3rd Flak Division

The 3rd Flak Division (German: Flak-Division 3) was a Flak division of the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II. Its primary function during the war was the defense of the airspace of the city of Hamburg, where it remained for the duration of the conflict.[1]: 519  It was initially formed in 1938 and designated a division in 1941.

3rd Flak Division
(3rd) Air Defense Command Hamburg
German: Flak-Division 3
Luftverteidigungs-Kommando (Nr. 3) Hamburg
Active1 July 1938 – May 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
TypeFlak
RoleAnti-aircraft warfare
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQHamburg
EngagementsBombing of Hamburg in World War II
Operation Gomorrah
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Walter von Hippel
Alwin Wolz

History

The command staff of the Air Space Command Hamburg (Luftverteidigungs-Kommando Hamburg) was formed in Hamburg on 1 July 1938.[2]: 205  The initial head of the air defense staff was Ottfried Sattler.[3] It received the cardinal number 3 on 1 August 1939, making it 3rd Air Space Defense Command (Luftverteidigungs-Kommando Nr. 3 Hamburg).[2]: 205  On 15 January 1940, Wolfgang Rüter assumed command of the division.[3] On 1 September 1941, it was renamed to become the 3rd Flak Division (Flak-Division 3).[2]: 205  On the same day, Theodor Spieß became divisional commander.[3]

Flak tower at Hamburg-Heiligengeistfeld

For the entire rest of the war, the 3rd Flak Division remained in the area of greater Hamburg, where it provided the first line of defense against the Western Allied Bombings of Hamburg in World War II.[3] The city of Hamburg was notable as one of only three cities (next to Berlin and Vienna) to be equipped with flak towers. Hamburg's flak towers were also operated by personnel of the 3rd Flak Division.[4]: 43  The division sustained heavy damages during the Anglo-American attacks of August 1943 ("Operation Gomorrah"). By this point, the divisional commander was Walter von Hippel, who had taken command from Spieß on 1 July 1942 and who would be in turn succeeded by Alwin Wolz on 1 May 1944.[3] Wolz remained in command during the heaviest stage of the Allied bombing campaign against Germany, in late 1944 and early 1945.[5]: 24 

In 1944, the 3rd Flak Division consisted of the Flak Regiments 16, 51, 60 and 66, as well as the 161st Flak Searchlight Regiment, the 610th Searchlight Battalion, the 123rd Air Signal Battalion as well as a host of Divisional Supply Troops.[3] The 16th Regiment was at the same time "Flak Group Hamburg South", the 51st Regiment was "Flak Group Hamburg North", the 60th Regiment was "Flak Group Hamburg East" and the 161st Searchlight Regiment was at the same time "Flak Searchlight Group Hamburg".[6]: 221 

In May 1945, Hamburg was captured by the advancing British Army. The personnel of 3rd Flak Division surrendered and went into captivity. The final commander of the division had been Otto Stange, who had only assumed his post on 2 April 1945.[3]

References
  1. Mitcham, Samuel W. (1985). Hitler's Legions: The German Army Order of Battle, World War II. Stein and Days Publishing. ISBN 0812829921.
  2. Tessin, Georg (1966). Die Landstreitkräfte 001–005. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. Vol. 2. Verlag E. S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3764808713.
  3. Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). "3rd Flak Division". German Order of Battle: 291st–999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in World War II. German Order of Battle. Vol. 2. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811734370.
  4. Zaloga, Steven J. (2012). Defense of the Third Reich 1941–45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781849085946.
  5. Zaloga, Steven J. (2022). The Oil Campaign 1944–45: Draining the Wehrmacht's lifeblood. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781472848574.
  6. Tessin, Georg (1996). Zweng, Christian (ed.). Verzeichnis der Friedensgarnisonen 1932–1939 und Stationierungen im Kriege 1939–1945. Wehrkreise VII–XIII. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 17. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 3764809418.
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