looking for info on stuka unit III/162

[philippe1]

dear readers,
we are looking for information on a stuka unit
III/162
were it was formed and its history esspecialy during the period of mai 1940 (if the unit still existed by that time?)
thanks in advance
phil

[Doug Stankey]

A mini-history of this and all other stuka units will appear in our new book ”Ground Attack Units of the Luftwaffe – A Reference Source” (title not set yet) when it is released this summer(?). The basics for this unit are:

III./St.G. 162: Formed 1 April 1937at Anklam from parts of other units and was re-designated as I./St.G. 163 on 1 October 1937. It eventually became I./St.G. 2 in May 1939. Its Kommandeur during its existence was Major Alexander Holle. Initially it had been equipped with He 51 and Hs 123, then it converted to Ju 87A in the summer of 1937. Unit code for St.G. 162 (second formation): 23+ ( to be confirmed).



As for what it did in May 1940, I recommend consulting Peter Cornwell's excellent "Battle of France, Then and Now". Our own book will cover all the campaigns in greater detail and co-relates activities to ground operations.


We hope this helps.


LdZ
DGS