Flak corps
Encyclopedia
A flak corps was a massed anti-aircraft (AA) artillery formation employed by the Luftwaffe
for anti-aircraft, antitank, and fire support operations in World War II
. A Flakkorps was a flexible organization that was made up of a varying number of AA regiments, brigades, or divisions. It was roughly equivalent in strength to a brigade
or a division
. A total of six flak corps were organized by Germany during the war. The flak corps, while mainly intended to support ground units with concentrated anti-aircraft fire, in many cases provided also antitank support.
. Until the end of war Germany eventually organized a total of six flak corps, being numbered I - VI, plus one short-lived special flak corps.
Flak corps I and II were formed on 3 October 1939. They grouped mobile AA battalions (previously existing) to overwhelmingly concentrate the firepower at points of decision on the battlefield. The original two flak corps were used in the Battle of France
in 1940, and later inactivated. They were reorganized for the German invasion of Russia and fought for the remainder of the war on the Eastern Front
. The I Flak Corps was destroyed at Stalingrad
and later formed again.
The III Flak Corps was formed in February 1944 and fought on the Western Front
. In total, III Flak Corps entered combat in Normandy with 27 heavy batteries
, 26 light batteries and some 12,000 men. During the fighting in Normandy
in 1944, the III Flak Corps was motorized although not all authorized vehicles were present. It was eventually destroyed in the Ruhr Pocket
in April 1945.
The IV Flak Corps was formed in July 1944 and supported Army Group G
on the Western Front until it surrendered in May 1945.
The V Flak Corps was formed in November 1944 and fought in Hungary and Austria.
The VI Flak Corps was formed in February 1945 and fought in northern Germany in support of the 1st Parachute Army.
The flak corps "for special employment" (Flakkorps z.b.V.) was organized in 1945 to control V-weapons
.
Flak corps did not include the majority of the Germany's flak force. Even considering only the Luftwaffe's flak units dedicated to direct support of Wehrmachts ground troops, most of them were not subordinated to flak corps.
Flak corps were either partially motorized or fully motorized, depending on the degree of motorization of their subordinate units.
The following orders of battle depict typical flak corps organizations in 1940 and 1944:
II Flak Corps, August 1, 1940:
III Flak Corps, June 6, 1944:
in Normandy, these units achieved significant success against attacking Allied armored vehicles. The use of flak corps as ground warfare assets was complicated because thet were in an air force (Luftwaffe) chain of command
while supporting ground forces (either Heer
or Waffen SS).
Given the expense of producing AA guns – in relation to the cost of antitank guns of the same capabilities – it is questionable if their use as antitank weapons was economical.
As an organizational form, massed AA-gun formations represented a dead-end as large-caliber AA guns were phased out of military service in the 1950s and replaced by surface to air missiles.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
for anti-aircraft, antitank, and fire support operations in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A Flakkorps was a flexible organization that was made up of a varying number of AA regiments, brigades, or divisions. It was roughly equivalent in strength to a brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
or a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
. A total of six flak corps were organized by Germany during the war. The flak corps, while mainly intended to support ground units with concentrated anti-aircraft fire, in many cases provided also antitank support.
History
Flak corps did not exist before World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Until the end of war Germany eventually organized a total of six flak corps, being numbered I - VI, plus one short-lived special flak corps.
Flak corps I and II were formed on 3 October 1939. They grouped mobile AA battalions (previously existing) to overwhelmingly concentrate the firepower at points of decision on the battlefield. The original two flak corps were used in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
in 1940, and later inactivated. They were reorganized for the German invasion of Russia and fought for the remainder of the war on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. The I Flak Corps was destroyed at Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
and later formed again.
The III Flak Corps was formed in February 1944 and fought on the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
. In total, III Flak Corps entered combat in Normandy with 27 heavy batteries
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
, 26 light batteries and some 12,000 men. During the fighting in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in 1944, the III Flak Corps was motorized although not all authorized vehicles were present. It was eventually destroyed in the Ruhr Pocket
Ruhr Pocket
The Ruhr Pocket was a battle of encirclement that took place in late March and early April 1945, near the end of World War II, in the Ruhr Area of Germany. For all intents and purposes, it marked the end of major organized resistance on Nazi Germany's Western Front, as more than 300,000 troops were...
in April 1945.
