Kampfgeschwader 1

Kampfgeschwader 1
Active	1939–44
Country	Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Type	Bomber Squadron
Role	Tactical and Direct Ground Support.
Size	Air Force Wing
Nickname(s)	Hindenburg
Engagements	Operation Paula Dieppe Raid Battle of Dunkirk Battle of Britain The Blitz Siege of Leningrad Demyansk pocket Battle of the Caucasus Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Kursk Operation Bagration
Battle honours	Polish Campaign Battle of the Netherlands Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Britain The Blitz Eastern Front Allied invasion of Sicily
Commanders
Notable commanders	Josef Kammhuber
Insignia
Identification symbol	Geschwaderkennung of V4

Kampfgeschwader 1 (KG 1) (Battle Wing 1) was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during the Second World War. It used Heinkel He 111 and later Heinkel He 177 bombers.

History

KG 1 was formed from Stab/KG 152 'Hindenburg' at Neubrandenburg on 1 May 1939. I./KG 1 was formed from IV./KG 152, II./KG 1 formed from I./KG 152 on 18 September 1939. III./KG 1 was formed from segments of I and III./KG 1 on 1 December 1939.

War time service

Polish Campaign

The unit started out under Luftflotte 1, but moved to Luftflotte 4 on 8 September, before being reassigned to Luftflotte 1 on 20 September 1939. The unit's main targets included railways and troop concentrations. I./KG 1 took part in the Battle of Bzura.

Western Europe

Main articles: Battle of the Netherlands, Battle of Belgium, and Battle of France

I./KG supported the German Fourth Army in Belgium in May 1940. II./KG 1 supported the Fourth Army of Army Group B but also supported the race to the English Channel, attacking French targets threatening Army Group A. On 3 June 1940 II./KG 1 took part in Operation Paula as did III./KG 1.

Battle of Britain

Main article: Battle of Britain

A 7th Staffel KG 1 Heinkel He 111 on a mission during the Battle of Britain, 1940

I and II./KG 1 conducted operations over Britain. Both took part in Adlertag. III./KG 1 had little involvement and spent the campaign as a training unit.

North Africa and the Mediterranean

Main articles: North African Campaign and Battle of the Mediterranean

Italian Campaign

Main article: Italian Campaign (World War II)

Commanding officers

The following commanded KG 1:

• Major General Ulrich Otto Eduard Kessler, 1 May 1939 – 17 December 1939
• Oberst Ernst Exss 18 December 1939 – 12 July 1940
• Oberst Josef Kammhuber 12 July 1940 – 17 July 1940 (acting)
• Major General Karl Angerstein 18 July 1940 – 1 March 1942
• Major Herbert Loch 2 March 1942 – 30 June 1942
• Oberstleutnant Paul Schemmel 1 July 1942 – 14 August 1942 (killed in action 14 August 1942)
• Major Hans Keppler 15 August 1942 – 3 September 1942 (killed in action 3 September 1942)
• Major Heinrich Lau 4 September 1942 – 15 March 1943
• Obstlt Horst Von Riesen 17 March 1943 – 25 August 1944

References

Bibliography

• de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 1. Ian Allan Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5