Gebirgsjäger

Gebirgsjäger (German pronunciation: [ɡəˈbɪʁksˌjɛːɡɐ]) are the light infantry part of the alpine or mountain troops (Gebirgstruppe) of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The word Jäger (meaning "hunter" or "huntsman") is a characteristic term used for light-infantry or light-infantryman in a continental European military context.

German Gebirgsjäger during a climbing exercise

Origins

The mountain infantry of Austria have their roots in the three Landesschützen regiments of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The mountain infantry of Germany carry on certain traditions of the Alpenkorps (Alpine corps) of World War I. Both countries' mountain infantry share the Edelweiß insignia. It was established in 1907 as a symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Landesschützen regiments by Emperor Franz Joseph I. These troops wore their edelweiss on the collar of their uniforms. When the Alpenkorps came to aid the Landesschützen in defending Austria-Hungary's southern frontier against the Italian attack in May 1915, the grateful Landesschützen honoured the men of the Alpenkorps by awarding them their own insignia: the edelweiss. Together with the Fallschirmjäger (Paratroopers) they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army.

Gebirgsjäger in World War II
Gebirgsjäger group in late 1942 during the Battle of the Caucasus.
See also: List of German divisions in World War II § Mountain divisions, and Waffen-SS divisions

During World War II the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS raised a number of mountain infantry units.

An entire corps was formed in Norway by 1941. Its divisions were lightly equipped, with much of the transport provided by mules. These mountain infantry were equipped with fewer automatic weapons than regular infantry, however the MG 34 or MG 42 machine gunners were provided with more ammunition than their regular infantry counterparts.[1] Mountain infantry were identified by the edelweiss insignia worn on their sleeves and their caps.

Mountain infantry participated in many battles, including Operation Weserübung, Operation Silver Fox, Operation Platinum Fox and Operation Arctic Fox, the operations in the Caucasus, the Gothic Line, the invasion of Crete and the battles in the Vosges region of France. Special equipment was made for them including the G33/40 mauser rifle based on the VZ.33 rifle.

Heer (Army) Mountain units

Waffen SS Mountain units

Gebirgsjäger in the modern German forces
The coat of arms of the Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23 shows an Edelweiß as the traditional symbol for the German mountain soldiers

Honouring tradition, upon the creation of the Bundeswehr in 1956, the mountain infantry returned as a distinctive arm of the West German army. Until 2001, they were organized as the 1. Gebirgsdivision, but this division was disbanded in a general reform. The successor unit is Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23 which has its headquarters in Bad Reichenhall. The battalions of these mountain infantry are deployed in southern Bavaria as this is the only high mountain area in Germany touching the Northern Alps. Since 2008 the unit is officially called "Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23 Bayern (Bavaria)" as a commendation of the close relationship between the state and the Gebirgsjäger.

According to the official Bundeswehr website, the brigade has a current strength of 6,500 soldiers.[2]

A German Gebirgsjäger wearing the formal uniform with the characteristic clothes and boots

Traditions

The soldiers of the mountain infantry wear a grey cap (Bergmütze) with an edelweiß on its left side, stem to the front. This distinguishes them from all other German army soldiers who wear berets and the Austrian army, whose edelweiß has its stem to the back. The formal uniform, which is based on traditional alpine mountain climbing trekking outfits (Berganzug), is also different from the standard mainstream German army uniform, and consists of a light-weight grey ski blouse (Skibluse), black Stirrup trousers (Keilhose) or especially during the summer periods "Culottes" knee-breeches (kniebundhose) similar to knickerbockers, and ankle-height mountaineering boots (Bergstiefel) or dual-use mountaineering ski boots. A soldier is allowed to wear the edelweiß on the forage cap after he has completed the "Edelweißmarsch". This honor is only allowed for the mountain infantry.

German Gebirgsjäger traditionally share a very close comradeship and distinct esprit de corps. There is also a special perception of discipline which can for example be seen in a relatively informal relationship between officers and soldiers during normal day duty.

Tasks of the German Gebirgsjäger

The main tasks of the German mountain infantry are:

  • Warfare in extreme weather conditions
  • Winter warfare
  • Warfare in urban terrain
  • Warfare in arctic, mountain and desert terrain
    Organisation Picture w/NATO icons for German 23 Mountain Brigade.

23rd Gebirgsjägerbrigade
Main article: Structure of the German Army

The structure of the 23rd Gebirgsjägerbrigade is as of May 2020:

  • 23rd Gebirgsjäger Brigade (Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23), in Bad Reichenhall
    • Staff and Signal Company 23rd Gebirgsjäger Brigade, in Bad Reichenhall
    • 230th Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion (Gebirgsaufklärungsbataillon 230), in Füssen with Fennek reconnaissance vehicles and KZO drones
    • 231st Gebirgsjäger Battalion (Gebirgsjägerbataillon 231), in Bad Reichenhall with GTK Boxer armoured personnel carriers
    • 232nd Gebirgsjäger Battalion (Gebirgsjägerbataillon 232), in Bischofswiesen with Bv206S
    • 233rd Gebirgsjäger Battalion (Gebirgsjägerbataillon 233), in Mittenwald with Bv206S
    • 8th Mountain Engineer Battalion (Gebirgspionierbataillon 8), in Ingolstadt
    • 8th Mountain Supply Battalion (Gebirgsversorgungsbataillon 8), in Füssen
    • 230th Mountain Pack Animal Operations and Training Center (Einsatz- und Ausbildungszentrum für Gebirgstragtierwesen 230), in Bad Reichenhall

Mountain units which are not part of the Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23:

  • Mountain and Winter Combat Training Base (Ausbildungsstützpunkt Gebirgs- und Winterkampf), in Mittenwald

As the Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23 is part of the so-called stabilisation forces (Stabilisierungskräfte), it lacks any accompanying artillery. Mortar support is provided by the Schwere Jägerkompanie (heavy infantry company) in every mountain infantry battalion.

Equipment and organization
A Bv 206S as a medical transporter. The 206S is the standard transport vehicle of the German mountain infantry

A mountain infantry battalion consists of about 900 soldiers in five companies. One company is responsible for staff and support duties and has a "Hochgebirgsjägerzug" (special platoon for high mountain fight and reconnaissance) at its disposal. Three companies are consisting of classical mountain infantry, another one is a heavy company which is equipped with the Wiesel AWC for mortar support, tank defence and supporting cannon fire with 20 mm guns. Two of the three mountain infantry battalions are equipped with the Hägglund 206S, one with the GTK Boxer.

Gebirgsjäger in the modern Austrian forces

Today the traditions of the Austrian mountain infantry are maintained by the 6th Jägerbrigade in western Austria

Units

List of active mountain infantry in the Austrian Armed Forces as of 2013:

  • 6th Jägerbrigade
    • Brigadekommando (HQ) in Absam
    • Stabsbataillon 6 (HQ battalion) in Innsbruck
    • Jägerbataillon 23 (Mountain infantry battalion) in Bludesch
    • Jägerbataillon 24 (Mountain infantry battalion) in Lienz
    • Jägerbataillon 26 (Mountain infantry battalion) in Spittal
    • Pionierbataillon 2 (Combat engineer battalion) in Salzburg

Gebirgsjäger in the modern Swiss forces

Notable members

Also see Alpenkorps for the World War I era unit.

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See also

Similar units

References
  1. Staff (March 1944). "Some Notes on German Mountain Warfare". Intelligence Journal. 2 (7). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  2. Staff (2020). "Heer". German Bundeswehr (in German). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
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