SS Gebirgsjäger Schule Neustift

[MJC]

Members,

I am collecting information on SS Gebirgsjägerschule and Hochgebirgeschule and I am looking for pictures, postcards, training regimen, etc., especially of Neustift in the Stubaital, south of Innsbruck. Any references to other resources will be helpful. All help is greatly appreciated, and no information is too mundane.

I have seen the pic in Wenn alle Brüder Schweigen. Thanks in advance.

Mike

[bhholst]

Hello Mike.

I hope the following is of some help:
Kurt Mehner in his reference book "Die Waffen-SS und Polizei 1939-1945" lists
-Hochgebirgsschule der Waffen-ss in existence from 15.Sep.1942 to 1945. Organised in Kommando Stab, Stabskompanie and 5 Lehrabteilungen in Neustift in the Stubaital (Tirol). Commander until 9.Nov. 1944 SS-Ostubaf. Eberhard Quirsfeld
-Gebirgsjaegerschule der Waffen-ss
from 15.Sep.1942 to May 1945. Same commander as above.
My guess would be these two schools are the same with a change in name and possibly adjustment to subjects being taught.
Mehner also lists a Gebirgskampfschule der Waffen-SS Predazzo (no further explanation of location (Italy?)from 1.Mar.1945 to 1945 (indicating the end of the war.0 Comander SS-Stubaf. Luis Schintlholzer.
Bernhard H.Holst

[BergführerKiser]

Servus Mike,

Though my focus is primarily Army Gebirgstruppen, I do have some W-SS resources. You should get a copy of "Gebirgsjäger im Bild: 6.SS Gebirgsdivision Nord 1940-1945" by Alfred Steurich (ISBN: 3-921242-25-8). It has 15 pages of photos of the school in Stubaital. I have skied, climbed and hiked in that area many times during my 10 years in Germany. According to the book, the SS Hochgebirgsschule, later known as the Gebirgsjäger-Schule, provided regular mountain training and special training courses. I'm sure that the training was the same as the Heeres Hochgebirgsjägerschule.

Mit einem kameradschaftliche Horrido!

Patrick

[MJC]

Neustift im Stubaital

Bernhard and Patrick,

I just got back in town so please excuse my belated thanks for your posts.
Bernhard, I did not know about Predazzo. There is small town of that name SE of Bolzano (Bozen) and your Quirsfeld and Schintlholzer data is a good initial point for me, thanks.

Patrick, I've ordered Steurich's book from a German bookseller and it should arrive in 6-8 "short" weeks. I am envious of your years in Germany. I get to go fairly often on business, but rarely for more than a week at a time. I'll be in Innsbruck in a few weeks and I thought I would head down to Neustift and see the community. As you are familiar with the area, do you happen to know if anything remains of the old Schule?

Lastly and slightly off topic, did Polizei mountain troops train amongst their HEER and SS counterparts, or did they have speciality schools of their own?

Thanks and Best Regards,

Mike