II./Flak-Rgt. 23 (gem. mot.)
Formed 1 October 1935 at Rudolfstadt as a leichte (light) Flak-Abteilung with a Stab and three batteries (numbered 6. – 8.). Initially used the cover designation Fahr-Abteilung Rudolstadt. Disbanded on 31 March 1937. Re-established on 1 March 1939 at Komotau (Chomutov/c.83 km NW of Prague in Czechoslovakia) with a Stab and five batteries (numbered 6. – 10.).1
History
1935-37: during its first formation, it was assigned to Höh.Kdr.d.Flakartillerie in Luftkreis III (Senior Commander of Antiaircraft Artillery in Air District III).
Sep 39: campaign in south Poland under Koluft AOK 10.
May 40: following the campaign in Poland, returned to Germany and participated in the attack on France.
Nov – Dec 40: transferred from France to Hamburg to refit.
22 Jun 41: supported Panzergruppe 4 for the advance into Russia on the northern sector toward Pskov, Lake Ilmen and Leningrad, but its exact line of advance has not yet been determined. It probably redeployed with Panzergruppe 4 to the Roslavl area at the end of September for the attack on Moscow.
13 Jan 42: at Askerovo (near Yukhnov) under 12. Flak-Div.
22 May 42: at Pustaya or Puztaya (possibly in the Roslavl’ area) under 12. Flak-Div.
26 Oct 42: at Chiplayevo under Flak-Rgt. 134/12. Flak-Div.
26 Dec 42: at Dankino/NE of Smolensk under 18. Flak-Div.
Feb 43: Orel under Flak-Rgt. 101/12. Flak-Div.
Mar 43: Seshchinskaya airfield under Flak-Rgt. 21/12. Flak-Div.
Jun 43: Kromy/38 km SSW of Orel under Flak-Rgt. 21/12. Flak-Div.
Jul 43: Dobryn’/47 km SSW of Orel under Flak-Rgt. 134/12. Flak-Div.
Sep – Dec 43: not identified in front documents and believed to have withdrawn to a rear area to rest and refit.
1 Jan 44: Luniniec/E Poland under Flak-Rgt. 125/23. Flak-Div.
Feb 44: transferred from Central Russia, where it had been since October 1941, to North Russia and assigned to Flak-Rgt. 182/2. Flak-Div. in the Luga-Pskov area on the Leningrad front. Subordination unchanged through Jul 44. Supported AOK 18 units during the retreat from the Leningrad perimeter to defensive positions around Pskov, at the south end of Lake Peipus and southeastern Estonia through July.
Aug 44: briefly under Flak-Rgt. 41/6. Flak-Div.
Sep – Nov 44: again under 2. Flak-Div., took part in the fighting retreat from Estonia through Latvia to the Kurland (Courland) region in northwestern Latvia.
Dec 44 – May 45: it remained trapped in the Kurland pocket until the end of the war.
FpNs: Stab (L 18359), 6. (L 16682), 7. (L 18294), 8. (L 05302), 9. (L 15184), 10. (L 13880), Kolonne (L 07104).
Kommandeur:
Obstlt. Kurt Wagner (1 Oct 35 - 31 Mar 37)
Obstlt. Johannes Kördel (10 Sep 39 - 23 Apr 41)
Maj. Fritz Winkler (c.1 May 41 - 30 Nov 42)
Obstlt. Rudolf Schwarze (1 Dec 42 - 9 May 43)
Maj. Wilhelm Jürgens (16 May 43 - 14 Feb 44) WIA
Gefechtsstand/12. Flak-Division
3.11.1943: in Bobruisk and still there on 1,1,1944.
Gefechtsstand/Luftflottenkommando 6
Go here:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
L.
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress).
(1st Draft 2008)