Fallschirmjagers in Lithuania?

[I have questions]

Hello, I was looking through a book titled Fallschirmjager: German Paratroopers 1942-1945 which is a photographic history of German paratroops. Toward the end of it, I saw this photograph. The caption said that this was taken during combat in Lithuania. I was unaware that German airborne troops fought in Lithuania and was wondering which unit the soldiers in this picture belong to.

[GregSingh]

You did not provide exact date, but if late 1944 fits, it could be:
Fallschirm-Panzerkorps Hermann Göring

They were hardly "airborne", Tiger tanks were transported by railroads, not dropped from the sky...

[Art]

Another candidate:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/500th_SS_ ... _Battalion
https://www.axishistory.com/books/122-g ... aillon-500

[donwhite]

The most likely candidate is Fallschirmjager-Regiment 16/6.Fallschirmjager-Division. According to Tessin, the Regiment was flown to Wilno/Vilnius in July'44 serving variously with KG Oberst Schirmer, 3rd PanzerArmee (August'44), and XXVI AK/4th Armee (September'44) before forming the basis of Fallschirm-Grenadier Regiment 3 'Hermann Goering'/Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hermann Goering' 2. As an aside, I've previously seen the same photo in another book with the underlying description of troops from Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 'Hermann Goering' serving around the Vistula bridgeheads.

Cheers

[Alanmccoubrey]

You did not provide exact date, but if late 1944 fits, it could be:
Fallschirm-Panzerkorps Hermann Göring

They were hardly "airborne", Tiger tanks were transported by railroads, not dropped from the sky...

That isn't true. The troops of HG Division did not wear Fallschirm uniforms or helmets.

Further, according to Ron Klages in "Tiger Tails" HG didn't received any Tigers until April 1945.

[Alanmccoubrey]

I believe that Rudolf Witzig commanded a battalion of Pioniere in Lithuania during the summer of 1944.

[Art]

As an aside, I've previously seen the same photo in another book with the underlying description of troops from Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 'Hermann Goering' serving around the Vistula bridgeheads.

I don't think that HQ division had any Tigers. The same photo is reproduced in the Schneider's book in the section of s.Pz.Abt 510 with a caption "Luftwaffe infantry take cover behind Tiger 124 in the fighting near Akmene"

[I have questions]

The most likely candidate is Fallschirmjager-Regiment 16/6.Fallschirmjager-Division. According to Tessin, the Regiment was flown to Wilno/Vilnius in July'44

Did they actually conduct an air assault?

[I have questions]

I believe that Rudolf Witzig commanded a battalion of Pioniere in Lithuania during the summer of 1944.

How would they have found themselves in that situation? Assuming they are alone, how did a whole battalion of pioniere become isolated from a larger Fallschirmjäger element?

[donwhite]

There is no mention in Tessin of them conducting an air assault, just that they were flown/airlifted into Wilna/Vilnius to join with pre-existing units already in situ. The mode of transport and arrival more than likely reflecting the urgency of the situation on the ground. See this link: https://www.feldgrau.com/WW2-German-Par ... imenter#16


Cheers

[donwhite]

As an aside, I've previously seen the same photo in another book with the underlying description of troops from Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 'Hermann Goering' serving around the Vistula bridgeheads.

I don't think that HQ division had any Tigers. The same photo is reproduced in the Schneider's book in the section of s.Pz.Abt 510 with a caption "Luftwaffe infantry take cover behind Tiger 124 in the fighting near Akmene"

G'day Art,

I agree. I was intimating that relying on the caption accompanying a specific photo that has appeared in several publications can be problematic as your reference reinforces!

Cheers

[Alanmccoubrey]

I believe that Rudolf Witzig commanded a battalion of Pioniere in Lithuania during the summer of 1944.

How would they have found themselves in that situation? Assuming they are alone, how did a whole battalion of pioniere become isolated from a larger Fallschirmjäger element?

They were not part of a larger organisation and were sent to the front on their own, something which often happened in emergencies and the Germans had a lot of those.

[I have questions]

I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but, did Witzig's battalion have any correlation to the 16th Fallschirmjäger-Regiment? If not where were they? Were they anywhere nearby?

[Alanmccoubrey]

They had no connection with 16th, they were and independent Pioniere battalion which may have been intended for something else but were sent to Lithuania. As for 16th I don't know where they were in the summer of 1944 but I'm sure Lexikon der Wehrmacht has the answer.

[I have questions]

thank you!