jäger question

[I Marotto]

Hope this the right place.My question is as follows I know the Gebirgsjäger related to Mountain troops but what specifcally were the jäger units and how did the come about and what were the types? . I must plead ignorance.thanks...Ian

[Mark McShane]

Hope this the right place.My question is as follows I know the Gebirgsjäger related to Mountain troops but what specifcally were the jäger units and how did the come about and what were the types? . I must plead ignorance.thanks...Ian

Regular light infantry. The Wehrmacht had a set of light infantry divisions on a two regiment organisation, but otherwise pretty identical. If these came from the mountainous regions of Bavaria, or Austria, they were called Gebirgsjäger (these would also have special mountain guns). Otherwise they would just be leichte Divisionen (light divisions). There were five of these that were converted into Jägerdivisionen in summer 1942, 5., 8., 97., 100. and 101. leichte Division. Additionally, 28. ID was turned into 28. Jägerdivision.

The leichte Infanterie- (later Jägerdivisionen) were formed specifically for fighting in lower-lying wooded areas, where the specific mountaineer training and equipment was not required. This would probably explain the narrow organisation with only two regiments.

It is interesting to note though that all these divisions were formed in Bavaria, Czechia, or Austria, i.e. in parts of the Reich/occupation areas featuring a lot of broken and wooded terrain.

[I Marotto]

Thanks Mark for the reply thats what I was looking for

[ManuelR]

mark, you are missing 42,104,114,117 and 118 jager division.also you had the 1 skijager division. jager were superb troops allways in hot spots!
regards manuel
you can see the jager sleeve patch as my avatar.

[Simon O.]

I would also mention the 99 Le.Div. which became the 7 Geb.Div. and the independent Jäger Bataillone.



Simon