The 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division was formed in Reims, France, in October 1943. It fought the Allied landings in Normandy as a part of II. Fallschirm-Korps and suffered heavy losses, it was nearly destroyed in the Falaise pocket. The remaining elements retreated to Aachen  and it was rebuilt in Belgium September to October though parts of it saw action in Arnhem as Kampfgruppe Becker.
It took part in the offensive in the Ardennes and the fighting in western Germany where it again suffered heavy losses. It was rebuilt at Niederbreisig and finally surrendered in the Ruhr pocket.

Commanders

Generalmajor Walter Barenthin (13 Sep 1943 - 14 Feb 1944)
Generalleutnant Richard Schimpf (17 Feb 1944 - 20 Aug 1944)
General der Fallschirmtruppen Eugen Meindl (20 Aug 1944 - 22 Aug 1944)
Generalmajor Walter Wadehn (22 Aug 1944 - 5 Jan 1945)
Generalleutnant Richard Schimpf (5 Jan 1945 - 1 Mar 1945)
Oberst Helmut Hoffmann (1 Mar 1945 - 8 Mar 1945)
Oberst Karl-Heinz Becker (8 Mar 1945 - 8 Apr 1945)

Area of operations

France (Oct 1943 - Sep 1944)
Netherlands (Sep 1944 - Dec 1944)
Ardennes (Dec 1944 - Jan 1945)
Germany & Ruhr pocket (Jan 1945 - Apr 1945)

Order of battle

Staff
- Staff
- Staff Company
- Bicycle Reconnaissance Company
5. Fallschirmjäger Regiment
- Staff
- Signals Platoon
- Bicycle Reconnaissance Company
- 3 x Battalion (mot)
-- Staff Company
-- Signals Platoon
-- 3 x Company
-- Heavy Company
- Infantry Gun Company (mot)
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
- Pioneer Company (mot)
8. Fallschirmjäger Regiment
- Staff
- Signals Platoon
- Bicycle Reconnaissance Company
- 3 x Battalion (mot)
-- Staff Company
-- Signals Platoon
-- 3 x Company
-- Heavy Company
- Infantry Gun Company (mot)
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
- Pioneer Company (mot)
9. Fallschirmjäger Regiment
- Staff
- Signals Platoon
- Bicycle Reconnaissance Company
- 3 x Battalion (mot)
-- Staff Company
-- Signals Platoon
-- 3 x Company
-- Heavy Company
- Infantry Gun Company (mot)
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
- Pioneer Company (mot)
3. Fallschirmjäger Artillery Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Battery (mot)
- Signals Platoon (mot)
- 3 x Battery
3. Fallschirmjäger Flak Battalion
- Staff
- Signals Platoon (mot)
- Light Supply Column (mot)
- 3 x Heavy Flak Battery (mot)
- 2 x Flak Battery (self propelled)
3. Fallschirmjäger Panzerjäger Battalion
- Staff
- Signals Platoon (mot)
- 3 x Company
3. Fallschirmjäger Pioneer Battalion
- Staff
- Signals Platoon (mot)
- 4 x Company (mot)
- Light Supply Column (mot)
3. Fallschirmjäger Signals Battalion
- Signals Company (mot)
- Radio Company (mot)
- Supply Column (mot)
Supply Troops

Soldiers of I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9 with a Tiger II from s.SS-Pz.Abt. 501 in Belgium 1944

(Courtesy of Ralph)

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 -