The 8th Parachute Division (German: 8. Fallschirmjäger-Division) was a division of the German military during the Second World War, active in 1945. It was fallschirmjäger in title only and was trained and served as a regular infantry unit.
| 8th Parachute Division | |
|---|---|
| German: 8. Fallschirmjäger-Division | |
 Unit insignia | |
| Active | 1945 |
| Disbanded | 1945 |
| Country |  Germany |
| Branch | Luftwaffe |
| Type | Fallschirmjäger |
| Size | Division |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Walter Wadehn |
An 8th Fallschirmjäger Division was originally ordered to be formed in September 1944, but this order was cancelled. The division was formed in January 1945, commanded by Walter Wadehn throughout its existence. It contained the 22nd, 24th and 32nd Fallschirmjäger Regiments.[1]
The division fought in the Netherlands and then withdrew through Germany, finally being trapped in the Ruhr pocket in April 1945 and destroyed.[1][2]
Notes
editReferences
edit- "8. Fallschirmjäger-Division". Axis History Factbook. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
- Mitcham, Jr, Samuel (2007). German Order of Battle Volume Two: 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. Stackpole Books. p. 295. ISBN 0-8117-3437-4.