Generalmajor Gerhard Bassenge (1897-1977)
Generalmajor Gerhard Bassenge (1897-1977)
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?
There are times in history when staying neutral means taking sides.
Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv
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.
Best,
Bill in Cleveland
Best,
Bill in Cleveland
Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv
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.
Generalmajor Gerhard Bassenge (1897-1977)
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:
If someone should know or find the date on which he returned to his former post, please let me know.
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:
If someone should know or find the date on which he returned to his former post, please let me know.
There are times in history when staying neutral means taking sides.
Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv
Career information given to the British when in captivity:
Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv
Thank you, askropp y steve248.
Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv
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.
Regards,
CNE503
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.
Regards,
CNE503
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Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv
Apparently intended for Kdr 7. LFD ??? (if the same man)
Re: GM Gerhard Bassenge / 19. LwFeldDiv
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
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