Now available is this new metal boxed set which introduces the Luftwaffe Field Divisions into Bolt Action.
After the the initial spectacular success of the German invasion of Russia in 1941 the invasion slowed to a crawl as the weather and hard fighting ground down their formations. Desperate to shore up the front seven regiments were formed of non-flying personnel taken from the German air force, the Luftwaffe. These regiments were equipped with standard infantry weapons, and sent to quieter areas of the front to gain experience.
As the war continued more and more Luftwaffe personnel were drafted into what became Luftwaffe Field Divisions, 21 divisions being formed with 12,500 men in each at full strength. They wore the trademark Luftwaffe blue/grey uniforms and many also donned the long camouflaged M1942 jacket or zeltbahn tent capes.
Contains a 10-man Luftwaffe Field Division Squad:
- 1 NCO and two soldiers with SMGs
- 1 MG13 LMG team
- 2 riflemen with panzerfausts
- 3 riflemen
Despite their poor levels of training, they fought bravely in Normandy, in Italy and on the Russian front in key actions such as the “Little Stalingrad of the North”, the attempt to relieve Velikiye Luki; the attempted defense of Vitebsk during Operation Bagration, and the fighting in the Courland Pocket.
Originally authorized in October 1942, Hermann Göring raised his own infantry formations under the command of Luftwaffe officers.
As the war continued more and more Luftwaffe personnel were drafted into what became Luftwaffe Field Divisions, 21 divisions being formed with 12,500 men in each at full strength. They wore the trademark Luftwaffe blue/grey uniforms and many also donned the long camouflaged M1942 jacket or zeltbahn tent capes.
Despite their poor levels of training, they fought bravely in Normandy, in Italy and on the Russian front in key actions such as the “Little Stalingrad of the North”, the attempt to relieve Velikiye Luki; the attempted defense of Vitebsk during Operation Bagration, and the fighting in the Courland Pocket.
The average age of the soldier in these units was 30 years old – much older than other front line troops. These difficulties led them to take more casualties than the regular army units but despite these shortcomings Luftwaffe Field Division troops earned 18 of the coveted Knights Cross medals in the three years that they saw service.
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy
Craig Nixon