Ostfront Intelligence Handbook

Small units of mountain troops were formed in the First World War when the continuous trench lines extended from the Swiss mountains to the sea. They were specialists in mountain warfare with light equipment and packhorses to carry heavy weapons and ammunition where vehicles can’t reach.

Germany formed its first Gebirgsdivision or mountain division in 1938 from the Bavarian Gebirgsbrigade. In the same year it gained two more when it invaded Austria and absorbed its army. Late in 1941, it formed another batch of four mountain divisions.
 
Gebirgsjager boarding a JU-52 on their way to Crete Gebirgsdivision Organisation

A Gebirgsdivision is a basically a normal Infanteriedivision (infantry division) with only two infantry regiments instead of three. Each of the seven mountain divisions had a slightly different organisation, but they were the same in many respects. Each battalion had three rifle companies, a heavy company, and a number of support platoons in the battalion HQ Company.
 
Gebirgsjäger in Flames Of War

To field Gebirgskompanie use an Eastern Front Grenadierkompanie (page 60 of Eastern Front), or Gebirgspionierkompanie use the Pioneirkompanie (page 66 of Eastern Front) Intelligence Briefings as the basis for your force. During the mid war period the majority of Gebirgsdivisons served in the theatres covered by Eastern Front. 5. Gebirgsdivision fought in Crete and then late in 1943 in Italy. See the Gebirgsdivision summaries below for further guidance on which book to use.

Edelweiss flower badge found on the upper right arm of Gebirgsjager tunics Gebirgsjäger are Mountaineers (Page 61 Flames Of War).

The exact composition of the HQ and heavy companies varied, but they generally contained a mix of five to seven machine-gun, mortar, light infantry gun, and pioneer platoons. This left the regiment with an anti-tank company, a scout platoon, and in some cases, a heavy infantry gun platoon.

Mountain troops often broke up some of their machine-gun platoons to directly support rifle companies in broken mountainous country. You may add a Machine-gun Section of two HMG teams to your Company HQ platoon for +65 points. You may not add a Mortar Section if you do this.

 
7.5cm GebG36
The biggest difference between a Gebirgsjägerkompanie (mountain infantry company) and a Grenadierkompanie in Flames Of War is the option of fielding 7.5cm GebG36, 10.5cm GebH40 mountain guns or 10.5cm LG40 recoilless guns in place of 10.5cm leFH18 howitzers in an artillery battery.

The 7.5cm GebG36 mountain gun and 10.5cm LG40 recoilless guns are the same ones used by the Fallschirmjäger in Eastern Front and North Africa. They have the following characteristics:
 
 
Name
Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
7.5cm GebG36 gun Medium 16”/40cm 2 9 3+ Smoke
   firing bombardments   72”/180cm
-
3
6
Smoke bombardments
 
A battery with two gun sections (four guns) costs 170 points, while a battery with one gun section (two guns) costs 90 points. This includes packhorses to carry the guns (treat them as horse-drawn limbers). You may add pack mules for +5 points. You can replace these with Kettenkrad tractors at no cost. You may add Gun Shields for +5 points for the platoon which makes the guns Heavy.

You may upgrade your 7.5cm GebG36 mountain gun to 10.5cm LG40 recoilless guns fpor +30 points per Gun section. 

Name
Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
10.5cm LG40 recoilless gun Light 16”/40cm 1
10
2+ Breakthrough gun, Gun shield, Smoke, Recoilless.
   firing bombardments   64”/160cm -
4
4+
 
 

The 10.5cm GebH40 is very similar to the 10.5cm leFH18, but is lighter and lacks a gun shield. A battery with two gun sections (four guns) costs the same as an Artillery Battery on page 87 of Eastern Front. You may add pack mules for +5 points (instead horse-drawn limbers and wagon). You may replace the packhorses with Kettenkrad tractors at no cost.

 

Name
Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
10.5cm GebH40 gun Heavy 24”/60cm 1
10 2+ Breakthrough gun, Smoke
    firing bombardments   72”/180cm -
4
4+
Smoke bombardments
 
Divisional Histories

1. Gebirgsdivision 1. Gebirgsdivision

1. Gebirgsdivision was formed from the Bavarian Gebirgsbrigade in 1938. It fought in the Carpathian Mountains in the Polish campaign and took part in the invasions of France and Yugoslavia.

It fought on the southern flank of the Eastern Front, fighting at Kiev, Stalino, the Dnepr crossing, and Kharkov, before  moving into the Caucasus in Plan Blue. After the defeat at Stalingrad it spent time in Greece  and Serbia before retreating to Austria at the war’s end.

The division had 98. and 99. Gebirgsjägerregimenter (mountain infantry regiments) and 79. Gebirgsartillerieregiment (mountain artillery regiment).


