Gebirgsjager FJ

[Perry Floyd]

Another odd pic..

[John Hodgin]

Norway Perry,

They were rapidly trained and combat jumped!

Best,
John

[Perry Floyd]

Since they were rapidly trained I take it they never were jump qualifyed?

[John Hodgin]

No, I think they were. How cool would that be, a jump badge document to a mountain trooper!

[Perry Floyd]

Hard to sell unless it was the right collector
John do you know of any other instance where mountain troops jumped in?

[werner geier]

another odd one. anybody there to solve the riddle?

<img src="http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=2328643" width=500 height=793>

[John Hodgin]

Brandenburg I imagine Werner.

Perry, Eric is the go to guy for these. I think he has photos and good information. Since they are not Luftwaffe, my knowledge is scant, but I need to rectify this and commit more to memory.

[werner geier]

lt. georg hoffmann, from the newly formed 1. skijäger-brigade, russia 1944. a "sonderuniform" was issued to underline the elite-status of this unit.

[Willi Z.]

That is a superb photo Werner! Is it safe to assume, at this point, that members of that unit were issued jump helmets for skiing? Or for their elite status?

On the GJ at Narvik issue, I always thought that they only received some quick ground training, as in an orientation. As compared to a full jump certified course. I could be completely off base here. Would provide an interesting discussion.

Willi

[werner geier]

willi,
you are right, the fj helmet was chosen as it did fit a skiers needs best (some say to attract more people to this unit). the skijäger also carried the gravity knife, their gasmask in a clothbag (an anti-noise measure) and the mp-44 as their main weapon. all in all they were one of the best equipped wh-units at that time.

mirowiczy bridgehead. the jump helmet seems to be issued to the stammpersonal only. replacements received the standard model.

<img src="http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=2329772" width=520 height=389>


pripjet swamps. the fieldcap remained the jäger´s favourite headgear though.

<img src="http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=2329600" width=520 height=412>

[John Hodgin]

Fascinating Werner. Never knew the skijaeger wore M-38 helmets or used cloth gasmask bags. Did you Willi? Werner, do you have more photos? Obviously they wore M-42 helmets along with the M-38's. Great photos!

Regards,
John

[werner geier]

john,
these are the only two pics i found showing the fj helmet. essensträger at mirowiczy and nachrichtenzug at annopol. another oddity: many skijäger m-38´s had luftwaffe decals. see the hint of the lw-decal wingtip on the helmet of lt. hoffmann (above).

<img src="http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=2334515" width=448 height=532>

<img src="http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=2334560" width=632 height=516>

[GJR100]

Hi All,

About the Fallschirm-GJ there was a thread about this subject. The trained members were fully quallified for jumping.

Bart

[werner geier]

skijäger-p.s.

these replacements at a decoration ceremony already have been issued the m-42, but still wear the stug-jackets. note the skijäger-insignia on the officers´fieldcaps.

<img src="http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=2334710" width=632 height=402>

[John Hodgin]

Hello Werner,

Many thanks for the additional photos!

Are there good books about the actions of the Skijaeger? For a long time my military history reading has focused solely on Luftwaffe Fj, but I would like to learn more of the Skijaeger, and I think other members would too. This also makes me think we need an 'Elite Unit' section for the Skijaeger, Brandenburg, the different Sonderverband, etc.. Willi, do you think this would be good? I believe there would be a lot of interest.

Thanks for the link Bart! It's good to know I remembered correctly, and that I'm not senile yet! Hey Perry, read that link!

Willi, I still can't figure how to umlaut 'a's with this machine. I can a ü, see, but the dang thing gives me an å over an a, what the heck is that? Swedish? Perhaps I should read the manual

Regards,
John