X. Fliegerkorps German 10th Air Corps |
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Flag of a commanding general of a Fliegerkorps |
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Active | 2 October 1939 – 5 September 1944 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Air Force |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Martin Fiebig |
X. Fliegerkorps[Notes 1] (10th Air Corps) was a formation of the German Luftwaffe in World War II, which specialised in coastal operations. It was formed 2 October 1939, in Hamburg from the 10. Flieger-Division.
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The Corps was stationed in north Germany in February 1940 when some of its aircraft were involved in a disastrous friendly fire incident that terminated the Kriegsmarine's Operation Wikinger.[References 1]
In early 1941, X. Fliegerkorps was transferred from Norway to Sicily to support the build-up of the Afrika Korps in Libya. At this time, it had some 260 first-line aircraft, mostly Junkers Ju 87 ("Stuka") dive-bombers and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. It was prominent in the axis effort to suppress British interference with the supply routes from Italy by reducing Malta's effectiveness as a forward base.[References 2]
Stationed in Greece after 1941, the Corps was crucial in securing air superiority and German victory during the 1943 Dodecanese Campaign. The Corps was renamed to Kommandierender General der Deutschen Luftwaffe in Griechenland (commanding general of the German Luftwaffe in Greece) in March 1944 and disbanded on 5 September 1944 with the withdrawal of German forces from the country.
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