Expert on Luftwaffe Flak Units

[Jayhammond]

I am trying to find an expert on Luftwaffe flak. I am hoping someone could describe a typical unit similar to gem. Flak Abt. 344. I am interested to know how many guns they might have, the layout of these guns, the affiliated units, staff and personnel, and the physical size of the Abt. Anyone interested in offering a description? Thanks.

[Larry deZeng]

This detailed history has all that you mentioned:

Koch, Horst-Adalbert, Flak: Die Geschichte der deutschen Flakartillerie und der Einsatz der Luftwaffenhelfer. (Podzun Verlag: Bad Nauheim, 1965). 682p.

Also see: Westermann, Edward B. Flak: German Anti-Aircraft Defenses, 1914-1945. Lawrence (KS): Univ. Press of Kansas, 2001. ISBN: 0-7006-1136-3. Hb. Dj. 394p. Illus. Tables. Abbreviations glossary. Source notes. Bibliography. Index.

And finally: ‘Handbook of German Anti Aircraft Artillery (Flak)’ (M.I.15, The War Office, 1946). A total of 10 volumes. The entire study is in the UK National Archives, mostly in the series WO 208/3982-3989 (Chapter 6 is in WO 208/3985). Chapter 4 (‘Deployment and Emplacements’), however, was mis-filed and can be found in WO 208/2983.

There are also a dozen or more English language published histories, studies, pictorials, etc., on the subject, especially those published by Schiffer Publishing in Atglen, Pennsylvania. For example: Müller, Werner. This German author has written at least 5 pictorial-type books covering Flak organization, weapons and equipment published by Podzun-Pallas Verlag in German (at least 2 titles) and by Schiffer Books/Atglen PA (at least 3 in English).

L.deZ.