The IV Flak Corps was formed in July 1944 and supported Army Group G
Army Group G
The German Army Group G fought on the Western Front of World War II and was a component of OB West.When the Allied invasion of Southern France took place, Army Group G had eleven divisions with which to hold France south of the Loire...
on the Western Front until it surrendered in May 1945.
The V Flak Corps was formed in November 1944 and fought in Hungary and Austria.
The VI Flak Corps was formed in February 1945 and fought in northern Germany in support of the 1st Parachute Army.
The flak corps "for special employment" (Flakkorps z.b.V.) was organized in 1945 to control V-weapons
Vergeltungswaffe
V-weapons also, known in the original German as Vergeltungswaffen , were a particular set of long range artillery weapons designed for strategic bombing during World War II, particularly terror bombing and/or aerial bombing of cities. They comprised the V-1 flying bomb, the V-2 rocket and the V-3...
.
Organization
Flak corps were large organizations of pre-existing AA units (regiments, brigades, and divisions) rather than being formed as new units from scratch. In 1943 Allied intelligence noted:The Flak Corps is a wartime organization, and constitutes an operational reserve of the commander in chief of the German Air Force. It combines great mobility with heavy fire power. It can be employed in conjunction with spearheads composed of armored and motorized forces, and with nonmotorized troops in forcing river crossings and attacking fortified positions. It can also be deployed as highly mobile artillery to support tank attacks.
Flak corps did not include the majority of the Germany's flak force. Even considering only the Luftwaffe's flak units dedicated to direct support of Wehrmachts ground troops, most of them were not subordinated to flak corps.
Flak corps were either partially motorized or fully motorized, depending on the degree of motorization of their subordinate units.
The following orders of battle depict typical flak corps organizations in 1940 and 1944:
II Flak Corps, August 1, 1940:
- Flak Regiment 103 with three mixed AA battalions and two light AA battalions
- Flak Regiment 201 with three mixed AA battalions and one light AA battalion
- Flak Regiment 202 with three mixed AA battalions and one light AA battalion
III Flak Corps, June 6, 1944:
- Flak-Sturm Regiment 1 with two mixed AA battalions
- Flak-Sturm Regiment 2 with two mixed AA battalions and one light AA battalion
- Flak-Sturm Regiment 3 with two mixed AA battalions and one light AA battalion
- Flak-Sturm Regiment 4 with three mixed AA battalions and one light AA battalion
Assessment
Although the AA guns of all nations in World War II could be used against ground targets, Germany in particular used AA guns in multiple roles. The need for command and control of these assets led to the organization of larger units, culminating with the organization of flak corps. Although the Soviets also organized large air defense units, they were typically not used against ground targets. The flak corps above all provided additional antitank support for the German ground forces. In some cases, such as at CagnyCagny, Calvados
Cagny is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:...
in Normandy, these units achieved significant success against attacking Allied armored vehicles. The use of flak corps as ground warfare assets was complicated because thet were in an air force (Luftwaffe) chain of command
Chain of Command
Chain of Command may refer to:* Chain of command, in a military context, the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed* "Chain of Command" , the fifth episode of the first season of Beast Wars...
while supporting ground forces (either Heer
Heer
Heer is German for "army". Generally, its use as "army" is not restricted to any particular country, so "das britische Heer" would mean "the British army".However, more specifically it can refer to:*An army of Germany:...
or Waffen SS).
Given the expense of producing AA guns – in relation to the cost of antitank guns of the same capabilities – it is questionable if their use as antitank weapons was economical.
As an organizational form, massed AA-gun formations represented a dead-end as large-caliber AA guns were phased out of military service in the 1950s and replaced by surface to air missiles.