2. Gebirgsdivision 2. Gebirgsdivision

2. Gebirgsdivision was nicknamed the  ‘Rentier-Division’ (Reindeer Division). It was formed in 1938 from the Austrian 6th Federal (mountain) Division. The division fought in Poland and in 1940 it took part in the invasion of Norway.

The division took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union, fighting on the northern sector of the front until 1944 when it was sent to Denmark. It later fought on the Western Front and ended the war in southern Germany.

The division had 136. and 137. Gebirgsjägerregimenter (mountain infantry regiments) and 111. Gebirgsartillerieregiment (mountain artillery regiment).

   
3. Gebirgsdivision 3. Gebirgsdivision

3. Gebirgsdivision was formed from the 5th and 7th divisions of the Austrian army soon after the 1938 invasion of that country. It fought in Poland and Norway. The division took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union and attempted to take the artic port of Murmansk but was repulsed by Soviet counterattacks.

It later fought on the southern sector of the Eastern Front and took part in the failed attempt to relieve the German forces at Stalingrad. It retreated through Hungary, Slovakia and ended the war in Southern Silesia.

The division had 138. and 139. Gebirgsjägerregimenter (mountain infantry regiments) and 112. Gebirgsartillerieregiment (mountain artillery regiment).


4. Gebirgsdivision 4. Gebirgsdivision

4. Gebirgsdivision was nicknamed the ‘Enzian-Division’, the Gentian division, after the mountain flower that was the divisional symbol. It was formed in October 1940 from infantry regiments left over when new Panzer divisions were formed from infantry divisions. The Enzian-Division fought in Yugoslavia and then in southern Russia.

On 21 August 1942, troops from this division stood on the peak of the 5,633 metre high Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus, one of the furthest penetrations of the German advance. Later they retreated into the Kuban bridgehead, through the Crimea, Rumania, and Hungary before ending the war in Slovakia.

The division had 13. and 91. Gebirgsjägerregimenter (mountain infantry regiments) and 94. Gebirgsartillerieregiment (mountain artillery regiment).


5. Gebirgsdivision5. Gebirgsdivision

5. Gebirgsdivision was nicknamed the ‘Gamsbock-Division’ for the buck on their insignia, or ‘Sumpfjäger-Division’, the swamp Jäger division, for their time in the swaps south of Leningrad. The division formed from 100. Gebirgsjägerregiment from 1. Gebirgsdivision and 85. Infanterieregiment from 10. Infanteriedivision in October 1940.

It took part in the capture of the island of Crete in May 1941, then in February 1942, they moved into the line near Leningrad. In November 1943, the division went to Italy where they fought around Monte Casino. They fought in various parts of Italy for the rest of the war.

The division had 85. and 100. Gebirgsjägerregimenter (mountain infantry regiments) and 95. Gebirgsartillerieregiment (mountain artillery regiment).


6. Gebirgsdivision 6. Gebirgsdivision

6. Gebirgsdivision was nicknamed ‘Edelweiß in gelb’ or Edelweiss (a white mountain flower) in yellow, for the divisional insignia. It was formed in October 1940 from infantry regiments left over from the formation of Panzer divisions. It took part in the invasion of Greece, then moved north into Finland where it fought until 1944 when it retreated into Norway where it ended the war.

The division had 141. and 143. Gebirgsjägerregimenter (mountain infantry regiments) and 118. Gebirgsartillerieregiment (mountain artillery regiment).


7. Gebirgsdivision7. Gebirgsdivision

7. Gebirgsdivision was nicknamed the ‘Bergschuh-Division’ for the mountain boot on their insignia. It was formed in November 1941 from 99. Leichte Infanteriedivision.  The division fought in Finland until 1944 when it retreated into Norway where it ended the war.

The division had 206. and 218. Gebirgsjägerregimenter (mountain infantry regiments) and 82. Gebirgsartillerieregiment (mountain artillery regiment).


Gebirgsjäger Modelling Gebirgsjäger Troops

Mountain troops wore the same basic uniform as regular infantry with a few unique differences. Firstly, they wore ankle boots and anklets rather than marching boots. Secondly, they wore a mountain cap when not in combat.

The easiest way to model them is to use late war German infantry, since they wear ankle boots. You can paint the ones in camouflage smocks white for winter or snow camouflage. Afrikakorps miniatures (GE741-745) are a good source of capped figures and their goggles can become snow goggles. If you want to do a little converting, the heads of any figures in peaked caps are suitable for mountain troops.

Master painters will also want to paint an Edelweiss flower badge on the upper right arm and green borders on their shoulder straps like Jäger rather than white infantry piping.
 
 
 
 
Gebirgsjäger Boots
 
Gebirgsjäger Mutz
 

 


Last Updated On Friday, November 21, 2014 by Wayne at Battlefront