Lehrgeschwader 2
Encyclopedia
Lehrgeschwader 2 (Demonstration Wing 2) was a Luftwaffe unit during World War II
, operating three fighter, night fighter, reconnaissance and ground support Gruppen (groups).
Lehrgeschwader were in general mixed-formation units tasked with the operational evaluation of new types of aircraft and/or with the development/evaluation of new operational tactics or practices. Each Gruppe within the unit was equipped with a different type of aircraft. Each Gruppe consisted of several Staffeln (squadron
s). The Gruppe was identified by Roman numbers (I./LG 2) and the Staffel by Arabic numbers (10./LG 2).
In 1939 Lehrgeschwader 2 thus consisted of a Bf 109 fighter Gruppe (designated I.(J)/LG 2), a Henschel Hs 123
ground assault Gruppe (II.(Schl.)/LG 2), and a reconnaissance Gruppe (III.(Aufkl.)/LG 2).
and I.(J)/LG 2 was formed in 1 November 1938 in Graz
. II.(Schl.)/LG 2 was formed in November 1938 in Tutow
near the Baltic coast and III Gruppe at Jüterbog
.
11.(Nacht)/LG 2 was a specialist night-fighting unit formed in August 1939 in Greifswald
under Oblt. Johannes Steinhoff
, with Arado ar 68 & Bf 109-D equipment. In September 1939 the unit moved to Bonn-Hangelar and was redesignated 10.(N)/JG 26.
I.(J)/LG 2 became the new I Gruppe, JG 77 in January 1942.
and the Battle of Britain
. One base in this period was Saint Inglevert
, Pas-de-Calais. Its commander Oberlt. Herbert Ihlefeld
, was its most successful ace, claiming 24 victories by September 1940 and earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. On 10 August 1940 future ace Hans-Joachim Marseille
was assigned to I./LG 2, then based in Calais
-Marck
and flying sorties against England. The Gruppe claimed 92 victories during the Battle, for 22 aircraft lost and 16 damaged. It lost 10 pilots killed and missing and four as POW.
I.(J)/LG 2 then participated in the Balkans Campaign. The excellent ground attack work carried out by its sister Gruppe (II./LG 2) had led to several fighter units, including I./LG 2, to also employing a Staffel of Bf 109s converted to fighter-bomber duties.
Over Yugoslavia, Leutnant Friedrich Geißhardt was to claim four JKRV Hawker Fury
biplanes shot down. Now with 36 victories, Ihlefeld was at this time shot down by ground fire and captured by Yugoslavian soldiers. While in captivity, he was allegedly severely beaten and was threatened with execution by firing squad. Ihlefeld was rescued by German troops after eight days of arrest and returned to Germany to recover. By the end of May 1941, I.(J)/LG 2 was based in Belgrade
. The Gruppe lost four aircraft and five damaged and suffered one pilot killed and one captured.
During the Battle of Crete
two Bf 109's Jabos of I./LG 2 were credited with sinking HMS Fiji with a loss of 276 crew.
Following the successful conclusion of the Balkan campaign with the invasion of Crete the unit was withdrawn to Rumania for Operation Barbarossa
. Geisshardt, after 6 victories in the Balkans, was to achieve much success over Russia claiming 28 victories with LG 2 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz in August 1941. The Gruppe scored 52 victories from June - December 1941. Total victories from September 1939 - 13 January 1942 amounted to 583 kills. I Gruppe was redesignated I./JG 77 on 13 January 1942.
.the unit flew numerous low-level pin-point ground attack operations, and included within their rank as a Staffelkapitän
future ace and General der Jagdflieger Oberleutnant
Adolf Galland
.
Spielvogel was killed by ground fire on 13 September however, and was replaced by Hauptmann Otto Weiß. By the end of the campaign 9 pilots had been killed in action; almost a 25% loss rate for the Gruppe.
After resting and refitting, II Gruppe went west and took part in the Battle of France
. Operating 49 aircraft, the unit initially flew supporting attacks for the German paratroop assault on the Eben-Emael forts in May 1940. Intensive sorties supporting 6th Army's panzer force took up most of May, before switching to harass the retreating French army south of the Somme in June. The outstanding efforts of the Gruppe and its biplanes in what was a unique role for 1940 were recognised with the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to its commander and all three Staffelkapitän. the units most notable action took place at the Battle of Arras
, during which a strong British armoured attack was repulsed.
