5. Fallschirmjäger-Division

History 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division

The 5. Fallschirmjäger Division forms around April 1944 in the Bourges area south of Paris. Its core consists of the Fallschirmjäger Ausbildungs-Bataillon, the III Battalion of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, the III Battalion of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4, and newly inducted personnel. At the end of April 1944 and the beginning of May 1944, the division, still incomplete, marches to Brittany. It moves into the Rennes, Lamballe, and Saint-Malo area. The divisional headquarters establishes itself at Rennes. Formation and training continue in this region.

After the Allied invasion of Normandy begins on June 6^th, 1944, higher command accelerates the division’s formation. By early July 1944, the division reaches operational strength. On July 10^th, 1944, it deploys to the Cotentin front and assembles in the Saint-Lô area. From there, its Fallschirmjäger regiments are committed individually to reinforce other severely weakened formations. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 13 deploys east of Marigny. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 deploys north of Saint-Lô. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 deploys west of Carentan.

Under intense enemy pressure and heavy losses, all three regiments withdraw to the west bank of the Vire River between mid-July and late July 1944. The retreat passes through Marigny, Percy, and Villedieu, ending near Avranches. On July 25^th, 1944, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 fights west of Saint-Lô. Avranches is almost completely destroyed by bombing. Only scattered remnants assemble by the end of July. On July 30^th, 1944, forces of the United States Army capture Avranches.

Despite severe losses, the regiments of the 5. Fallschirmjäger Division, together with the 77. Infanterie-Division, launch a counterattack on July 31, 1944. The objective is to halt the southern breakthrough. The attack succeeds in recapturing Pontabault. The division fails to stop the advance of the United States Army into Brittany. After the fighting at Avranches, the remnants of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 withdraw from the front. They transfer to Marson south of Châlons-sur-Marne. There, the remaining elements fight temporarily under the 553. Volksgrenadier-Division and suffer further losses. Surviving soldiers later transfer individually into Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 during autumn 1944.

In early August 1944, the remaining elements of the division are driven south from Avranches. They conduct delaying actions during a retreat through Laval toward the Le Mans area. In this region, the final combat-capable elements leave the front. They move in small groups to areas north and east of Paris. By early September 1944, these remnants reach the area east of Köln. They regroup there under higher command.

After the start of Allied Operation Market Garden in September 1944, remnants assembled near Köln form an ad hoc Kampfgruppe. This force deploys southeast of Nijmegen against the 82^nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. By the end of September 1944, the remaining elements near Köln withdraw to Oldenburg. There, preparations begin to rebuild the division.

From the Oldenburg area, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 transfers to coastal defence duties in the Netherlands in October 1944. Most other divisional units remain at training areas in northern Germany. As a result, reconstitution cannot begin before mid-November 1944. Although still incomplete, the division redeploys at the end of November 1944 to the Eifel region. The move follows the reassignment of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15. The purpose is preparation for the planned Ardennes Offensive. Units quarter in the Bitburg, Oberweis, and Sülm area.

During the march, the division suffers heavy losses from low-level Allied air attacks. The 5. Fallschirmjäger-Panzerjäger-Abteilung loses all vehicles and ceases to be operational. For the Ardennes Offensive, the division operates on the right flank of the 7. Armee. It serves under the LXXXV. Armeekorps. The corps advances from the Bitburg area. It crosses the Our River on both sides of Vianden. Its objective is to break through enemy positions at Wahlhausen, Putscheid, Nachtmanderscheid, and Walsdorf. It is then to secure the Saint-Hubert, Neufchâteau, Mellier, and Attert line. From there, it is to protect the southern flank of the 5. Panzer-Armee advancing from Bastogne.

On the morning of December 16^th, 1944, after a brief artillery preparation, the division crosses the Our River near Stolzembourg and Roth. By evening, the division and the advance detachment of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 reach the Diekirch–Hosingen road. On the left, the 352. Volksgrenadier-Division advances slowly toward Fouhren. On the right, the Panzer-Lehr-Division fights west of Hosingen.

On December 17^th, 1944, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 captures river crossings near Bourscheid. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 attacks between Putscheid and Weiler. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 13 fights near Fouhren under command of the 352. Volksgrenadier-Division. On December 18^th, 1944, the vanguard of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 reaches the western edge of Weiler. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 secures the Bourscheid crossings intact. It establishes contact with Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 at Weiler. Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI fights near Nachtmanderscheid and Walsdorf. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 13 continues combat near Fouhren.

On December 19^th, 1944, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 advances through the Sauer Valley without significant resistance. After reorganisation, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 reaches the Wiltz Valley near Kautenbach and Nocher that evening. The advance continues rapidly. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 moves south of Doncols toward the Bastogne–Arlon road. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 and Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI advance southwest beyond the left flank. Their objective is Bigonville and Martelange. The purpose is to support the neighbouring formation still fighting near Ettelbruck.

During the day, the division reaches the general line north of Martelange, Vaux-les-Rosières, and Sibret. This line lies beyond the Bastogne–Arlon road. On the evening of December 21^st, 1944, Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI captures Martelange with support from elements of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15. The neighbouring division on the left lags far behind. This exposes the left flank of the 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division and the 5. Panzer-Armee. On orders from the 7. Armee, the division assumes flank protection. It deploys facing south.

On December 22^nd, 1944, the division reorganises. It transitions from attack to defence. After Sibret and the area south of it transfer to the combat zone of the 26. Volksgrenadier-Division, the 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division establishes a defensive line. The line runs approximately 40 kilometres from Vaux-les-Rosières through Martelange, Bigonville, Arsdorf, and Heiderscheid. From December 23^rd to December 25^th, 1944, strong attacks by the 3rd Army of the United States force repeated withdrawals. The division abandons Vaux-les-Rosières, Hotte, Strainchamps, Martelange, Titange, and Bigonville.

On December 26^th, 1944, forces of the United States Army continue their advance toward Bastogne. They break through northward between Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 near Chaumont and the 26. Volksgrenadier-Division. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 14 withdraws its right flank to Assenois. The division narrowly prevents a breakthrough toward Losange and Villers-la-Bonne-Eau. On December 27^th, 1944, the defensive line runs through Assenois, Lutrebois, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, and Bavigne.

After the successful American relief of Bastogne, the division faces a renewed flank threat near Nothum. Only the commitment of the final reserves halts the advance. These units deploy along the Harlange, Nothum, and Buderscheid line. By late December 1944, the division operates under the LIII. Armeekorps. It continues to hold the Lutrebois, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, Bavigne, and Nothum line against repeated attacks.

On January 2^nd, 1945, enemy success on the left flank threatens encirclement near Harlange and Bavigne. The division holds until January 7^th, 1945. It then evacuates Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, and Bavigne. The withdrawal proceeds northeast. On January 9^th, 1945, forces of the United States Army attack near Bras, Doncols, and Nothum. Large parts of the division become encircled and captured. Remaining elements regroup on both sides of Wiltz.

These remnants transfer toward the Düren area. En route, higher command diverts them southeast. They deploy near Prüm to counter an Allied breakthrough. At the end of February 1945, the division repels attacks by Allied forces near Wilwerath, Gondenbrett, and Olzheim. In early March 1945, forces of the United States Army break through on both flanks. The division retreats northeast.

Near the Nürburgring, the division is encircled west of the Rhine. Most of the remaining force is taken prisoner. Only small remnants escape. These reach the Wernigerode area in April 1945.