bretagne
Jul 1944	LXXXXIV.AK / AOK.7	St. Malo, Avranches, Mortain
Aug 1944	II. FsAK / AOK.7	Argentan, Alencon
Sep 1944	LXXX.AK / AOK.1	Trier
Oct 1944 - Dec 1944	OKW	Forming in Den Haag
Jan 1945	LIII.AK / AOK.7	Battle of the Bulge (Bitburg, Donkholz, Martelange)
Feb 1945 - Mar 1945	LXVI.AK / Pz.AOK.5	Eifel, Prüm
Apr 1945		Ruhr-pocket

Replacement troops were provided by the Fallschirm-Ersatz-Bataillon 3 in Nürnberg-Buchenbühl.