This unit has a very interesting history.
1st Ski Jaeger Division seemed to be a 'special' division.
This unit is somewhat of an enigma to me.
It seemed to recieve new equipment first. It got the first issue MP 43/44s and the RSO with PaK 40 to test in combat.
YET Dr. Samuel W. Mitcham writes:
'The 1st Ski Jaeger Division never earned any special distinction; as a result, no second ski division was ever created.'
Yet it was chosen to field test very new weapons????
The 1.Ski Jaeger Brigade was issued the MP/StG44 as early as late 1943 (probably October), the weapons in field usage as early as 18th January 1944. The MP 44s went to the 'stosszüge' initially to give them a boost in firepower.
Another weapon issued quite early to the Ski Jaegers was the 8.8cm Raketenpanzerbüschse 43 or Panzerschreck, which seems to have arrived at the unit late in 1943 as one 'ofenrohr-trupp' is noted as part of a composite Panzerjaeger-Fla-Kompanie at the beginning of 1944.
They were also one of the first (as a Brigade) to use the RSO with PaK 40. 7 were given to 1st Ski-Jaeger Brigade 1. Ski-Jaeger Division, that is to the 9. and 13. Kompanie of the Jaeger Regiment. (not the Panzerjaeger!)
1st Ski Jaeger Division's schwere-Ski-Abteilung 1 contained from 18th March 1944 in its 4th Company the former KV IIs 2.Kp./Pz.Abt.z.b.V. 66??
So what is the composition of this unit?
schwere-Ski-Abteilung 1
Anything known or a good reference?
Thanks
Mitch
1st Ski Jaeger Division's schwere-Ski-Abteilung 1 Vehicles
According to Nafziger the Sch.Ski.Abt
(within 1st Skijager Bde) OoB for Dec 1st 1943 was as follows:
1 Ski Signal Platoon
1 (mot) Panzerjager Company (12x75mm PAK)
1 Self Propelled Light Flak Company (12x20mm Flak guns)
1 Self Propelled Heavy Flak Company (6x88mm Flak guns)
When the Brigade formed part of the Division in June'44 a 'new' 1st Heavy Ski Abt was formed from the staff of Flak.Abt 615, and infantry support gun company equipped with 150 sIG guns and a self propelled 37mm Flak company.
On January 7th'45 the Abt was in theory, organised and equipped as follows:
1 (mot) Heavy Panzerjager Company (12xheavy PAK & 12 LMG's)
1 SP Heavy infantry support gun company (6xSP 150mm howitzers & 7 LMG's)
1 SP Flak company (9x37mm flak guns & 4 LMG's)
4th (Armoured) Company (22 x T34 Tanks & 46 LMG's)
Hope this helps but I have no idea why this unit was used as a test bed for certain weapons.
Andy from the Shire
(within 1st Skijager Bde) OoB for Dec 1st 1943 was as follows:
1 Ski Signal Platoon
1 (mot) Panzerjager Company (12x75mm PAK)
1 Self Propelled Light Flak Company (12x20mm Flak guns)
1 Self Propelled Heavy Flak Company (6x88mm Flak guns)
When the Brigade formed part of the Division in June'44 a 'new' 1st Heavy Ski Abt was formed from the staff of Flak.Abt 615, and infantry support gun company equipped with 150 sIG guns and a self propelled 37mm Flak company.
On January 7th'45 the Abt was in theory, organised and equipped as follows:
1 (mot) Heavy Panzerjager Company (12xheavy PAK & 12 LMG's)
1 SP Heavy infantry support gun company (6xSP 150mm howitzers & 7 LMG's)
1 SP Flak company (9x37mm flak guns & 4 LMG's)
4th (Armoured) Company (22 x T34 Tanks & 46 LMG's)
Hope this helps but I have no idea why this unit was used as a test bed for certain weapons.
Andy from the Shire