Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg

When the I. st. war, the interest of European powers including defeated Germany turned to Russia. The signing of the Brest-Lithuania Peace Treaty in March 1918 was a signal for the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) to declare their independence from Russia, which annexed them to its territory in the 18th century.


At the same time, however, it was an area of interest in Germany. The territory of Lithuania during the First Vol. The war was occupied by German troops and now the Germans were considering the idea of annexing Lithuanian territory. In Estonia and Latvia, there was a relatively strong German minority (for example, in Estonia, the nobility and upper class of the vast majority were of German nationality), which was already related to the activities of the Teutonic Knights in the Middle Ages.


The territory of the Baltic states Russia ceded to Germany and Austria-Hungary in the framework of the Brest-Lithuanian negotiations. However, after the Bolsheviks consolidated their position in Russia itself, they turned their attention again to the Baltics, which they did not intend to just give up. To protect German interests in this area, Germany sent troops to the Baltics. Because the then German Minister of Defense Gustav Noske supported the Freikorps units (volunteer far-right paramilitary units composed mainly of war veterans) in every possible way, the choice fell on them.


In January 1919 he went to Lithuania VI. Reserve Corps, commanded by Major General Rüdiger Graf von der Goltz. He formulated the tasks of his church as follows:


1. to protect the interests of the Baltic Germans
2. Reconnect Poland to Germany
3. to restore the Russian monarchy


Air units were also to become part of this body. The largest of them was to fall under 1. Guards Reserve Division, specifically under its 2nd Infantry Brigade. The task of its formation was entrusted to Oblt. z. S. G. Sachsenberg. As an excellent commander and organizer, he accepted the role and enthusiastically set to work.


In early 1919, he began building a unit at the former airship base in Wainoden, which was officially called the Fliegerabteilung Ost, but was soon known as Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg.


The Kampfgeschwader was a volunteer unit, so Sachsenberg began to gather former war pilots around itself. First of all, of course, his two best friends Theo Osterkampa (32 victories., PlM) a Josefa Jacobs (48 v., PlM). However, the unit also served a number of other former aces, mostly pilots of his former Marine Jagdgeschwader e.g. Hans Goerth (7 v.), Gerhard Hubrich (12 v.), Alexander Zenses (19. v.) And Karl Scharon (8 v.).


Another task was to get weapons. Sachsenberg used his influence and promoted his favorite Junkers as the main armament of his unit. Already during World War II, these machines made a significant impression on them for their performance, advanced design, durability and reliability.


In February 1919, the pilots of Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg appeared in Jüterbog, where they took over 30 Junkers aircraft, including 15 J9 fighters ( DI) and 15 pieces of battle J8 ( Cl.I). The armament was further supplemented by fighter Fokkery D.VII and two-seat Rumplery C.IV.
The machines and pilots were divided into three squadrons:


Freiwilligen Flieger Abteilung FFA 413 - armed Rumplery C.IV, its task was to research and support for ground units
FFA 416 (sometimes also called Jagdstaffel 416) - armed with Junkers DI and [url = http : //forum.valka.cz] Fokkery D.VII[/url], its task was to fight for air superiority and protection against air attacks
FFA 417 (sometimes also called Schlachtstaffel) - armed Junkersy Cl.I, her the task was combat and bombing operations


The planes were navigated and, together with their crews and ground staff (a total of 700 men), set off by train to Curonia. So far, however, the construction of other squadrons, which later joined the Baltic troops. It was, for example, FFA 427 under the command of another holder of Pour le Mérite Bruno Loerzer (44 v.), Which in March joined Iron Division. Although these other air units also fell organizationally under Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg, they did in fact operate under the authority of the individual ground forces to which they provided support.


Gradually, the number of assigned aircraft also increased. Before the Treaty of Versailles of June 28, 1919 banned Germany from manufacturing military aircraft, Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg managed to take over a total of 47 Junkers DI and 44 Junkersů Cl.I.


Sachsenberg with his first contingent has so far joined the fighting in Lithuania, heading through Mittau (Jelgava) to conquer Riga. Unfortunately, nothing more is known about them. In general, it is only stated that the group quickly achieved air supremacy, both for the obsolete air armament of the enemy, and for its low air activity. It is not known that any member of the Kampfgeschwader achieved any air victory.


This is how Sachsenberg recalled the first encounter with the Bolshevik planes: "It was in April 1919, sometime at noon. Shortly before the first liberation of Riga. Suddenly, three single-seat Nieuports emerged from the clouds above our Peterfeld Airport near Mittau - with red stars on their wings. We immediately remembered a similar situation in which we were attacked by 80 British planes in Flanders in the eighteenth year and sprinkled machine guns from a height of 5-10 meters.
Alarm!
The serving squadron runs to its machines, the crews of anti-aircraft stations flee to their weapons ready to fire.
The planes drop to a height of five meters and then… land!
We captured the pilots and find out that the three men were to drop bombs on Mittau. However, the grandparents of one of them and the brother and sister of the second and third lived in the city. That made them run away. They wore old Lithuanian uniforms under their coveralls with decorations. ”[/I]


Encounters with enemy aircraft were therefore unique. The primary task of the Kampfgeschwader thus remained reconnaissance and combat operations, for the performance of which even Jasta 416, originally destined for the tasks of air combat, was transferred. However, due to the absence of enemy aircraft, its pilots also participated in raids on enemy ground units, during which especially the durable all-metal Junkers proved to be excellent.


After returning from the front, Sachsenberg described their qualities as follows: “Junkers' aircraft excelled above all expectations. The resistance of the machines to the effects of the weather is so excellent that it was possible to leave it standing for weeks in the open in the snow, rain and icing of the March season.
The waterproof tarpaulin covering the propeller and the engine provided sufficient protection. Because neither tents nor hangars were available, no aircraft other than the Junkers could be able to serve in Russia at that time.Weather resistance, exceptional speed and robust construction were the advantages that offset the minor disadvantages. During a crash and emergency landing, nothing serious usually happened.
Junkers aircraft with further development will undoubtedly become the number one combat type. "[/I]


Sachseberg himself apparently had no idea how prophetic his words would turn out to be.


Under pressure from the Treaty governments, which reluctantly watched German expansion in the Baltic region, Reich President Friedrich Ebert issued an order to end military operations. Volunteer units began to be withdrawn from the Baltics in September 1919. Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg then returned to Germany in December 1919 and the chapter of its operation was closed forever.


Basic data:


Commanding officer: Gotthard Sachsenberg (January - December 1919)


Formed by: Generalkommando des Garde-Korps (Berlin)


Number: 50 officers and 650 men


Combat lineup in February 1919:


FFA 413
FFA 416
FFA 417


Combat lineup in March 1919:


FFA 413
FFA 416
FFA 417
FFA 421
FFA 424
FFA 425
FFA 426
FFA 427
FFA 433



Sources:
HPM 10/1996
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6713
http://membres.lycos.fr/asduciel/
http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/...Gotthard_Sachsenberg
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