To what level of army command were Fiesler Storch units attached?

[Sid Guttridge]

To what level of army command were Fiesler Storch units attached?

As the division was meant to be the lowest all-arms formation, theoretically it should have here.

But was It? I have a suspicion that corps level is more likely?

Many thanks,

Sid.

[Waleed Y. Majeed]

Wasn’t Theodor Eicke killed in one as the commander of a division? I don’t think I have ever heard of Fi 156 units but could well be wrong.

Waleed

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Waleed,

Interesting, because I seem to recall that panzer divisions had their own Fiesler Storch/s.

Presumably the Storchs' ground crews and maintenance, etc., had to be organised centrally somehow, even if they were parcelled out individually. The question is how?

Cheers,

Sid.

[Larry D.]

Up to April 1942, the Fi 156s belonged to the Koluft, one of which was attached to every AOK, Pz.Gruppe and H.Gr. The Koluft farmed them out for short periods to the Korps Gen.Kdos. and the motorized divisions as needed. The Kolufts were converted into Nahaufklärungsgruppen in April 1942, basically one to each AOK and Pz.AOK. After that, many if not most of the Panzer divisions had a KStN allowance of a Kette of Fi 156s, although it was rare for them to have more than 1 or 2 due to shortages. Otherwise, single- and twin-engine liaison aircraft belonging to the Verbindungsstaffeln, Kurierstaffeln and the Flugbereitschaften were employed at divisional level for a few days at a time if needed. At peak, there were about 60 Staffeln in these 3 categories or roughly a total of 600 Fi 156s, Fw 58s, Ju 52s and a few each of nearly all of the obsolete types.

L.

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Larry D.,

Many thanks

It is informed replies like yours that justify fora like AHF.

Do you have a source I might follow up?

In appreciation,

Sid.

[Larry D.]

Yes, Sid:

Rosch, Barry. Luftwaffe Support Units: Units, Aircraft, Emblems and Markings 1933-1945. Oversize. 96p. ISBN: 978 1 906537 04 3. Hersham/Surrey: Chevron/Ian Allen, 2009.

The book covers many of the things you discussed, but not everything. For example, details on the Koluft organization can only be found in original documents and microfilms.

L.

[Sid Guttridge]

Many thanks.

Sid

[Larry D.]

Sid, here are the Koluft citations:

[British Air Ministry] – “The Organisation of the German Air Force”, S.D. 431, SECRET, January 1943, pp.88-93; [British Air Ministry] – A.I.12 Study Y/29, “G.A.F. Establishment Schedule Numbers”, SECRET, n.d. (c.1945-46); NARA WashDC: RG 242 (Koluft 2. Panzerarmee document in T-313 roll 98/frame 861); Generalstab des Heeres Nr.1483/42, 19.4.1942.

On reading this through for the first time since 2006, I see that the Koluft did not have its own aircraft, but rather used those of the 6-to-10 Aufklärungsstaffeln and Kurierstaffeln that were attached to each of the Koluftstäbe for tactical purposes.

L.