II.(Schl)./LG 2 did not take part in the early phases Battle of Britain
, and was mooted to convert into a 'true' dive-bomber unit equipped with the Junkers Ju 87
. However II Gruppe had proved the viability of the battlefield assault concept enough to be converted to the new Bf 109 E-4B fighter-bomber, with the capability to carry one SC-250 kg bomb or four SC-50 kg bombs. Training took place at Böblingen
.
Based at Saint-Omer
in France as part of Luftflotte 2, II.(Schl)./LG 2 started operations on 6 September 1940, losing two aircraft to flak over the Thames Estuary
. With no direct Army offensive to support, the unit modified its type of operation, and through the winter and into the spring of 1941 kept up a series of sporadic nuisance raids against targets in England, suffering over a dozen aircraft losses.
In March 1941 II Gruppe switched south to the forthcoming Balkans campaign, now equipped with 2 Staffeln of Bf 109s and expanded with two further Staffeln of the older Henschel Hs 123 again.
The unit kept up a constant assault on the retreating Allied armies, supporting 12 Armee and its advance to the Corinth Canal
. By now, inspired by the work of II./LG 2, several Jagdeschwader had their own specialist ground-attack cadres of Bf 109 fighter-bombers, including JG 77 and JG 27. The Gruppe were soon on the move back North for the attack on Soviet Russia in June 1941.
Based at Praszniki in Poland near the Lithuanian border, II Gruppe, with 38 (37) Bf 109E and 22(17) Hs 123s, were tasked with attacking their share of the 60 Soviet airfields targeted on the opening day of the offensive, leading to the destruction of over 1,400 Soviet aircraft on the ground. Thereafter they formed part of the air support for Panzergruppe 3 advancing on the 'Central Front'. Featuring in the capture of Minsk
in June, by the end of July the intensity of operations had led to an attrition of the Gruppe's available aircraft, culminating in just 14 combat ready aircraft.
II Gruppe were transferred to the Northern sector around Lake Ladoga
in August, and its impressive combat record again recognised by the award of Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to its four Staffelkaptäne; Oblts. Georg Dörffel
, Werner Dörnbrack
, Alfred Druschel
and Bruno Meyer. By September the Gruppe was back in the battle in central Russia, participating in the battles at Bryansk
and Vyazma
and supporting the advance on Kalinin
. The II Gruppe Henschel's proved their rugged worth by launching a series of 'shuttle' missions against the counter-attacking Soviet forces in October, saving their own airfield from capture and inflicting heavy losses.
The onset of the appalling winter conditions saw operations curtailed for some time. Thus the II Gruppe was recalled to Werl
in Germany to form the nucleus of the first ever Schlachtgeschwader (SG 1) , and with Major Otto Weiß awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross.
. In April 1937, the unit was equipped with the Dornier Do 17
F. It was later merged 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr122 in September 1937.
and Bryansk
, it also supported the German Army during the Battle of Kiev
.
.
. It was probably renamed 8.(PZ)SchG1 on 13 January 1942.
. It was disbanded on 13 January 1942, and its crews helped form II./Sch.G.1 and Erg.J.Gr.Ost.
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...
, operating three fighter, night fighter, reconnaissance and ground support Gruppen (groups).
Lehrgeschwader were in general mixed-formation units tasked with the operational evaluation of new types of aircraft and/or with the development/evaluation of new operational tactics or practices. Each Gruppe within the unit was equipped with a different type of aircraft. Each Gruppe consisted of several Staffeln (squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
s). The Gruppe was identified by Roman numbers (I./LG 2) and the Staffel by Arabic numbers (10./LG 2).
In 1939 Lehrgeschwader 2 thus consisted of a Bf 109 fighter Gruppe (designated I.(J)/LG 2), a Henschel Hs 123
Henschel Hs 123
The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support attack aircraft flown by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and the early to mid-point of World War II...
ground assault Gruppe (II.(Schl.)/LG 2), and a reconnaissance Gruppe (III.(Aufkl.)/LG 2).
