6. Fallschirmjäger-Division - Special Forces in World War 2

History 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division

The 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division begins formation in June 1944 in the area between Metz and Amiens as part of the expansion of the German parachute forces. Fallschirm Regiment 16 forms separately in Halberstadt from April 1944. With the start of the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944, higher command orders the termination of cadre training and the immediate completion of the division. Fallschirm Regiment 16, still in Germany, receives orders to march to the divisional assembly area in France. Other required units also move toward the formation area. Most of these formations fail to arrive before the division redeploys.

Only days after the Allied landings, the division transfers to the Channel coast in northern France. In addition to completing its formation, it receives responsibility for coastal security. As the division consists largely of cadre units, several Army formations stationed around Abbeville come under divisional command to provide combat strength. At the end of June 1944, Fallschirm Regiment 16 detaches from the division. The regiment moves through the garrisons of Stendal, Wittstock, and Gardelegen. On July 7^th, 1944, it is airlifted to the Eastern Front to the Vilna area in Lithuania. The transfer responds to the Soviet offensive against Army Group North.

On August 6^th, 1944, the division, still incompletely equipped and weakened by the loss of a regiment, marches in three separate columns toward areas north and west of Paris. The divisional supply troops remain in Abbeville. On August 11^th, 1944, the divisional command post moves from Abbeville to Dreux. The intention is to reunite units deployed separately around Alençon, Dreux, and Beauvais. To improve communications with forces north of Paris near Beauvais, the staff relocates to Marnes north of Versailles. On August 18, 1944, it moves again to Enghien north of Saint-Denis.

On August 21, 1944, Army Group West orders the reassembly and partial re-equipment of the division. The division receives a newly formed paratrooper battalion composed of stragglers from the 2., 3., and 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division. It also receives the II Battalion of the Fallschirmjäger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 21, previously deployed separately in Normandy. From August 22^nd, 1944, the division operates in the Paris area. Its mission is to secure roads leading north from Paris against French resistance forces. It later receives orders to prevent Allied crossings of the Seine northwest of Paris.

The division initially fights north of Paris near Saint-Denis and Le Bourget. From August 24^th, 1944, combat shifts to the Pontoise area. On August 27^th, 1944, the division is reinforced by the 6th Parachute Mortar Battalion, which breaks out from the south bank of the Seine. On August 28^th, 1944, under pressure from superior United States armoured forces, the division withdraws west of the Oise. The retreat follows the line Pontoise, Clermont, Compiègne, and Noyon to the Somme Canal. New defensive positions are established there.

To avoid encirclement, the division withdraws again on September 2^nd, 1944. The movement proceeds through Saint-Quentin, Le Cateau, and Le Quesnoy to Valenciennes. The division is now reduced to five weak battalions. These remnants are ordered to positions west of Valenciennes to block an expected Allied advance on Mons from Cambrai and Douai. The positions cannot be occupied in time. Allied spearheads have already bypassed Valenciennes. On September 4, 1944, most of the division is captured near Mons. Only small groups escape to the southeast and join other Army units. Elements of Parachute Regiment 21 break through to the northeast and reach the Nijmegen area.

On September 24^th, 1944, higher command orders the rebuilding of the 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division. Due to its destruction in France, the formation is entirely new. The division forms in the Kleve, Geldern, and Moers area. Some units station in the Netherlands near Adden, Meppel, and Coevorden. Personnel mainly come from Luftwaffe ground units, air signals regiments, and anti-aircraft formations.

On November 19^th, 1944, the division takes over a defensive sector north of the Waal River. The sector lies on the left flank of the LXXXVIII Army Corps. It previously belongs to II SS Panzer Corps. The front extends from Angeren southeast of Arnhem through Elst, Valburg, and Zetten to Opheusden. On December 20^th, 1944, the division hands over this sector to the 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division. It then occupies a new sector adjacent to it. The front extends to the Waal bend near Hesselt. From December 22^nd, 1944, the sector continues along the Maas to the Hollandsch Diep. The total frontage reaches approximately 80 kilometres.

At the beginning of February 1945, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16 detaches from the division. It moves to the area northeast of Gennep to join the Infanterie-Division. On February 8^th, 1945, British and Canadian forces launch their offensive against the Westwall positions in the Reichswald. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16 is overrun in its positions on the same day. On February 9^th, 1945, heavy fighting occurs around Materborn. The regiment withdraws southeast under pressure. On February 13^th, 1945, it fights defensive actions west of Moyland.

The remaining units of the division withdraw from the Maas line on February 10^th, 1945. From February 12^th, 1945, they block British forces advancing on Kalkar east of the Reichswald. From February 14^th, 1945, the divisional sector lies northwest to southwest of Moyland. On February 25^th, 1945, the division withdraws southeast from the area northwest of Kalkar. It conducts delaying actions along the Reichsstraße. The withdrawal ends on the Schlieffen Line on both sides of Marienbaum.

In early March 1945, Allied pressure forces abandonment of this position. The division withdraws to the Xanten area and again conducts defensive fighting. Until March 9^th, 1945, it holds positions in the northern sector of the Wesel bridgehead. The front runs from the Rhine bank southeast of Xanten to Birten. After abandoning the bridgehead, the division crosses the Rhine near Wesel on the same day. Northwest of Wesel, it establishes new positions along the Rhine between Emmerich and the Rhine bend west of Rees.

On March 24^th, 1945, after heavy artillery bombardment from the Grieth area, strong United States forces cross the Rhine. They immediately establish a bridgehead. By evening, American units reach Millingen. During the night of March 25^th, 1945, the division withdraws to the Emmerich, Praest, and Millingen line. On March 25^th, 1945, further American forces cross the Rhine near Emmerich. The division retreats northeast.

During delaying actions on March 28^th, 1945, the division loses contact on its left with the 8. Fallschirmjäger-Division. This occurs during fighting around Anholt and Isselburg. By the end of March 1945, continued pressure forces withdrawal to the Doetinchem, Terborg, Varsseveld, and Aalten railway line. After abandoning this position, the division retreats in early April 1945 behind the Twente Canal between Zutphen and Hengelo.

The new defensive sector extends approximately 40 kilometres. The division receives reinforcements from paratrooper replacement units and Parachute Regiment 37. Until mid-April 1945, it successfully repels British attempts to cross the Twente Canal. On April 17^th, 1945, a threat to the exposed flank forces withdrawal of the left wing to the Holten and Hellendoorn line.

In the following days, repeated armoured attacks push the remnants back along the Zutphen, Voorst, Bussloo, and Deventer line toward the IJsselmeer. Around April 20^th, 1945, the division establishes new defensive positions west of the Apeldoorn Canal between Hoenderloo, Apeldoorn, and Vaassen. In early May 1945, it withdraws to the Amersfoort, Nijkerk, and Putten line. In this area, the remnants of the 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division are taken prisoner by British forces at the end of the war.

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