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The 9th ''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. It was badly mauled during the Soviet offensive of January 1944 near
Leningrad
Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...
. It was later merged with the
225th Infantry Division.
Operational history
The 9th ''Luftwaffe'' Field Division, one of several
such divisions of the ''Luftwaffe'' (German Air Force), was formed in October 1942 in Eastern Prussia, in the Arys 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 ...
'' Hans Erdmann. Intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from the 62nd Air Regiment. In December 1942, it was assigned to
Army Group North
Army Group North () was the name of three separate army groups of the Wehrmacht during World War II. Its rear area operations were organized by the Army Group North Rear Area.
The first Army Group North was deployed during the invasion of Pol ...
on the
Eastern Front. Posted to a sector near
Leningrad
Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...
, it defended its frontlines for over 12 months.
Commanders
*''Oberst'' Hans Erdmann (October 1942–September 1943);
*''Oberst'' Anton-Carl Longin (September–November 1943);
*''Generalleutnant'' Paul Winter (November 1943);
*''Oberst'' Ernst Michael (November 1943–January 1944);
*''Oberst'' Heinrich Geerkens (January 1944).
Notes
;Footnotes
;Citations
References
*
*
{{Luftwaffe Field Divisions
0*009
Military units and formations established in 1942
Military units and formations disestablished in 1944