History
The unit was created to control the Lehrgruppe in the Luftwaffe. StabStab (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...
and I.(J)/LG 2 was formed in 1 November 1938 in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
. II.(Schl.)/LG 2 was formed in November 1938 in Tutow
Tutow
Tutow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
near the Baltic coast and III Gruppe at Jüterbog
Jüterbog
Jüterbog is a historic town in north-eastern Germany, located in the Teltow-Fläming district of Brandenburg. It is located on the Nuthe river at the northern slope of the Fläming hill range, about southwest of Berlin.-History:...
.
11.(Nacht)/LG 2 was a specialist night-fighting unit formed in August 1939 in Greifswald
Greifswald
Greifswald , officially, the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald is a town in northeastern Germany. It is situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at an equal distance of about from Germany's two largest cities, Berlin and Hamburg. The town borders the Baltic Sea, and is crossed...
under Oblt. Johannes Steinhoff
Johannes Steinhoff
Johannes Steinhoff was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace of World War II, and later a senior West German air force officer and military commander of NATO. Steinhoff was one of very few Luftwaffe pilots who survived to fly operationally through the whole of the war period 1939-45...
, with Arado ar 68 & Bf 109-D equipment. In September 1939 the unit moved to Bonn-Hangelar and was redesignated 10.(N)/JG 26.
I.(J)/LG 2 became the new I Gruppe, JG 77 in January 1942.
I.(Jagd)/LG 2
Formed on 1 October 1937, the unit took part in the Polish Campaign, claiming six kills for three losses from 1–20 September 1939. The unit also participated in the Battle of FranceBattle 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...
and the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. One base in this period was Saint Inglevert
Saint-Inglevert Airfield
Saint-Inglevert Airfield is a general aviation airfield at Saint-Inglevert, Pas-de-Calais, France. In the First World War an airfield was established near Saint-Inglevert by the Royal Flying Corps, later passing to the Royal Air Force on formation and thus becoming RAF Saint Inglevert...
, Pas-de-Calais. Its commander Oberlt. Herbert Ihlefeld
Herbert Ihlefeld
Herbert Ihlefeld was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the very end of World War II in May 1945. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, was its most successful ace, claiming 24 victories by September 1940 and earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. On 10 August 1940 future ace Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot and flying ace during World War II. He is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his bohemian lifestyle. One of the best fighter pilots of World War II, he was nicknamed the "Star of Africa"...
was assigned to I./LG 2, then based in Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
-Marck
Marck, Pas-de-Calais
Marck is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Marck is a farming and light industrial town located 6 km east of Calais, at the junction of the D940 and D248 roads. The A26 ‘autoroute des Anglaises’ passes through the commune and the...
and flying sorties against England. The Gruppe claimed 92 victories during the Battle, for 22 aircraft lost and 16 damaged. It lost 10 pilots killed and missing and four as POW.
I.(J)/LG 2 then participated in the Balkans Campaign. The excellent ground attack work carried out by its sister Gruppe (II./LG 2) had led to several fighter units, including I./LG 2, to also employing a Staffel of Bf 109s converted to fighter-bomber duties.
Over Yugoslavia, Leutnant Friedrich Geißhardt was to claim four JKRV Hawker Fury
Hawker Fury
The Hawker Fury was a British biplane fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force in the 1930s. It was originally named the Hornet and was the counterpart to the Hawker Hart light bomber.-Design and development:...
biplanes shot down. Now with 36 victories, Ihlefeld was at this time shot down by ground fire and captured by Yugoslavian soldiers. While in captivity, he was allegedly severely beaten and was threatened with execution by firing squad. Ihlefeld was rescued by German troops after eight days of arrest and returned to Germany to recover. By the end of May 1941, I.(J)/LG 2 was based in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. The Gruppe lost four aircraft and five damaged and suffered one pilot killed and one captured.
During the Battle of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
two Bf 109's Jabos of I./LG 2 were credited with sinking HMS Fiji with a loss of 276 crew.
Following the successful conclusion of the Balkan campaign with the invasion of Crete the unit was withdrawn to Rumania for Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
. Geisshardt, after 6 victories in the Balkans, was to achieve much success over Russia claiming 28 victories with LG 2 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz in August 1941. The Gruppe scored 52 victories from June - December 1941. Total victories from September 1939 - 13 January 1942 amounted to 583 kills. I Gruppe was redesignated I./JG 77 on 13 January 1942.
II.(Schl)./LG 2
This unit was formed as Fliegergruppe 40 on 1 July 1938. During the Polish campaign of September 1939 II.(Schl.)/LG 2 under Major Spielvogel, operated as the as a 'ground assault' unit in the Luftwaffe, operating the Henschel Hs 123Henschel Hs 123
The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support attack aircraft flown by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and the early to mid-point of World War II...
.the unit flew numerous low-level pin-point ground attack operations, and included within their rank as a Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
future ace and General der Jagdflieger Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
.
Spielvogel was killed by ground fire on 13 September however, and was replaced by Hauptmann Otto Weiß. By the end of the campaign 9 pilots had been killed in action; almost a 25% loss rate for the Gruppe.
After resting and refitting, II Gruppe went west and took part 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...
. Operating 49 aircraft, the unit initially flew supporting attacks for the German paratroop assault on the Eben-Emael forts in May 1940. Intensive sorties supporting 6th Army's panzer force took up most of May, before switching to harass the retreating French army south of the Somme in June. The outstanding efforts of the Gruppe and its biplanes in what was a unique role for 1940 were recognised with the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to its commander and all three Staffelkapitän. the units most notable action took place at the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1940)
The Battle of Arras took place during the Battle of France, in the early stages of World War II. It was an Allied counterattack against the flank of the German army, that took place near the town of Arras, in north-eastern France. The German forces were pushing north toward the channel coast, in...
, during which a strong British armoured attack was repulsed.
II.(Schl)./LG 2 did not take part in the early phases Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, and was mooted to convert into a 'true' dive-bomber unit equipped with the Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
. However II Gruppe had proved the viability of the battlefield assault concept enough to be converted to the new Bf 109 E-4B fighter-bomber, with the capability to carry one SC-250 kg bomb or four SC-50 kg bombs. Training took place at Böblingen
Böblingen
Böblingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen District. Physically Sindelfingen and Böblingen are continuous.-History:Böblingen was founded by Count Wilhelm von Tübingen-Böblingen in 1253. Württemberg acquired the town in 1357, and on 12 May 1525 one of the bloodiest battles...
.
Based at Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
in France as part of Luftflotte 2, II.(Schl)./LG 2 started operations on 6 September 1940, losing two aircraft to flak over the Thames Estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
. With no direct Army offensive to support, the unit modified its type of operation, and through the winter and into the spring of 1941 kept up a series of sporadic nuisance raids against targets in England, suffering over a dozen aircraft losses.
In March 1941 II Gruppe switched south to the forthcoming Balkans campaign, now equipped with 2 Staffeln of Bf 109s and expanded with two further Staffeln of the older Henschel Hs 123 again.
The unit kept up a constant assault on the retreating Allied armies, supporting 12 Armee and its advance to the Corinth Canal
Corinth Canal
The Corinth Canal is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland, thus effectively making the former an island. The builders dug the canal through...
. By now, inspired by the work of II./LG 2, several Jagdeschwader had their own specialist ground-attack cadres of Bf 109 fighter-bombers, including JG 77 and JG 27. The Gruppe were soon on the move back North for the attack on Soviet Russia in June 1941.
Based at Praszniki in Poland near the Lithuanian border, II Gruppe, with 38 (37) Bf 109E and 22(17) Hs 123s, were tasked with attacking their share of the 60 Soviet airfields targeted on the opening day of the offensive, leading to the destruction of over 1,400 Soviet aircraft on the ground. Thereafter they formed part of the air support for Panzergruppe 3 advancing on the 'Central Front'. Featuring in the capture of Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
in June, by the end of July the intensity of operations had led to an attrition of the Gruppe's available aircraft, culminating in just 14 combat ready aircraft.
II Gruppe were transferred to the Northern sector around Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is a freshwater lake located in the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia, not far from Saint Petersburg. It is the largest lake in Europe, and the 14th largest lake by area in the world.-Geography:...
in August, and its impressive combat record again recognised by the award of Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to its four Staffelkaptäne; Oblts. Georg Dörffel
Georg Dörffel
Georg Dörffel was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield...
