Hochgebirgs-Jäger-Bataillone 1 - 4

[Bernd R]

Hochgebirgs-Jäger-Bataillon 1

Preface :
It was in 1942 that the decision was taken to create high alpine battalions within the Gebirgsjäger organisation. The personnel for these units were skilled Alpinists who then trained for operations in the highest mountain peaks. Four such battalions were raised but the need for them did not arise and they were soon disbanded and the troops distributed to Geb.Divs. Btl. 4 made it’s way until the war’s end, but was brought into action on company level only most of the time and was attached to 114. Jäg.Div. finally.

Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 1 was created on 20 July 1942 from the 1st Training Battalion for high alpine troops [I. Ausbildungs-Bataillon für Hochgebirgstruppen] in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, WK VII. The establishment was for five Companies. The unit was attached to 1. Gebirgs-Division during the advance of this division into the Caucasus in summer/autumn 1942. Members of the Btl. also took part in the ascent of the Elbrus. During the winter of 1942-43 the unit was broken up and its components distributed among 1. Gebirgs-Division, which at that time was fighting in the Caucasus and the Kuban bridgehead later.

Commanders


Area of operations
Caucasus (August 1942 – December 1943)
Kuban bridgehead (January 1943 – February/March 1943)

Order of Battle
Stab
1. – 3. Jäger-Kp
4. schwere Kp
5. Kp
- Pionierzug
- Nachrichtenzug

Reference material on this unit
J. Lucas, “Hitler's Mountain Troops”, Cassel Military Classics, 1992, 1999
Roland Kaltenegger, “Spezialverbände der Gebirgstruppe 1939-1945”
Roland Kaltenegger, „Die deutsche Gebirgstruppe 1935-1945“



Hochgebirgs-Jäger-Bataillon 2
was created on 20 July 1942 out of the 2nd Training Battalion for high alpine troops [II. Ausbildungs-Bataillon für Hochgebirgstruppen] in Innsbruck, Austria, WK XVII. The unit was attached to 1. Gebirgs-Division during the advance of this division into the Caucasus in summer/autumn 1942. Members of the Btl. also took part in the ascent of the Elbrus. After the retreat to the KUBAN bridgehead the Btl. was redesignated Geb.Jäg.Btl 54 by merging with the divisional Felders.Btl. 54 on 12 February 1943.

Commanders


Area of operations
Caucasus (August 1942 – December 1943)
Kuban bridgehead (January 1943 – February/March 1943)

Order of Battle
Stab
1. – 3. Jäger-Kp
4. schwere Kp
5. Kp
- Pionierzug
- Nachrichtenzug

Reference material on this unit
J. Lucas, “Hitler's Mountain Troops”, Cassel Military Classics, 1992, 1999
Roland Kaltenegger, “Spezialverbände der Gebirgstruppe 1939-1945”
Roland Kaltenegger, „Die deutsche Gebirgstruppe 1935-1945“



Hochgebirgs-Jäger-Bataillon 3
was formed on 20 November 1943 from half the I./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 98 which at that time was on active service in the Epirus area in Greece. The original units left that theatre at the end of Oct 1943 to be re-organised at ADMONT, Austria, in WK XVIII and formed a battalion of four Companies, three of which were Jäger and the fourth a heavy weapons Company. A battery of mountain guns [from 5./Geb.Art.Rgt. 79, Kufstein] also formed part of the service as a Heerestruppe unit in Italy. During Fall 1944 it became a regular Gebirgsjäger Btl. of 157. Geb.Div. and finally during the time period Oct-Dec 1944 it was redesignated III./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 296 of 157. Geb.Div. The war service of the Btl. included the battles for Monte Cassino and the fightings at Monte La Pezze.

Commanders
Major Friedrich Bader (14 [appointed] / 20 Nov 1943 - 20 June 1944)
Hauptmann Ludwig Eisinger (20 June 1944 - Dec 1944)


Area of operations
Italy (? 1944 – December 1944)

Holders of high awards
Knight's Cross (2)
Bader, Friedrich 12.08.1944 Major Kdr Hochgebirgs-Jäg.Btl 3
Gsinn, Josef 20.07.1944 Oberfeldwebel Zugführer i. d. 4./Hochgebirgs-Jäg.Btl 3

German Cross in Gold (4)
Eisinger, Ludwig, 14.07.1944, Hauptmann, Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
Gstrein, Alois, 14.07.1944, Hauptmann d.R., 1./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
Lepold, Albert, 21.02.1944, Feldwebel, 1./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
Maier, Georg, 14.07.1944, Oberjäger, 1./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3

