3. Fallschirmjäger-Division 22/5/44

[WAKEN]

Zetterling gives the following details for 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division on 22/5/44:

Ration strength of 17,420 men
I/FJ Art Regt 3 - 12 x 10.5cm leFH 18 & 9 x 10.5cm recoilless guns
I/FJR5 - 39 x MGs, 16 x mortars
II/FJR5 - 31 x MGs, 13 x mortars
III/FJR5 - 47 x MGs, 12 x mortars
13./FJR5 - ? x 10cm recoilless rifles
14./FJR5 - 2 x 7.5cm Pak
15./FJR5 - 4 x MGs, 4 x flamethrowers
I/FJR8 - 42 x MGs, 13 x mortars
II/FJR8 - 42 x MGs, 12 x mortars
III/FJR8 - 41 x MGs, 18 x mortars
13./FJR8 - 3 x MGs, 2 x 10cm mortars
14./FJR8 - 9 x 4.2cm Pak
15./FJR8 - 3 x MGs, 9 x flamethrowers
I/FJR9 - 35 x MGs, 13 x mortars
II/FJR9 - 26 x MGs, 12 x mortars
III/FJR9 - 29 x MGs, 13 x mortars
13./FJR9 - no heavy weapons
14./FJR9 - 2 x 7.5cm Pak
15./FJR9 - 7 x MGs, 5 x flamethrowers
FJ Pioneer Bn 3 - 33 x MGs, 22 x flamethrowers
FJ Panzerjager Abt 3 - 9 x 7.5cm Pak 40, 3 x medium Pak, 12 x light Pak
FJ Flak Abt 2 - no details

Questions:
1. Does any have details of how many of the MGs were light and how many were heavy?
2. Does anybody have details on the number of panzerschrecks the units had?
3. When did FJ Flak Abt 2 join the division in Normandy and what was its strength and equipment?

Any other details on the division not covered by Zetterling on 22 May or before 6 June would be very useful

Thanks,

Neil

[oddbod]

Hi. I'm trying to research 4komp of FJR 9 as my great uncle was in it. I know that it was a heavy company but what does that mean? There was a seperate mortar company so was his unit dug in with mg34 and 42's? Any help is much apreciated. Thanks

[spannermann]

Hi Oddbod,

Heavy weapons company means just that, in that had heavier weapons that the other infantry companies and were used to support the other companies.
In a typical German para regiment, there are three Battalions, each of four companies, companies numbered 1 to 12 with some extra, so a 13, 14 , 15 specialist companies ususally existed also.

Companies 4, 8 and 12 would be the heavy weapons companies, and used to support the others, in the case of your "schwere 4Kp" they would be supporting the 1st, 2nd and 3rd companies of their I battalion, FJR 9.

Heavy weapons would consist of the anti-tank (Pak), anti-aircraft (Flak) and anti-infantry (iG artillery) sections, to give you some idea of detailed content, following weapons would be available in this heavy company;-

-5cm and/or 8cm mortars
-Mg34 and/or MG42 on heavy tripods
-7,5cm Infantry guns (l iG)
-2cm flak 38's
-5cm Pak 38 and/or 7,5cm Pak guns
plus all the usual assortment of small arms, mines, rocket launchers etc.,

All divided into four or five troops (Zug) withn the company.

Not a lot different to any heavy weapons company of any other infantry unit, be they Marine, Heers, Waffen SS, Luftwaffe Feld, Combat Police etc.,

hope this helps,

cheers leonard paul

[Hawkewood]

Do you arleady have the T/O&E for the division? Would that be helpful if you do not have it? Meaning, you are interested in the equipment on hand on 22/5/44 only, vice the authorized equipment?

[Christoph Awender]

Hello Neil,

I have the exact weapon allocation on a file. It is partly hard to read but I will post it when I find time. Please feel free to remind me if i do not!!

regards,
Christoph