Sturzkampfgeschwader 2

Sturzkampfgeschwader 2
Active	1 May 1939 – 18 October 1943
Country	Nazi Germany
Allegiance	Axis powers
Branch	Luftwaffe
Type	Dive bomber
Role	Close air support Offensive counter air Anti-tank warfare Air interdiction Maritime interdiction
Size	Air force wing
Nickname(s)	Immelmann
Patron	Max Immelmann
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Oskar Dinort Dr. Ernst Kupfer Paul-Werner Hozzel Hans-Karl Stepp
Insignia
Cuff title
Identification symbol	T6 (became SG 2 in 1943)

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./StG 2 continued, without redesignation, to operate until January 1944, when its staffeln (squadrons) were renamed and equipped.^{[clarification needed]}