Croatian Kampfgruppe

[C.Moeller]

Dear fellow researchers,

I have a few questions regarding the Croatian Kampfgruppe / Kampfgruppe Lucko / 3. Staffel Kroatische Kampfgruppe 1 / Kroatische Schlachtstaffel.

In a German book one can read that the Schlachtstaffel was set up in July 1944 with Ju 87. In September 1944 the unit saw action under 1. Fliegerdivision/Luftflotte 6 in Lubenstadt (today called Lubien Kujawski, some 80km SSO of Thorn/Torun in Poland; the town Lubien was called Liebstadt between 1939-43 and Lubenstadt between 1943-45).
In August 1944 the unit should have flown under 4. Fliegerdivision. However, this could be a misprint, maybe it was meant October? On 1 November 1944 the unit gave away their planes.
Another book says that in February 1944 Kampfgruppe Lucko changed to 3./Kampfgruppe 1. In August 1944 parts of 3. squadron took part in anti partisan operations under Luftflotte 6. The unit had some Fw 190 and some Ju 87 then and was located in Lubenstadt. In October 1944 the whole Croatian Kampfgruppe was dissolved and the planes were given back to the German Luftwaffe.

Does somebody know more about the Croatian Schlachtstaffel with Ju 87 and Fw 190?
When was it set up exactly?
How many planes (Ju 87 and Fw 190) did it have?
How many pilots did it have?
What missions did they fly and from where?
Did the unit had losses in July to October 1944?

A lot of questions, but maybe someone can help me?
Thank you very much.
Have a nice Christmas time!

Best regards,
Christian Möller
Germany

[croduh]

I am very interested in the same subject too.Hoping for some responses.

[Del Davis]

Christian
This a bit off this topic but can you comment on your publishing plans. Do you still intend to publish a book on the Nachtschlachtgruppen?

[C.Moeller]

Hello Del,

Yes, my doctoral thesis on the Nachtschlachtgruppen 1, 2 and 20 in the West from September 1944 to May 1945 will be published as a book (in German).

I will come back with more information in a separate post soon.

Does anybody has information on the Croatian Kampfgruppe / Schlachtstaffel with Fw 190 and Ju 87?

Christian

[Tomislav Haramincic]

Hello Christian,

Although I'm also very interested in this subject, I can't really help you with precise information. The only time that I've seen sombody mentioning a KGr. Kroatien is here http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/...ses/losses.xml - under no.11.
The loss is from 1943, so perhaps a little bit to early?

regards,
Tomislav

[Boris Ciglic]

Hello Christian!
Nice to hear from you and your work after so long time Please do not forget the NSGr.7 in your work!

This unit never operated with Fw 190. Here are some lines from my Do 17 book which concern your question:

On 23 December, as a part of HZL reorganization Kroatien Kampfgruppe 1 was established and 15.(Kroat.)/KG 53 became 1./Kro.KGr.1, while 15.(Kroat.)/KG 3 of Oberstlt Milan Hetenyibecame 2./Kro.KGr.1. Hetenyi’s unit was formed on 15 March 1943 and after training with 10.(Erg.)/KG 1 at Schaulen and FFS B.6 at Kolberg was supposed to receive Ju 88’s and deploy them on the Eastern Front. Instead, it returned to Croatia.


On 1 April 19441./Kro.KGr.1was renamed into 1./Kampfgruppe Kroatien and by the end of the month Zemun became its main base. By that time, unit was brought into some sort of resting status as it barely conducted any combat flying. Still, on 28 May it celebrated 3.000th combat sortie at Lučko. During that month 1./KGr.Kro. received several Ju 87 Stukas of B and R subtype.


On 21 July, gen zrak Vladimir Kren officially disbanded ZMP. Airmen which opted to stay in Luftwaffe were transferred to newly-formed Hrvatska zrakoplovna skupina, from which two Staffeln, one with fighters and another with Stukas, were to be made operational. On 30 July five remaining Dorniers and four Stukas went from Lučko in direction of Königsberg (today Kaliningrad) in East Prussia. Pilot por Albin Vouk and his crewmembers vod Andrija Pavišić (RO), vod Ivan Pernar (RO), vod Antun Jozin (RO) and vod Jusuf Ustavdić (MG) had different ideas: they turned Do 17Z-5 Z8+AH W.Nr.2899 towards the Adriatic and after uneventful flight crash-landed near Cerignola in Italy.
Remaining Dorniers were exchanged for Stukas at Königsberg as legionnaires formed Kroatische Schlachtstaffel beim Stab/SG 9 (Pz.),lead by Hptm Franjo Gospodarić,at Schippenbeil. On 1 November all unit’s aircraft were deprived by the Germans, the consequence of defection of commander and another pilot from the neighboring HZL Jagdstaffel. All men were sent to infantry and subsequently deployed in trenches on the front between Frankfurt am Oder and Szczecin. After great difficulties and real ordeal, most of them managed to return to Croatia by April 1945.