German Air Force in Yugoslavia 1941

Luftwaffe in Yugoslavia

April 1941 - May 1945

History

After initial invasion of Yugoslavia in which Luftwaffe used 1212 aircraft there was little need for any air units (which were badly need on other fronts anyway). After revolt began German commander South-East requested for one flying school to move to Serbia (Zemun) which if need could then be used against insurgents even with obsolete or training aircraft. Initially only two Ju-52 or He-111 in Zemun and two He-45 in Zagreb were supposed to be combat ready by 1 August 1941 which was hardly sufficient. Since Yugoslavia fell under Mediterranean theater which had at its disposal only 10% of Luftwaffe aircraft requests for more aircraft from 10th Air Corps were denied.

Sharp increase in Partisan activities forced Luftwaffe to temporarily assign Air Group of LtColonel Denh with 11 Ju-87 and 13 Do-17 to Zagreb and Stuka Squardon 1st Lt. Werner with 12 Ju-87 in Zemun. During 1942 air operations were largely carried out by NDH and Italian air forces with bomber section with single Ju-88, Do-17 and Fw-58 part of mixed group with NDH air force.

Croatian Flak Legion (Kroatischen Flak-Legion / Hrvatska protuzrakoplovna legija)

Formed in early 1943 for defense of Third Reich, it was planned to fill it with Croatian Home Defense soldiers of orthodox faith (Serbs) which served in unarmed construction units to prevent them from joining Partisans, Croats which were physically unfit for combat units and defectors from Partisan units which come after amnesty by Poglavnik was announced in early 1944 and were considered politically unreliable. Originally 10000 soldiers was suppose to be sent but by May 1944 only 5500 were sent and size was cut down to 6000. Personnel was spread across entire Europe with only one known unit actually serving on territory of NDH.

Units

Anti-Aircraft (Flak) Battalions:

172nd Anti-Aircraft (Flak) Battalion