Gerhard Bassenge

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Gerhard Bassenge
Born	18 November 1897 Ettlingen, Grand Duchy of Baden
Died	13 March 1977(1977-03-13) (aged 79) Lübeck, Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Aviation
Years of service	1914–47
Rank	Generalmajor
Unit	Jagdstaffel 5 Jagdstaffel 2 Luftflotte 2 Luftflotte 5
Commands	19th Luftwaffe Field Division
Battles / wars	World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain North African Campaign
Awards	1914 Iron Cross

Gerhard Bassenge was a general in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II. In the inter-war period, he worked at the Reich Air Ministry and was one of the German officers most responsible for training the first German paratroopers.

Bassenge was Chief of Staff of Luftflotte 2 as it was part of the Blitzkrieg into the Netherlands, Belgium, and France in 1940. He became Chief of Staff of Luftflotte 5 in Norway while it flew into the northern British isles in the Battle of Britain. After being part of a Luftwaffe mission to Romania, he took part in the North African Campaign in 1941 – 1943. He was captured there on 9 May 1943, and was held prisoner of war until 2 October 1947.