The 17. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division was formed in December 1942 in Luftgau VII (Munich). It was transferred to the Heer on 1 November 1943 and redesignated 17. Feld-Division (L). The division was deployed to Le Havre, France as an occupation and coastal defense force under the 15. Armee. In August 1944, the division withdrew from the coast and fought under the 5. Panzer-Armee in defense of Paris. It suffered heavy losses in the fighting with US 1st Army and was disbanded on 28 Sep 1944. The remnants of the division were used to form the 167. Volksgrenadier-Division.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Herbert Olbrich (25 Jan 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
Oberst Hans Korte (30 Oct 1943 - 5 Nov 1943)
Generalleutnant Hans-Kurt Höcker (5 Nov 1943 - 28 Sep 1944)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Major Gundolf Freiherr Schenk zu Schweinsberg (12 Feb 1943 - 1 Nov 1943)
Oberstleutnant Elmar Warning (1 Nov 1943 - 15 Sep 1944)

Area of operations

Germany (Dec 1942 - Jan 1943)
France (Jan 1943 - Sep 1944)

Order of battle

Stab der Division
Jäger-Regiment 33 (L)
Jäger-Regiment 34 (L)
Jäger-Regiment 47 (L)
Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 17 (L)
Artillerie-Regiment 17 (L)
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 17 (L)
Pionier-Bataillon 17 (L)
Nachrichten-Abteilung 17 (L)
Feldersatz-Bataillon 17 (L)
Versorgungstruppen 17 (L)

Sources used

Antonio Muñoz - Göring’s Grenadiers: The Luftwaffe Field Divisions, 1942-1945
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

Didier Lodieu - Combats sur la Seine