, Werner Dörnbrack
Werner Dörnbrack
Werner Dörnbrack was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, Alfred Druschel
Alfred Druschel
Oberst Alfred Druschel was a German Luftwaffe combat pilot and Flying ace during World War II. He was the first combat pilot to be honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
and Bruno Meyer. By September the Gruppe was back in the battle in central Russia, participating in the battles at Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
and Vyazma
Vyazma
Vyazma is a town and the administrative center of Vyazemsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyazma River, about halfway between Smolensk and Mozhaysk. Throughout its turbulent history, the city defended western approaches to the city of Moscow...
and supporting the advance on Kalinin
Kalinin
Kalinin , or Kalinina , is a Russian surname, derived from the word kalina , and may refer to:People with the surname...
. The II Gruppe Henschel's proved their rugged worth by launching a series of 'shuttle' missions against the counter-attacking Soviet forces in October, saving their own airfield from capture and inflicting heavy losses.
The onset of the appalling winter conditions saw operations curtailed for some time. Thus the II Gruppe was recalled to Werl
Werl
Werl is a town located in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Werl is easily accessible because it is located between the Sauerland, Münsterland, and the Ruhr Area...
in Germany to form the nucleus of the first ever Schlachtgeschwader (SG 1) , and with Major Otto Weiß awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross.
Aufklärungsstaffel
Created on or just after the 1 October 1936 near PrenzlauPrenzlau
Prenzlau , a city in the Uckermark District of Brandenburg in Germany, had a population of about 21,000 in 2005.-International relations:Prenzlau is twinned with: Uster, Switzerland Barlinek, Poland Świdwin, Poland...
. In April 1937, the unit was equipped with the Dornier Do 17
Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...
F. It was later merged 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr122 in September 1937.
Stab III.(Aufkl)/ LG 2
Formed on 1 November 1938, it was renamed from Stab/Aufklärungslehrgruppe. The unit was renamed Koluft 10 after mobilisation on 26 August 1939.9.(H)/LG 2 (Pz)
Operated in the Polish Campaign, Battle of France and Battle of Britain. During Operation Barbarossa it supported the 3rd Panzer Divisions capture of OrelOryol
Oryol or Orel is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow...
and Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
, it also supported the German Army during the Battle of Kiev
Battle of Kiev (1941)
The Battle of Kiev was the German name for the operation that resulted in a very large encirclement of Soviet troops in the vicinity of Kiev during World War II. It is considered the largest encirclement of troops in history. The operation ran from 23 August – 26 September 1941 as part of Operation...
.
10.(See)/LG 2
Formed on 1 November 1938, and dissolved in October 1939. Saw action in the Polish Campaign. The unit was absorbed into Kampfgeschwader 30Kampfgeschwader 30
-Service history:Formed on 15 November 1939 in Greifswald. I Gruppe formed 1 September, II Gruppe on 23 September and III Gruppe on 1 January 1940, based in Greifswald then Barth...
.
10.(Schlacht)/LG 2
This unit participated in the Balkans Campaign and Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
. It was probably renamed 8.(PZ)SchG1 on 13 January 1942.
11.(Nacht)/LG 2
Formed on 1 August 1939 and experimented with night fighting techniques with Arado Ar 68s. It was used for home defence until 14 December 1939. It was still doing so on 18 February 1940, when it was absorbed into IV.(N)/JG 2.Erg.St.(Sch)/LG 2
Formed on 24 August 1940. Participated in the Battle of Britain, and on the Eastern FrontEastern 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...
. It was disbanded on 13 January 1942, and its crews helped form II./Sch.G.1 and Erg.J.Gr.Ost.
Kunstflugstaffel
This unit did not see action. It was formed in early 1938 and dissolved on 3 March 1940.I. (Jagd)/LG 2
- Major Hanns Trübenbach, 1 November 1938 - 18 August 1940
- Hauptmann Bernhard Mielke, 18 August 1940 - 30 August 1940
- Hauptmann Herbert IhlefeldHerbert IhlefeldHerbert Ihlefeld was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the very end of World War II in May 1945. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 30 August 1940 - 6 January 1942
II. (Schlacht)/LG 2
- Major Georg Spielvogel, 1 November 1938 - 9 September 1939
- Major Wolfgang Neudörffer, September 1939 - 1 December 1939
- Hauptmann Otto Weiß, 1 December 1939 - 13 January 1942
III. (Aufkl.)/LG 2
- Major Kurt Kleinrath, 1 November 1938 - 14 March 1939
- Oberstleutnant Radeke, 14 March 1939 - 1 May 1939
- Oberstleutnant Günther Lohmann, 1 May 1939 - 26 August 1939