Feuerzauber units?

[Marko]

From Feldgrau

Under the code designation "Feurzauber," units composed of cadre personnel and recently inducted trainees were organized into several waves of special assault troops. The elements comprising the first wave consisted of four battalion staffs commanding nine rifle companies, two mountain artillery batteries, one self-propelled medium artillery battery, two mountain engineer platoons, four antitank companies, and three signal and four bicycle platoons. Additional waves were subsequently formed, involving altogether about two-thirds of a mountain training division plus some attached specialist troops.

Does anyone have any further info on these formations. As I understand these units were recruited in WK XVIII and organized into Division z.b.V. 538 to take part in the invasion of N Yugoslavia in April 1941 and then dissolved.

[phylo_roadking]

Marko, a LONG time ago I read that these were set up for "pass storming", little pocket-sized all-arms combat groups that could clear passes etc in the hilly Yugoslavian terain, without having to wait for appropriate support to be brought up through the tortuous terrain. But noone expected to scythe through like they did....

phylo

[Marko]

Thanks, phylo!