Sturzkampfgeschwader 2

Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2) Immelmann was a Luftwaffe dive bombing squadron wing of World War II. It was named after the World War I aviator Max Immelmann. It served until its dissolution in October 1943. The wing operated the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka exclusively. Formed on 1 May 1939, StG 2 fought in the German Invasion of Poland in September 1939 which started World War II. It formed part of Luftflotte 2 in May and June 1940 and supported Army Group A in the Battle of Belgium and Battle of France. StG 2 remained with Luftflotte 2 during the Battle of Britain, before transferring to southern Europe to participate in the Battle of the Mediterranean. In the south it mainly served in the maritime interdiction role as it bombarded Malta from January to March 1941. The wing then fought in the German invasion of Yugoslavia and Battle of Crete in April 1941 in the maritime, air interdiction, counter-air and close air support role alongside StG 1, StG 3 and StG 77. The Ju 87 groups were successful in the Battle of Crete, the final phase of the Greek campaign. Elements of the wing fought in the North African Campaign until January 1942. The bulk of StG 2 fought on the Eastern Front from 22 June 1941, when Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union began. It fought in support of all three army groups, and served in major battles such as the Siege of Leningrad, the Battle of Moscow and the Battle of Stalingrad in 1941 and 1942. StG 2 supported German forces in the Battle of Kursk, one of the last major German offensives on the Eastern Front in July 1943. The vulnerability of the Ju 87 and the loss of air superiority to the Red Air Force, precluded any further large-scale use of the aircraft in the traditional dive-bombing role. In October 1943, the Ju 87 units were renamed Schlachtgeschwader, battle wings, with a mixed number of Ju 87s and Focke-Wulf Fw 190s operating in the anti-tank role. Stab., I., and III./StG 2 was renamed Schlachtgeschwader 2 on the 18 October 1943, and ceased to exist. II.

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Related concepts (4)

Junkers Ju 87

The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka is a German dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, it first flew in 1935. The Ju 87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 and served the Axis in World War II from beginning to end (1939–1945). The aircraft is easily recognisable by its inverted gull wings and fixed spatted undercarriage.

Sturzkampfgeschwader 77

Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (StG 77) was a Luftwaffe dive bomber wing during World War II. From the outbreak of war StG 77 distinguished itself in every Wehrmacht major operation until the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. If the claims made by StG 77 are accurate, it inflicted more damage to enemy ground forces than any other wing. It operated the Junkers Ju 87 dive-bomber exclusively in the combat role. The Dornier Do 17 and Messerschmitt Bf 110 were both used in the air reconnaissance role.