The German 5th Infantry Division (German: 5. Infanterie-Division) was formed in October 1934 and mobilized on 25 August 1939. The division's troops were garrisoned in Konstanz, Ulm, and Freiburg.[1] When formed, the division consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battalions of the 14th, 56th, and 75th Infantry Regiments, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 5th Artillery Regiment, the 1st battalion of the 41st Artillery Regiment, and assorted 5th Division support units.[1]
In April 1941, the division was sent to East Prussia and then took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, fighting in the vicinity of Vyazma until the end of the year, when the division was pulled back to France for a two-month refit.[2]
In 1942, the division returned to the Eastern Front, took part in the fighting around Demyansk in March and April 1942 and fought in the area of Staraja Russa until the close of 1943.[3][4]
In July 1942, the division was reorganized as a Jäger division and renamed the 5. Jäger-Division.[1]
The main purpose of the German Jäger Divisions was to fight in adverse terrain where smaller, coordinated units were more facilely combat capable than the brute force offered by the standard infantry divisions. The Jäger divisions were more heavily equipped than mountain division, but not as well armed as a larger infantry division. In the early stages of the war, they were the interface divisions fighting in rough terrain and foothills as well as urban areas, between the mountains and the plains. The Jägers (means hunters in German) relied on a high degree of training, and slightly superior communications, as well as their not inconsiderable artillery support. In the middle stages of the war, as the standard infantry divisions were downsized, the Jäger structure of divisions with two infantry regiments, became the standard table of organization.[5]
In 1943, Adolf Hitler declared that all infantry divisions were now Grenadier Divisions except for his elite Jäger and Mountain Jaeger divisions.[5]
Commanding officersedit
Generalmajor Eugen Hahn, 1 October 1934 – 10 August 1938
^ abMcoy, Breaker (2009). . Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
Article Sourcesedit
Hitler's Legions, Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr., Briarcliff Manor: Stein and Day, 1985.
Burkhard Müller-Hillebrand: Das Heer 1933–1945. Entwicklung des organisatorischen Aufbaues. Vol. III: Der Zweifrontenkrieg. Das Heer vom Beginn des Feldzuges gegen die Sowjetunion bis zum Kriegsende. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1969, p. 285.
Georg Tessin: Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg, 1939–1945. Vol. II: Die Landstreitkräfte 1–5. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1966.
January 01, 1970
jäger, division, wehrmacht, german, infantry, division, german, infanterie, division, formed, october, 1934, mobilized, august, 1939, division, troops, were, garrisoned, konstanz, freiburg, when, formed, division, consisted, battalions, 14th, 56th, 75th, infan. The German 5th Infantry Division German 5 Infanterie Division was formed in October 1934 and mobilized on 25 August 1939 The division s troops were garrisoned in Konstanz Ulm and Freiburg 1 When formed the division consisted of the 1st 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 14th 56th and 75th Infantry Regiments the 1st 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 5th Artillery Regiment the 1st battalion of the 41st Artillery Regiment and assorted 5th Division support units 1 5th Infantry Division5th Jager DivisionGerman 5 Infanterie Division5 Jager DivisionUnit insigniaActiveOctober 1934 8 May 1945Country Nazi GermanyBranch German ArmyTypeLight infantrySizeDivisionGarrison HQFreiburg The division sat out the Invasion of Poland on the western front and first saw battle with the Second Army during the Campaign for France in 1940 Thereafter the division was engaged in occupation duties in France until March 1941 1 In April 1941 the division was sent to East Prussia and then took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 fighting in the vicinity of Vyazma until the end of the year when the division was pulled back to France for a two month refit 2 In 1942 the division returned to the Eastern Front took part in the fighting around Demyansk in March and April 1942 and fought in the area of Staraja Russa until the close of 1943 3 4 In July 1942 the division was reorganized as a Jager division and renamed the 5 Jager Division 1 The division retreated through the areas of Vitebsk Kovel and Narev during 1944 In early 1945 the division fought in the vicinities of Neustettin and Dramburg with its last battles fought around Freienwalde near the Oder River during the Battle of Berlin in April 1945 The division surrendered to the Red Army at Wittenberge 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Commanding officers 3 See also 4 References 5 Article SourcesBackground editThe main purpose of the German Jager Divisions was to fight in adverse terrain where smaller coordinated units were more facilely combat capable than the brute force offered by the standard infantry divisions The Jager divisions were more heavily equipped than mountain division but not as well armed as a larger infantry division In the early stages of the war they were the interface divisions fighting in rough terrain and foothills as well as urban areas between the mountains and the plains The Jagers means hunters in German relied on a high degree of training and slightly superior communications as well as their not inconsiderable artillery support In the middle stages of the war as the standard infantry divisions were downsized the Jager structure of divisions with two infantry regiments became the standard table of organization 5 In 1943 Adolf Hitler declared that all infantry divisions were now Grenadier Divisions except for his elite Jager and Mountain Jaeger divisions 5 Commanding officers editGeneralmajor Eugen Hahn 1 October 1934 10 August 1938 Generalleutnant Wilhelm Fahrmbacher August 1938 25 October 1940 Generalmajor Karl Allmendinger 25 October 1940 renamed to 5 leichte Infanterie Division General der Infanterie Karl Allmendinger November 1940 June 1942 Oberst Walter Jost June 1942 redesignated to 5 Jager Division General der Infanterie Karl Allmendinger July 1942 4 January 1943 General der Infanterie Helmut Thumm 4 January 1943 1 March 1944 Generalmajor Johannes Gittner 1 March 1944 30 June 1944 General der Infanterie Helmut Thumm 30 June 1944 1 November 1944 Generalleutnant Friedrich Sixt 1 November 1944 19 April 1945 Generalleutnant Edmund Blaurock 19 April 1945 April 1945See also editOrder of battle of the German Ninth Army October 1941References edit a b c d Tessin p 288 Tessin pp 288 289 a b Tessin p 289 Mitcham p 320 a b Mcoy Breaker 2009 German Army 101st Light Division 101st Jager Division 1941 42 Archived from the original on 29 June 2009 Retrieved 3 April 2009 Article Sources editHitler s Legions Samuel W Mitcham Jr Briarcliff Manor Stein and Day 1985 Burkhard Muller Hillebrand Das Heer 1933 1945 Entwicklung des organisatorischen Aufbaues Vol III Der Zweifrontenkrieg Das Heer vom Beginn des Feldzuges gegen die Sowjetunion bis zum Kriegsende Mittler Frankfurt am Main 1969 p 285 Georg Tessin Verbande und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939 1945 Vol II Die Landstreitkrafte 1 5 Mittler Frankfurt am Main 1966 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 5th Jager Division Wehrmacht amp oldid 1205381527, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
