5.Gebirgsjäger-Division

Lineage

  • 5.Gebirgsjäger-Division

Campaigns

  • Greece, Crete 1941
  • Occupation of Crete 1941-1942
  • Eastern Front 1942-1943
  • Italian Front 1943-1944
  • Western Front 1944-1945

History

WW2 German 5th Gebirgsjager Division EmblemThe 5.Gebirgsjäger-Division was formed in the Autumn of 1940 with the100.Gebirgs-Regiment from the 1.Gebirgsjäger-Division. At thetime, the 1.Gebirgsjäger-Division had three Gebirgs-Regimenter, andthe third was detached and supplied for the creation of the 5.Gebrigsjäger-Division.The 10.Infanterie-Division also supplied the85.Infanterie-Regiment when it was upgraded to a motorized division. Theother units of this Division were supplied from both the 1.Gebirgsjäger-Division andthe 10.Infanterie-Division.

Initially, the 5.Gebirgsjäger-Division was inactive in Germany for manymonths until it was posted to take part in the invasion of Greece in March of 1941.After operations in Greece, the Division was airlanded into Crete where it tookpart in the battles to secure the island from the British that had retreatedfrom Greece. The Division played a significant role in helping to securethe island from the Allies.

After the Battle for Crete and occupation duties, the Division was postedback to Germany for rest and refitting. After time in Germany, the 5.Gebirgsjäger-Divisionwas sent to the Eastern Front to take part in operations against Leningrad in the Volkhov region.Specifically, in March 1942 the division arrived in the Leningrad areawhere it was toremain until November 1943. During that timethe division was used essentially as a “fire brigade” for the 18th Armee,serving atvarious times on the Volchov front, near Mga, near Schlüsselburg, andonthe Neva near Kolopino.

After nearly a year on the Eastern Front, the Division was moved to Italyand in December 1943 the 5th arrived on the “Gustav Line” near Cassino.Late in the War theDivision fought in the mountain region between France and Italy and thensurrendered to the Americans near Turin in May, 1945.

Organization

Order of Battle 1941
Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85
Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100
Gebirgsjäger-Artillerie-Regiment 95
Gebirgs-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 95
Gebirgs-Aufklarüng-Abteilung 95
Gebirgs-Pionier-Abteilung 95
Gebirgs-Nachrichten-Abteilung 95
Gebirgs-Sanitäts-Abteulung 95
Gebirgs-Feldersatz-Bataillon 95

Radfahr-Abteilung 95 and Panzerjäger-Abteilung 95 wereexchanged for Radfahr-Abteilung 68and the Panzerjäger-Abteilung 48from the 3.Gebirgsjäger-Division. Both unitsfrom the 3.Gebirgsjäger-Divisionnever actually joined the Division though, and they soon both becameArmeetruppen. Later, another Panzerjäger-Abteilung 95 was formed andadded to the Division.

War Service

DatesKorpsArmeeArmeegruppArea
10.40formingWehrkreis XVIIIHome
11.40 – 2.41XVIII2. ArmeeCHome
3.41 – 10.41XVIII12. ArmeeGreece, Crete
11.41refreshingBdEWehrkreis VHome
12.41 – 3.42BdEWehrkreis VII and XVIIIHome
4.42I18. ArmeeNordLeningrad, Volkhov
5.42 – 7.42L18. ArmeeNordLeningrad, Volkhov
8.42XXVIII18. ArmeeNordLeningrad, Volkhov
9.42XXVI18. ArmeeNordLeningrad, Volkhov
10.42XXVI11. ArmeeNordLeningrad, Volkhov
11.42XXX18. ArmeeNordLeningrad, Volkhov
12.42 – 3.43LIV18. ArmeeNordLeningrad, Volkhov
4.43 – 11.43XXVI18. ArmeeNordLeningrad, Volkhov
12.43reserve10. ArmeeCUpper Italy
1.44 – 5.44XIV10. ArmeeCItaly (south of Rome)
6.44 – 7.44LI10. ArmeeCItaly
8.44reserveArmee LigurienCWestern Alps
9.44 – 4.45LXXVArmee LigurienCWestern Alps