Army Honor Roll Clasp (2)
Bader, Friedrich, 17.07.1944, Major, Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
Bader, Martin, 07.07.1944, Oberleutnant, 4./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3


Order of Battle
Stab
1. – 3. Jäger-Kp
4. schwere Kp
Gebirgs-Batterie

Reference material on this unit
J. Lucas, “Hitler's Mountain Troops”, Cassel Military Classics, 1992, 1999
Roland Kaltenegger, “Spezialverbände der Gebirgstruppe 1939-1945”
Roland Kaltenegger, „Die deutsche Gebirgstruppe 1935-1945“



Hochgebirgs-Jäger-Bataillon 4
was raised on 20 November 1943 from elements of I./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 98 which at that time was on active service in the Epirus area in Greece. It was then posted to Italy (the Btl. left Admont towards the end of Nov 1943) and served as Army Troops, finishing the war with 114. Jäger Division [attached].

Commanders
Major Baron Franz von Ruffin (20 Nov 1943 - June 1944)
Hauptmann Andreas Schönleben (June 1944 - end)


Area of operations
Italy (? 1944 – april 1945)

Holders of high awards
German Cross in Gold (2)
Aichwalder, Josef, 30.12.1944, Oberleutnant, 2./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 4
Schönleben, Andreas, 07.04.1944, Hauptmann, Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 4


Order of Battle
Stab
1. – 3. Jäger-Kp
4. schwere Kp
Gebirgs-Batterie

Reference material on this unit
J. Lucas, “Hitler's Mountain Troops”, Cassel Military Classics, 1992, 1999
Roland Kaltenegger, “Spezialverbände der Gebirgstruppe 1939-1945”
Roland Kaltenegger, „Die deutsche Gebirgstruppe 1935-1945“
Karl Schroeder, „Dort wo der Adler haust“ – Geschichte des Hogebirgsjäger-Bataillons 4 , Eine Chronik aus den Jahren 1943-1945 , (Eigenverlag), Siegen 1989

[Bernd R]

Any add & corr much appreciated !! Especially - adding the Commanders would be great !

Sources / compiled on base of :
Tessin
Lexikon der Wehrmacht
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=8325 [by Gareth Collins]
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=126933&hilit=Hochgebirgs
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/B/Ba/Bader-Friedrich.htm

Thanks, Bernd

[Marcus Wendel]

Thanks Bernd, excellent as always.

/Marcus

[c.g.]

Hochgebirgsjäger-Bataillon 3
CO
Friedrich Bader until June 1944, then Ludwig Eisinger. In the Fall of 1944 Hoch 3 became a regular Gebirgsjäger-Bn in the 157./8. Gebirgs-Division.

Hochgebirgsjäger-Bataillon 4
CO
Maj. Baron Franz von Ruffin until June 1944, after that Capt. Andreas Schönleben.

Sources:
Dort, wo der Adler haust
Letters with Baron von Ruffin and others veterans
Deutsche Dienststelle
Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv

[Bernd R]

Thanks ! Additions marked blue above.
Is it correct , Baron von Ruffin from the beginning (formation) and Schönleben until the end ?

Bernd

[c.g.]

Hi,
for von Ruffin I'll have to check again. Hoch 3 became III./GJR 296. According to the Stellenbesetzung of GJR 296 of 15 Dec 44 Hptm. Eisinger was CO since 20 June 44.
Best
CG

[c.g.]

OK, according to Schroeder, Dort, wo der Adler haust, v.Ruffin became CO during formation in Admont in Nov 43. The original units (I./98 and 5./79) left the Epirus area in Greece (not Dalmatia!) at the end of Oct 43. The newly formed Hochgeb.Jg.Btln. 3 and 4 left Admont towards the end of Nov 1943.
CG

[Bernd R]

Thanks again ! Main entry above edited. All add&corr in blue.
The "II./GJR 296" is one of the inevitable Tessin errors/typos I guess. "Dalmatia" wasn't re-checked by me, sorry for that ; 1. Geb.Div. was on occupation duty in Greece at that time, Yes.

Bernd

[Marcus Wendel]

Thanks CG.

/Marcus

[fritzpeter]

Hi Bernd,

the operations area of the Hochgebirgs-Jäger-Bataillon 4 at the end of 1943 was in the Majellastellung (Abbruzzo, Italy) in the early of febrary 1944 was in Cassino, Monte Cairo, Villa Santa Lucia, Colle Sant'Angelo, Albaneta Farm and other locations of the Gustav line and Hitler-Senger line.

Best regards, Fritz Peter.