Sorry Peter, but I don't think that is correct? See my other post regarding HG strength as of 1 September 1943, a shortfall of 7,046 is not an indicator that there was "ample manpower" for the division? The Soll/Fehl/Ist for the division during this period is interesting (note that these strengths include the attached Heer and Luftwaffe units).Peter H wrote:No HG Division members wore Fallschirmjager helmets in Italy. FJR 5 was destroyed in Tunisia.
The reconsituted HG had ample manpower to reform. When it was in Belgium in late 1942 it had 30,000 or so men on its books. Those lost in Africa were soon replaced.
8 Aug 43= 17,147/3,429/13,718
1 Sep 43= 22,926/7,046/15,880 (received 1,504 repl. and 270 RTD 1-31 Aug)
1 Oct 43= 20,866/5,184/15,682 (received 803 repl. and 307 RTD 1-30 Sep)
1 Nov 43= 21,077/6,157/14,920 (received 711 repl. and 495 RTD 1-31 Oct)
1 Dec 43= 18,659/1,307/17,352 (received 3,787 repl. and 687 RTD 1-30 Nov)
I don't have the 1 January 44 Meldung, but on 13 January 44 the division reported that it still had a Fehl of 1,196, had 4,005 men on leave (!), and had received 204 replacements (I have two other replacement reports for December, one on the 1st with 255 men and one on the 20th with 180 men). On 20 January the Fehl was reported as 1,150 with 3,817 men still on leave.
Even given the casualties they were suffering, I don't think that a month to month shortfall average of 4,624.6 is indicative that there was ample manpower to reconsitute the division?