V. Fliegerkorps (5th Air Corps) was formed 11 October 1939 in Gersthofen from the 5. Flieger-Division. The Corps was transferred to Brussels on 30 November 1941 with the intention to transform it into a mine laying corps. The plan was disbanded and half of the Stab was transferred to Mariupol in December 1941 and was renamed Sonderstab Krim (Special Stab Crimea). The other half was transferred to Smolensk and formed the Luftwaffenkommando Ost in April 1942.