Skijäger in the Pripet marshes

[Daniel L]

Does anyone know which Skijäger unit(s) it was who fought in the Pripet marshes in 1944?

Best regards/ Daniel

[Christoph Awender]

Does anyone know which Skijäger unit(s) it was who fought in the Pripet marshes in 1944?

Best regards/ Daniel

1.Skijäger-Division

\Christoph

[Daniel L]

Thank you Christoph.

Best regards/ Daniel

[Polynike]

what were skijager divsions comprised off?

[Christoph Awender]

what were skijager divsions comprised off?

Hello!

There was just one Ski-Jäger Division. The division was extraordinary strong equipped already as Brigade and then as division as well.

The Brigade was already fully motorized
The Brigade had 14600 men strength and had a strong firepower with 402 M.G., 26x 8cm Gr.W., 25 12cm Gr.W., 17 2cm Flak, 9 3,7cm Flak, 2 platoons 7,5cm on RSO (later 8,8cm Sf."Hornisse"), "Ofenrohr" Trupp, 7 heavy Pak, 15 I.G.(Sf). All in all 70 armoured vehicles (31 Stg. 7,5cm), 123 "Maultier", 68 tracked towing vehicles, 313 RSO (Steyr/Magirus), 446 gl.trucks, 51 other trucks, 185 gl. cars, 93 other cars, 185 Kettenkrad, 76 motorcycles and 124 motorcycles with sidecars.

The standard weapon was the StG44 and the MP40 for leaders. The soldiers received high quality winter uniforms (which are believed to coma from finland) which can be turned to a white side also. It was a camo uniform called "braune Grete".
The fieldcap was the Gebirsgjäger style. The gasmask was not in a metal case but in a fabric satchel to avoid noise when moving.
They had a special backpack, fur- and rubber boots, fur-sleeping bags, fin-tents and other special "on the man" equipment.

On 2.6.1944 the Brigade is organized to the 1.Ski.Jg.Div.
In the following months the division is reorganized at the front partly during combat. It receives a s.Art.Abt.(mot), a s.Gr.W.Btl., a s.Ski-Btl. with a company of 22 T-34, 9x 3,7cm Flak (Sf), 6 s.I.G. (Sf), 12 s.Pak(mot), 3 batallions in two regiments each, Ski-Füs.Btl., Pz.Jg.Abt. with 20 Stg. etc...

1.Skijäger-Division
Skijäger-Regiment 1
Skijäger-Regiment 2
Schweres Skijäger-Bataillon 1
Ski-Füsilier-Btl. 1
Artillerie-Regiment 152
Artillerie-Regiment 59, II. Abteilung
Artillerie-Regiment 65,II. Abteilung
Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 270
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 152
Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 85
Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 152
Kdr. der Div. Nachschubtruppen 152

\Christoph

[Xavier]

I think the pic matches the description....

picture caption says Mountain troops, mid russia, jan/feb 1944 (bundesarchiv koblenz no. 692/263/36) from "the MKb42, MP43, MP44 and the sturmgewehr 44" by Special Interest Publicaties Bv by G de Vries & B.J. Martens ISBN 90-805583-6-2

there are about 5 pics more in the books that match location and date.

best regards

Xavier
Instandsetzungtrüppfuhrer

[Daniel L]

Nice photo Xavier. Does anyone know any good litterature about the Skijägers in general or the division in particular?

Best regards/ Daniel

[Polynike]

thanks for the info lowenhamm. was the Skjg Div a frontline unit or used in the pripets vs partisans?

[Daniel L]

My name is Löwenhamn but I think you mean Christoph. The division were defending the front as I understand it.

Best regards/ Daniel

[Christoph Awender]

Nice photo Xavier. Does anyone know any good litterature about the Skijägers in general or the division in particular?

Best regards/ Daniel

There is not much about the division. The only book I know is: Georg Gunter - Die deutschen Skijäger: Von den Anfängen bis 1945
But if you are interested I am writing a book about Skibataillon Schleebrügge at the moment which was the predecessor of the division.

thanks for the info lowenhamm. was the Skjg Div a frontline unit or used in the pripets vs partisans?

A highly professional, efective frontline unit. Some would call them one of the "elite" divisions of the Wehrmacht.

\Christoph

[Daniel L]

Thanks Christoph. I've seen that book and I'm thinking of buying it. Do you recommend it? Your book sounds interesting, I wish you the best of luck with it although I've never heard of the unit before.

Best regards/ Daniel

[Christoph Awender]

Thanks Christoph. I've seen that book and I'm thinking of buying it. Do you recommend it? Your book sounds interesting, I wish you the best of luck with it although I've never heard of the unit before.

Best regards/ Daniel

Yes because it is the only book I know of and it brings in all information which is still available in the archives.

\Christoph

[Daniel L]

Thanks Christoph.

By the way, did the skijägers of this division receive an early type of ammunition puches for the MP44?

Best regards/ Daniel

[Christoph Awender]

Thanks Christoph.

By the way, did the skijägers of this division receive an early type of ammunition puches for the MP44?

Best regards/ Daniel

I don´t know. Would you recognize it on a photo?
Until then a photo for your interest.
Obfw.Dorfleitner commander of the "Ofenrohr" Gruppe of 9./1 sewing on his second award.


\Christoph

[Daniel L]

The reason why I'm asking is because of this photo (found on ebay). It depicts skijägers of the 1. Schijägerdivision in the Pripet marshes in february, 1944. It was taken by kriegsberichter Tiemann. As you can see the second soldier from the left cross ing the footbridge has a strange "lid" on his ammunition pouch.

Dorfleitner is new to me. Thanks.

Best regards/ Daniel