Gebirgspio. Btl 54 bzw, Geb.J.Ers 98

[Besian B.]

I was just wondering whether this batallion attached to 1.st Geb.J Div. did pass through Albania during the retreat of '43 and '44. Any info is welcome. Thanks beforehand

[Besian B.]

Anybody

[W Petz]

The 1st Mountain Division was comprised of the 98th & 99th Regts, 79th Artillery Rgt, 54th Cyclist Bn, 54th Anti-Tank Bn, 54th Engr Bn, and the 54th Signal Bn. In March 1943 the 1st Mountain Div was in Northern Greece and was later sent to the Greco-Albanian Frontier. It was subsequently posted to Serbia and Montenegro. The Division was fighting south of Belgrade in October 1944 and ended the war as part of Army Group South in Styria surrendering to the Russians in 1945. Bill

Here is a Pic of a Gebirgsjaeger Pioneer in March 1943

[W Petz]

Here is a page on the early history of the unit out of a Photo album I have.

[Besian B.]

That's a lot of great info Bill, thank you so much for the hassle

[Besian B.]

Where did you get the first picture by the way?

[W Petz]

It came with the photo album...unfortnately someone picked the album almost clean..I found it in an Antique store in Heidelberg. Bill

[Yannis]

Wow Bill,

nice photo!!!

All the best
Yannis

[W Petz]

Hey Yannis,

Does the old gent bumming a cigarette from the Mountain Trooper look Greek to you???? - Bill

[Simon O.]

Bill

Can you do an enlarged scan of the soldier in the first photo?



Am i seeing things or isn't there a breast pocket on his jacket?

[Yannis]

Hey Yannis,

Does the old gent bumming a cigarette from the Mountain Trooper look Greek to you???? - Bill

Bill

close but no cigar!
I think he is one of our northern neighbours, my guess would be Montenegro but perhaps Albanian.

All the best
Yannis

[W Petz]

Simon,

It appears that he doesn't have a breast pocket on his tunic. - Bill

[Besian B.]

Bill

close but no cigar!
I think he is one of our northern neighbours, my guess would be Montenegro but perhaps Albanian.

All the best
Yannis

I second to that, however I don't believe he would be an Albanian, to me he seems more like that minority of slav Macedonians.

[Simon O.]

Thanks Bill

I'll go out on a limb here, what about that being a luftwaffe soldier? Perhaps a unit attached to or in the same area as 1 GJ?

It wouldn't be the first time i've seen LW personnel wearing the edelweiss

[W Petz]

Simon,

I don't think so...you can see that he has Heer insignia on his collar and more than likely he is wearing a drillich tunic without upper pockets. This photo came out of a Gebj Pioneer 54 photo album. I don't think they had Luftwaffe Gebj in the Greco-Albania area and not likely with this particular unit. Bill