5th Air Corps (Germany)
Encyclopedia
V. FliegerkorpsFor more details see Luftwaffe Organization
(5th Air Corps) was formed 11 October 1939 in Gersthofen
from the 5. Flieger-Division
. The Corps was transferred to Brussels
on 30 November 1941 with the intention to transform it into a mine laying corps. The plan was disbanded and half of the Stab
was transferred to Mariupol
in December 1941 and was renamed Sonderstab Krim (Special Stab Crimea
). The other half was transferred to Smolensk
and formed the Luftwaffenkommando Ost in April 1942.
Luftwaffe Organization
Between 1933 and 1945, the organization of the Luftwaffe underwent several changes. Originally, the German military high command decided to use an organizational structure similar to the army and navy, treating the branch as a strategic weapon of war...
(5th Air Corps) was formed 11 October 1939 in Gersthofen
Gersthofen
Gersthofen is a municipality in the district of Augsburg, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the west bank of the Lech River, approx. north of Augsburg....
from the 5. Flieger-Division
5th Air Division (Germany)
5. Flieger Division was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on 1 August 1938 in Braunschweig from the Höheren Fliegerkommandeur 7. The Division was redesignated 31. Flieger-Division on 1 November 1938 and was renamed to 5. Flieger Division again on 1...
. The Corps was transferred to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
on 30 November 1941 with the intention to transform it into a mine laying corps. The plan was disbanded and half of the Stab
Stab (Luftwaffe designation)
During World War II, the suffix Stab was used in the German Luftwaffe to designate a headquarters unit. This applied to subordinate units in each Gruppe or Geschwader — the equivalent units to wings and groups in other air forces.These command units used the green colour of their aircraft...
was transferred to Mariupol
Mariupol
Mariupol , formerly known as Zhdanov , is a port city in southeastern Ukraine. It is located on the coast of the Azov Sea, at the mouth of the Kalmius River. Mariupol is the largest city in Priazovye - a geographical region around Azov Sea, divided by Russia and Ukraine - and is also a popular sea...
in December 1941 and was renamed Sonderstab Krim (Special Stab Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
). The other half was transferred to Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
and formed the Luftwaffenkommando Ost in April 1942.
Commanding officers
- Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter von GreimRobert Ritter von GreimRobert Ritter von Greim was a German Field Marshal, pilot, army officer, and the last commander of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.-Early years:...
, 11 October 1939 – 31 March 1942