The 6th ''Luftwaffe'' Field Division () was an infantry division of the ''

Luftwaffe The Luftwaffe () was the aerial warfare, aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. German Empire, Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial German Army, Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Ge ...

'' branch of the ''

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

'' that fought in World War II. It was formed using surplus ground crew of the ''Luftwaffe'' and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to June 1944 when it was destroyed during

Operation Bagration Operation Bagration () was the codename for the 1944 Soviet Byelorussian strategic offensive operation (), a military campaign fought between 22 June and 19 August 1944 in Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Byelorussia in the Eastern ...

Operational history

The 6th ''Luftwaffe'' Field Division, one of several such divisions of the ''Luftwaffe'' (German Air Force), was formed in September 1942 in Gross-Born Troop Maneuver Area, under the command of ''

Oberst ''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German language, German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the Army, ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, a ...

'' Ernst Weber. Intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from surplus ''Luftwaffe'' ground crew. In November 1942, it was assigned to the 3rd ''Panzer'' Army in

Army Group Centre Army Group Centre () was the name of two distinct strategic German Army Groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created during the planning of Operation Barbarossa, Germany's invasion of the So ...

on the Eastern Front and posted to a sector near Nevel. Here it defended against Soviet operations in the area. In November 1943, responsibility for the division was transferred to the

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

and it was renamed the 6th Field Division (L). Shortly afterwards, its Field ''Jager'' battalions became the 52nd, 53rd and 54th ''Jager'' regiments while its original artillery, tank destroyer and flak battalions was integrated into a new 6th Artillery Regiment. In the summer of 1944, the 6th Field Division held an area to the east of

Vitebsk Vitebsk or Vitsyebsk (, ; , ; ) is a city in northern Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Vitebsk Region and Vitebsk District, though it is administratively separated from the district. As of 2025, it has 358,927 inhabitants, m ...

as part of LIII Corps of the 3rd Panzer Army. The division was encircled during the Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive at Vitebsk within days of the start of the Soviet Army's

on 22 June 1944. The division was destroyed with its commander, ''

Generalleutnant () is the German-language variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO ...

Rudolf Peschel __NOTOC__ Rudolf Peschel (21 April 1894 – 30 June 1944) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Peschel was killed in action on 30 June 1944 during the Vite ...

, killed in action on 27 June 1944.

Commanders

* ''Oberst'' Ernst Weber (September–November 1942); * ''

Generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...

Rüdiger von Heyking Rüdiger von Heyking (10 January 1894 – 18 February 1956) was a German officer and Lieutenant General of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Life Heyking was born to a noble family in Rastenburg, East Prussia, at the home of Heyking family. ...

(November 1942–November 1943); * ''

(November 1943–27 June 1944).

Notes

Footnotes Citations

References

* * {{Luftwaffe Field Divisions 0*006 Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1944