Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen
Encyclopedia
Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen was a formation of the German Luftwaffe
based in Occupied Norway
during World War II
.
It was named for the "Fighter Leader (Jafu), Norway" and referred to the units under his command.
(JG 5) and was responsible for fighter operations in defence of Occupied Norway
. It was subordinated to Luftflotte 5
, and located at Forus
, near Stavanger
. Other units of JG 5 were assigned to operations in support of the invasion
of the Soviet Union
in the north and were under the command of Fliegerfuehrer Nord Ost.
By 1943 Jafu Norwegen had three squadrons (Staffel) of JG 5 under control, based at Trondheim
, Gossen, Lade
, Stavanger
and Herdla
.
In 1944 had acquired a night fighter unit, based at Lista.
Following the collapse of the Northern Front, Jafu Norwegen was re-united with JG 5 on March 16, 1945.
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....
based in Occupied Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
during 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...
.
It was named for the "Fighter Leader (Jafu), Norway" and referred to the units under his command.
Service history
Jafu Norwegen was formed in June 1941 from units of Jagdgeschwader 5Jagdgeschwader 5
Jagdgeschwader 5 Eismeer was a Luftwaffe fighter Wing that served during World War II. As the name Eismeer implies, it was created to operate in the far North of Europe, namely Norway, Scandinavia and northern parts of Finland, all nearest the Arctic Ocean...
(JG 5) and was responsible for fighter operations in defence of Occupied Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
. It was subordinated to Luftflotte 5
Luftflotte 5
Luftflotte 5 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed 12 April 1940 in Hamburg for the invasion of Norway....
, and located at Forus
Forus
Forus is an industrial district in the borough Hinna in Stavanger, Norway. It borders to the Gandsfjord and stretches south and west to the municipalities Sandnes and Sola...
, near Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
. Other units of JG 5 were assigned to operations in support of the invasion
Operation Silver Fox
Operation Silver Fox was a joint German–Finnish military operation plan during World War II, though it was mainly operated and engaged by Germans. Its main goal was the capture of the key Soviet port at Murmansk through attacks from Finnish and Norwegian territory.The operation had to be three...
of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in the north and were under the command of Fliegerfuehrer Nord Ost.
By 1943 Jafu Norwegen had three squadrons (Staffel) of JG 5 under control, based at Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Gossen, Lade
Lade, Trondheim
Lade is a community in Trondheim, Norway. It is located on a peninsula north-east of the city centre, north of the community of Lademoen. It was the site of the historic Lade farm.-History:...
, Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
and Herdla
Herdla
Herdla is an island in Askøy, Norway, at the north end of the island of Askøy. The island was part of the municipality of Herdla until 1 January 1964. The island has a nature reserve with 220 registered species of birds...
.
In 1944 had acquired a night fighter unit, based at Lista.
Following the collapse of the Northern Front, Jafu Norwegen was re-united with JG 5 on March 16, 1945.
Jagdfliegerführer
- Generalmajor Walter GrabmannWalter GrabmannWalter Grabmann was a German World War II Luftwaffe Generalmajor. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(June 1941 - 31 July 1941) - unknown
- Generalmajor Carl-August Schumacher (5 January 1942 - 30 April 1943)
- Oberstleutnant Gerhard SchöpfelGerhard SchöpfelGerhard Schöpfel was a German World War II Luftwaffe 45-victory flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 26....
(1 May 1943 - 30 April 1944) - Oberstleutnant Günther Scholz (May 1944 - May 1945)