Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor": The Complete History of KG 53 in World War II

by Heinz Kiehl

Overview

Flying Do 17, He 111, and Ju 88 aircraft, Luftwaffe bomber unit Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor" saw action in the campaigns in Poland and France, the Battle of Britain, Russia, and finally over the invasion front. Towards the end of World War II, the He 111 aircraft of KG 53 served as flying launch platforms for the infamous V-1 in dangerous missions against England. The author – a former member of the Geschwader – accurately documents the unit’s formation, development, and combat operations and brings it to life through gripping personal accounts and historically valuable photographs. This book is one of the few books in English on the wartime operations of a German bomber unit and an indispensable addition to Luftwaffe history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764344756
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	02/28/2014
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.40(d)

Table of Contents

Preliminary Remarks 5

Acknowledgements 6

Foreword 7

I The Period before the Second World War 8

1 Versailles 1919 8

2 The Beginnings in Lipetsk 8

3 Further Development as a Secret Air Force 14

4 The Luftwaffe Becomes an Independent Branch of the Armed Services 18

5 Operations Prior to the Second World War 21

II Building Up the Air Force 25

1 The Formation of New Units 25

2 Giebelstadt-Gablingen-Ansbach-Schwabisch Hall 27

3 Köthen Long-Distance School 32

4 The Final Year Before the War 34

5 Anecdotes 36

III The Second World War 40

1 Poland 1939 40

2 England and France Declare War 43

3 Leaflet Missions - Propaganda Flights Over France 49

4 The French Campaign 51

5 Between the French Campaign and the Battle of Britain 80

6 The Battle of Britain 81

a The Starting Point 81

b Armed Reconnaissance 83

c Radio Beam Systems/Criticism from Göring 85

d Daylight Attack against Luton Airfield 86

e Daylight Raid on the King George Dock/Ditching in the Channel 90

f The Future Kommodore Pockrandt Takes Over the 9. Staffel 92

g Mission against Lodge (London) 94

h War Diary of the I. Gruppe from 21 September 1940 to 30 May 1941 96

j Attack on Raynham Airfield on 16 February 1941 105

l Forced Landing in England by the Hufenreuter Crew 110

m Mission over England by the Headquarters Staffel 112

7 Russia - The War in the East 116

a The situation from the German-Soviet non-aggression pact to the attack in the east 116

b Case Barbarossa 121

c KG 53 Moves East and Operations in the Central Sector 123

d 1942 - The Second Year of the War in Russia 159

e Operations by KG 53 in the Year 1942 162

f Battle at Velikiye Luki 185

g Stalingrad 193

h The Situation after the Fall of Stalingrad 204

i 1943 - The Northern Sector - "Operation Citadel" -Airlifts to Pockets in the Ukraine 207

j 1944 - Retreat 222

k Final Operations in the East 224

8 Invasion - Operations with the V1- Disbandment 232

a Invasion 232

b Operations with the VI and Disbandment 235

IV The Croatian Staffel 244

V The IV. Gruppe 246

VI The Geschwader's Losses 253

VII KG Legion Condor 53: Recipients of the Knight's Cross 291

VIII KG 53 Command Position Staffing 293

IX V1 Operations by KG 53 254

X The Military Doctor 302

XI The Geschwader Signals Company - LnKp (mot) KG 53 312

Appendices 320