2. Flak-Division

[Mondaugen]

Hi,

New guy here. I’m not a collector, just wondering if anyone could provide me with information, or point me in the direction where I can find some, pertaining to the history of the 2. Flak-Division (mot.) in northern Russia during WWII.

An uncle of mine served with them. His name is Willi Dickmeis, and while he’s still alive, his memory is fading, and I thought if I could look up the whereabouts of his former unit it might jog his memory and maybe get some personal history & such.

Willi Dickmeis received basic training in Hannover, where he met his late wife, Ilse. He received the Flak-Kampfabzeichen on November 6, 1943 (signed General-Major Werner Anton) and the Iron Cross 2nd class on March 11, 1944 (signed General-Leutnant Werner Anton). After being captured by the Russians, he was held at a camp in Charkow, building roads and bridges. He remembers a comrade by the name of Franz Fachinger, who survived the war but who is now deceased (I found a picture of him (I suppose) through Google from 1957).

So, if anybody has any information about the history of 2. Flak-Division, or could point me in the direction, I’d greatly appreciate that.

Lambert Dickmeis

[JeremyJ]

2 Flak Div

Here's some info. for starters.

Jeremy



2. Flak-Division

Kommandeure:

GenLt Oskar Bertram, 1.9.41 - 11.1.42
GenLt Walter Feyerabend, 12.1.42 - 3.2.42
GenLt Heino von Rantzau, 3.2.42 - 30.9.43
GenLt Alfons Luczny, 1.10.43 - 15.11.44
Oberst Fritz Laicher, 16.11.44 - 17.4.45
Ia:

?
Hptm Gaspari, ? - 8.44
Hptm Heinz Skrobucha, 22.8.44 - 4.45
Formed 1.9.41 in Leipzig from Luftverteidigungskommando 2 with:

Stab/Flak-Regiment 3 (o) (Flakgruppe Thüringen) in Weimar(?)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 33 (o) (Flakgruppe Halle-Leuna)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 300 (v) (Flakgruppe Leipzig)
Stab/Flakscheinwerfer-Regiment 73 (o) (Flakscheinwerfergruppe Leipzig)
Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 122
In 1.42 replaced by 14. Flak-Division, and moved to Luga (Heeresgruppe Nord) in Northern Russia.

Organisation on 31.3.42 (Div. HQ Luga):

Stab/Flak-Regiment 41 in Luga (covering the rear area of Heeresgruppe Nord)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 151 in Medved (supporting 16th Armee)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 164 in Roshdestvenno (supporting 18th Armee)
Luftnachrichten-Betriebs-Kompanie 122
Divisions Nachschubführer
In May 1942 joined by 6. Flak-Division, and now only covered the rear area of Heeresgruppe Nord.

Organisation 9.42:

Stab/Flak-Regiment 41 in Luga
Stab/Flak-Regiment 43 in Ostrov
Stab/Flak-Regiment 182 in Krasnovardeisk
gem. Flak-Abteilung 517 (v) in Narva, with gem.431 (v) and le.720 (v)
Organisation 1.11.43:

Stab/Flak-Regiment 182 (mot.)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 164 (mot.)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 41 (mot.)
Sw.618 (v) and le.Alarm-Flak-Bttr. 8./I
Luftnachrichten-Betriebs-Kompanie 122
On 2.44 the Div. HQ was moved from Luga to Pleskau, and later to Dorpat.

Stab/Flak-Regiment 41 left the division in 2.44, returned 4.44 and finally left in 7.44; Stab/Flak-Regiment 136 was added in 2.44; Stab/Flak-Regiment 151 was added 7.44, but left again 8.44.

Organisation 1.8.44:

Stab/Flak-Regiment 136 (mot.)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 151 (mot.)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 164 (mot.)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 182 (mot.)
Flak-Transport-Bttr. 23./VI, 31./I, 1./VI and 45./I
Luftnachrichten-Betriebs-Kompanie 122
Stab/Flak-Regiment 151 (mot.) was transferred to 6. Flak-Division in 8.44, followed by Stab/Flak-Regiment 136 in 9.44.

In 10.44 moved to Germany, new HQ at Trier, and took control of 3 Flaksturm-Regiments.

Organisation 1.11.44:

Stab/Flaksturm-Regiment 2 (mot.)
Stab/Flaksturm-Regiment 3 (mot.)
Stab/Flaksturm-Regiment 4 (mot.)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 8 (v)
Stab/Flak-Regiment 182 (mot.)
Luftnachrichten-Betriebs-Kompanie 122
Stab/Flaksturm-Regiment 1 (mot.) joined the division in 11.44, while Stab/Flak-Regiment 8 (v) and Stab/Flak-Regiment 182 (mot.) left for 1. Flak-Brigade and 19. Flak-Brigade respectively.

Took part in the Battle of the Bulge. 1.45 at Eifel and 2.45 at Altenahr, supporting 5th Panzerarmee. 3.45 in Siegerland and surrendered 4.45, while in the Ruhr-pocket.

Strength 11.44 - 2.45:

Date Heavy
Flakbatteries Light/medium
Flakbatteries
8.11.44 20 21
8.1.45 18 17
8.2.45 33 38
23.2.45 19 24
Subordinated to Luftgau III, from 1.42 Luftflotte 1 and from 10.44 III. Flakkorps.

[JeremyJ]

2 Flak Div

Here is the link to find more info. on the individual Rgt. within the Div.

http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/2fladiv.htm



Regards

Jeremy

[Mondaugen]

Here is the link to find more info. on the individual Rgt. within the Div.

http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/2fladiv.htm

Thank you, Jeremy. I had already come across that site through Google as well as by way of the sticky post by Mr. Orchard regarding research websites. However, I’m afraid I cannot make heads or tails from it. I suppose I would need further information as per the regiment etc.? I already asked my uncle because the Division level appeared rather broad. Alas, he wasn’t forthcoming.

Sorry if I’m being obtuse. Would there be anything in narrative form?

Lambert

[Simon O.]

Lambert, from what you right it sounds like you might have your uncle's award documents for his flak-kampf and EKII?

the thing is, Werner Anton commanded the 6 Flak division at the time of his awards, but there was movement of units between the 2 and 6 divisions.

We need to pin down which battalion (abteilung) he belonged to really. Flak divisions are not really the same as army divisions.

[Mondaugen]

Hi Simon,

Lambert, from what you right it sounds like you might have your uncle's award documents for his flak-kampf and EKII?

I suppose that’s where my uncle got the information from, but we live quite a distance apart and communicate over the phone. The last time I’ve seen him in person was five years ago, at my mother’s funeral.

the thing is, Werner Anton commanded the 6 Flak division at the time of his awards, but there was movement of units between the 2 and 6 divisions.

We need to pin down which battalion (abteilung) he belonged to ...

OK, I just talked to my uncle on the phone, he needs to look that up. He seems to remember places: Mga, Luga, Liepāja, Katjinka [sp?], Sevaskaja [sp?]. I’ll be back with more information as soon as I get it myself. Thank you so much for your assistance.

Best,

Lambert

[Simon O.]

Of course you or he could always ask for his service records from the Deutsche dienststelle

http://www.dd-wast.de/

[Mondaugen]

Of course you or he could always ask for his service records from the Deutsche dienststelle

http://www.dd-wast.de/

Excellent lead! Thank you, Simon, I’ll do that.

Lambert