The 4. Fallschirmjäger-Division was formed in Venice, Italy, in November 1943 from elements of 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division with the addition of volunteers from the Italian parachute divisions 184. Parachutist Division Nembo and 185. Parachutist Division Folgore.
It was sent into action against the Allied landings at Anzio (Operation Shingle) as part of I. Fallschirm-Korps in January 1944. It fought the Allied forces in Italy until the surrender in May 1945 in the area between Viacenza and Bozen.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Heinrich Trettner (4 Oct 1943 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations

Italy (Oct 1943 - May 1945)

Order of battle

Staff
- Staff
- Motorcycle Company
- Military Police Troop (mot)
10. Fallschirmjäger Regiment
- Staff
- Signals Platoon
- Bicycle Reconnaissance Company
- 3 x Battalion (mot)
-- Staff
-- Signals Platoon
-- 3 x Company
-- Heavy Company
- Mortar Company (mot)
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
- Pioneer Company (mot)
11. Fallschirmjäger Regiment
- Staff
- Signals Platoon
- Bicycle Reconnaissance Company
- 3 x Battalion (mot)
-- Staff
-- Signals Platoon
-- 3 x Company
-- Heavy Company
- Mortar Company (mot)
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
- Pioneer Company (mot)
12. Fallschirmjäger Regiment
- Staff
- Signals Platoon
- Bicycle Reconnaissance Company
- 3 x Battalion (mot)
-- Staff
-- Signals Platoon
-- 3 x Company
-- Heavy Company
- Mortar Company (mot)
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
- Pioneer Company (mot)
4. Fallschirmjäger Mortar Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Company (mot)
- 3 x Company
4. Fallschirmjäger Panzerjäger Battalion
- Staff
- Signals Platoon
- 3 x Company (mot)
4. Fallschirmjäger Artillery Regiment
- Staff
- 3 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- Staff Battery (mot)
-- 3 x Battery
4. Fallschirmjäger Flak Battalion
- Staff
- Heavy Supply Column
- 3 x Battery (mot)
- 2 x Battery (self propelled)
4. Fallschirmjäger Pioneer Battalion
- Staff
- Signals Platoon (mot)
- 4 x Pioneer Company
4. Fallschirmjäger Signals Battalion
- Signals Company (mot)
- Radio Company (mot)
- Supply Column (mot)
Supply Troops

Fallschirmjäger at Nettuno

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3 0 Germany)

Fallschirmjäger at Nettuno

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3 0 Germany)

Major Walter Gericke inspecting soldiers from Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 11 in Italy September 1943

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Sources used

Chris Ellis - 7th Flieger Division: Student's Fallschirmjäger Elite
James Lucas - Storming Eagles: German Airborne forces in World War II

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -