Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 18

Kommandeure:

• Oberst Ferdinand-Wilhelm Freiherr von Stein-Liebenstein zu Barchfeld, Dec 1942 - 5 Apr 1943
• GenMaj Wolfgang Erdmann, 5 Apr 1943 - 25 Aug 1943
• GenMaj Fritz Reinshagen, 25 Aug 1943 - 27 Oct 1943
• GenLt Wilhelm Rupprecht (Heer), 27 Oct 1943 - 1 Nov 1943

Ia:

• Maj Steuer, 9 Dec 1942 - Jan 1943
• Hptm Volrath Gerlach, Jan 1943 - 22 Feb 1943
• Obstlt Alexander Olbrichs, 23 Feb 1943 - 24 May 1943
• Obstlt Gerhard Hildebrant, 24 May 1943 - 1 Nov 1943

Formed Dec 1942 in Soissons from Flieger-Regiment 52.

The division consisted of:

• Luftwaffen-Jäger-Regiment 35
• Luftwaffen-Jäger-Regiment 36
• Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 18
• Luftwaffen-Artillerie-Regiment 18
• Luftwaffen-Pionier-Bataillon 18
• Aufklärungs-Zug Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 18
• Luftnachrichten-Kompanie Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 18
• Kommandeur der Nachschubtruppen Luftwaffen-Feld-Division 18

Movements:

• 29 Dec 1942 - advance elements arrives in Salies de Bearn (east of Bayonne)
• 6 Jan 1943 - first 3 trainloads arrive
• 7 Jan 1943 - 5 more trainloads arrive
• 8 Jan 1943 - transfer complete
• 18 Feb 1943 - began transfer to Libourne
• 21 Feb 1943 - transfer completed
• 26 Feb 1943 - divisional strength had now been increased by 3130 men since Dec 1942
• 6 Apr 1943 - began transfer to the 15th Armee, first trainload left Libourne
• 7 Apr 1943 - 7 more trainloads left Libourne
• 8 Apr 1943 - 5 trainloads had now arrived in Millebrugghe (new HQ)
• 9 Apr 1943 - 8 more trainloads arrived in Millebrugghe
• 10 Apr 1943 - 8 more trainloads arrived in Millebrugghe (total 21)
• 11 Apr 1943 - transfer complete

Taken over by the Army on 1 Nov 1943 as 18. Feld-Division (L)

The division served under the following headquarters:

Jan 1943	Reserve / Heeresgruppe D	arriving
Feb 1943 - Mar 1943	LXXXVI.AK / AOK.1	Rochefort
Apr 1943 - Oct 1943	LXXXII.AK / AOK.15	Dunkirk - Calais area