Hermann Göring Division

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Divisional History

Originally a small police battalion organized by the then Secretary of Interior, Herman Goring, this unit quickly grew in size to a regiment.  The primary function of the regiment at the beginning of the war was a flak unit and later it developed into an armored unit.  Its designation became Fallschrimjager PanzerKorps Herman Goring, which translates to a puzzling name of "Parachutist Armor Corps".  Here is a short history.

   In February 1933, Hermann Goring as Minister of Interior created the Police Battalion Wecke.  By 1935 it had become the "General Goring State Police Group" and began to   adapt military training.  This resulted in it being assigned to the Luftwaffe as the "General  Goring Regiment".  By 1938 the role of the regiment consisted primarily of flak batteries and searchlight battalions but still retained a motorcycle company and a guard battalion.  These special guards were used at Goring's forrest estate at Karinhall and on special occasions such as Air Force day and Richtohofen's Memorial parades.
     In 1936, General Goring selected 36 soliders to perform a parachute demonstration jump.  From this, 600 recruits were selected to go through training and were the first German paratroopers.  On 1 July 1938, General Kurt Student organized the "Fallshirmtruppe" into the  "7th Aviation Division" in order to conceal their true purpose. The Hermann Goring Regiment was reorganized on 1 October 1939 to include a Parachute Rifle Battalion ("Fallschrimschutze"), which was later absorbed into the Luftwaffe's 1st Parachute Regiment and called "Fallschirmjager". That was the only time the Herman Goring troops were used as paratroopers, even though they retained the term "Fallschrim" in their title.
     One battalion formed from the flak units became the Fuhrer Flak Battalion. This battalion was first used as as a special train escort on the Fuhrer's trip to Poland and as flak protection at his "Wolf's Lair" in E. Prussia. Later, it was organized into a regiment and eventually became the Fuhrer Escort Division.
     At the outbreak of war the HG Regiment fought in Poland.  Reorganized into the HG Division, they were sent to Italy for about one year.  On 6 January, 1944, the division was renamed "Fallschirm Panzer Division Hermann Goring" that consisted of panzer, armored artillery and infantry battalions.  They were sent back to Poland and fought in the battle of Warsaw in August 1944.  They served in Russia with the XXXIX Panzer Corps and at Fortress Graudenz  in February 1945.   During the fighting in Russia, the Henrich Goring, the nephew of the Reichsmarshall, was killed in action.

The statistics indicate that 60,000 soldiers served with the HG Division during its life-span.   After the surrender in 1945, only 15,000 survivors remained.  An estimated 90% of the soldiers who fought on the Eastern Front were casualties.

1933 - Goring in charge of Prussian Police Force. He created Polizeiabteilung 'Wecke' (Police Detachment). 

1934 - Renamed Landespolizeigruppe 'Wecke' (Provisional Police Group) 

1935 - Renamed Landespolizeigruppe 'General Goring' . Gen Goring placed in command of the newly formed Luftwaffee. 

1936 - Renamed Regiment 'General Goring'. Goring arranged a demonstration parachute jump. 600 recruits joined up for training and created a Fallschirmshutzen Battalion. 

1938 - Paratrooper battalion transferred to 7th Flieger Division to form the 1st Battalion, 1st Fallschirmjager Regiment. 

1942 Mar - Regiment General Goring expanded to Herman Goring Brigade, commanded by Conrath. 

1942 Dec - First elements of flak regiment was sent to N. Africa. 

1943 Jan - Expands to Fallschirm Division Herman Goring commanded my Major General Conrath. 

1943 July - HG Division called to Sicily and fights around Catania airfield and Primasole Bridge. 

1943 Sept - Salerno Invasion.  Part of HG unit called to defend north of Salerno.

1943 Oct - HG Division pulls out of line for rest at Cassino.
Obst Lt. Julius Schlegel rescues the art work out of Monte Cassino.

1944 Jan - HG Division and 4th FJ Division attack at Anzio 

1944 Mar - HG Division pulled out for rest. Reformed as an armored infantry and renamed 1st Fallschirm-Panzer Division 'Herman Goring'. 

1944 May - HG Division rushed to breach the Allies break out at Anzio. 

1944 July - HG Division leaves Italy

1945 Jan - Two HG Divisions are encircled. Some manage to fight their way out & evacuated by sea.

Organizational Table
Herman Goring Division
Defense of Salerno, September 1943

Hermann Göring Panzer Division(Lt-Gen. Schmalz)

    Panzer Regiment HG (Oberst Roth)
                    HQ Company
                    II. Battalion
                    III. Battalion (StuG)

                         Tank Strength :
                              PzIV(Lang) : 31
                              PzIIIL : 25
                              PzIIIN : 3
                              StuGIIIG : 16
                              StuH42 : 6
                              PzBefehlwagen : 3

    Panzergrenadier Regiment HG 1 (Oberst Kluge)
                    I. Battalion (Mechanised)
                    II. Battalion (Motorised)
                    III. Battalion (Motorised)
                              13. Company (6 x 150mm sIG, mechanised)
                              14. Company (Engineers, motorised)

    Panzergrenadier Regiment HG 2 (Oberst von Necker)
                   I. Battalion (Motorised)
                    II. Battalion (Motorised)
                    III. Battalion (Motorised)
                              13. Company (6 x 150mm sIG, motorised)
                              15. Company (9 x SdKfz 10/4)

    Panzer-Artillery Regiment HG
                    I. Battalion (12 x Wespe + 6 x Hummel)
                    II. Battalion (12 x 105mm leFH, motorised)
                    III. Battalion (12 x 150mm sFH, mechanised)
                    IV. Battalion (12 x 150mm NbW41 + 4 x 150mm sFH, motorised)

    Flak Regiment HG
                    I. Battalion
                              1. Company (4 x 88mm FlaK18 + 3 37mm FlaK43)
                              2. Company (4 x 88mm FlaK18 + 3 37mm FlaK43)
                              3. Company (4 x 88mm FlaK18 + 3 37mm FlaK43)
                              4. Company (12 x SdKfz 10/4, 4 x SdKfz 7/1)
                              5. Company (12 x SdKfz 10/4, 4 x SdKfz 7/1)
                    II. Battalion
                              6. Company (4 x 88mm FlaK18 + 3 37mm FlaK43)
                              7. Company (4 x 88mm FlaK18 + 3 37mm FlaK43)
                              8. Company (4 x 88mm FlaK18 + 3 37mm FlaK43)
                              9. Company (12 x SdKfz 10/4, 4 x SdKfz 7/1)
                              10. Company (12 x SdKfz 10/4, 4 x SdKfz 7/1)
                    Führer FlaK Abteilung
                              1. Company (12 x SdKfz 6/2)
                              2. Company (12 x SdKfz 6/2)
                              3. Company (12 x SdKfz 6/2)

    Armored Recon Abteilung HG
                    1. Company (8 x SdKfz.234/1, 6 x SdKfz.222, 4 x SdKfz.231/3)
                    2. Company (Infantry, motorised)
                    3. Company (Infantry, mechanised)
                    4. Company (2 x 75mm leIG, 3 x 50mmPaK38, 4 x HMG)

    Panzer Pioneer Abteilung HG (Hauptman Bittig)
                    1. Company (Motorised)
                    2. Company (Motorised)
                    3. Company (Motorised)