Generalmajor Gerhard Bassenge (1897-1977)

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askropp
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Generalmajor Gerhard Bassenge (1897-1977)

#1

Post by askropp » 16 May 2016, 16:39

Hildebrand says Bassenge commanded 19. Luftwaffenfelddivision 01.10.1942 - 31.01.1943, but LdW (probably based on Tessin) says this division did not exist before 01.03.1943. Can anybody explain this?
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genstab
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Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv

#2

Post by genstab » 17 May 2016, 01:08

For what it's worth, Munoz in"Goering's Grenadiers" says in the Commanders section of the division history that Bassenge's command started on 1-12-42. His source is Kursietis' "Wehrmacht At War 1939-1945" so we'd have to ask him where he got that date. However, at the start of the division history Munoz states the division "started forming in earnest in March 1943". Tessin makes few mistakes- my amateur supposition is that maybe if there was only a command staff in place he wouldn't be able to find a formation date in the Luftwaffe records because it wasn't actually forming yet.

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Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv

#3

Post by iggy88 » 20 Jul 2018, 21:41

In the KTB of Deutsche Heeresmission in Rumänien, Bassenge is referred to as Führer des Deutschen Verbindungskommandos zur rumänischen Luftwaffe on 13 Oct 1942 through 27 Nov 1942. I'm not sure of his actual start/end dates in this position as the KTB doesn't mention him before or after those dates. But, at least this gives some idea of what he was doing at that time. He was obviously not commanding 19. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division at that time.

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Generalmajor Gerhard Bassenge (1897-1977)

#4

Post by askropp » 13 Nov 2018, 00:11

If we would believe Hildebrand, Bassenge's assignments would have been:

05.10.1940 Chef des Generalstabes der Deutschen Luftwaffenmission in Rumänien
24.06.1941 Flughafenbereichskommandant Afrika
01.10.1942 Kommandeur der 19. Luftwaffenfelddivision
01.02.1943 Kommandant des Festungsbereiches Tunis-Bizerta

It has been established here that he must have left Africa much earlier, probably in December 1941. And as it seems, he neither commanded 19. Lw-Felddivision. He must have returned to Romania, as not only the KTB quoted by Todd but also this PV shows:

test.jpg
If someone should know or find the date on which he returned to his former post, please let me know.
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Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv

#5

Post by steve248 » 16 Feb 2021, 19:54

Career information given to the British when in captivity:
IMG_0304.JPG

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Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv

#6

Post by graveland » 16 Feb 2021, 19:59

Thank you, askropp y steve248.

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Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv

#7

Post by CNE503 » 20 Feb 2021, 10:32

Bassenge sent reports from the southern part of the Eastern Front as air liaison officer besides the Romanian air force throughout all the Summer of 1941. So, obviously, he wasn't "Flughafenbereichskommandant Afrika" at this time.
I will find some material stuff that underlines this, but as a start I found a lot of references to Bassenge in the summer and fall 1941 (until the fall of Odessa) in NARA T405 R049.
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Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv

#8

Post by Requin Marteau » 03 Mar 2022, 18:25

Apparently intended for Kdr 7. LFD ??? (if the same man)
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Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv

#9

Post by genstab » 06 Mar 2022, 17:52

Strangely, Hildebrand's "Generale der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1935-1945" lists him as commanding 19. LW Felddiv from 1-10-42 to 31-1-43.
Can anyone put up someone who was more certainly commander of the division? Maybe an mstFb Oberst? Seems the division KTB night
e needed to settle it.
Best,
Bill in Cleveland

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