Why Gebirgs in Crete instead of 22.Luftlande?
Why Gebirgs in Crete instead of 22.Luftlande?
22 Luftlande Division was available for Crete but wasn't employed, it was preferred to use Gebirgs 5 Div. reinforced with an extra Gebirgs regiment to do the air landing. Was this a logistic decision - like Gebirgs were already in Greece - or something else?
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Re: Why Gebirgs in Crete instead of 22.Luftlande?
It was in Romania guarding Ploesti, along with 72. Inf.-Div. and 239. Inf.-Div. When 72. Inf.-Div. was committed to the campaign against Greece it left just the two divisions securing German interest in Romania...especially the oil. I suspect Hitler and OKH were too nervous about leaving it exposed.
Richard C. Anderson Jr.
American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell
American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell
- Leo Niehorster
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Re: Why Gebirgs in Crete instead of 22.Luftlande?
Furthermore, the 22. Luftlande-Division, when it was to be employed as an airlanding division, had special equipment, including mountain ponies, which was sitting in its depots back in Germany. Transporting it to Rumania would have added an additional logistics burden on the alrady overloaded system.
Re: Why Gebirgs in Crete instead of 22.Luftlande?
Thank you both.