8th Mountain Division

[JeffF]

I've read conflicting information on this division. Samuel Mitcham's Hitler's Legions & the Osprey German Mountain Troops say that it was formed in Norway in 1942 and consisted of the 142, 144 Mountain Infantry Regiments and the 124 Mountain Artillery Regiment while James Lucas' Alpine Elite says that it was formed in 1944 when the 157th Reserve Mountain Division in SE France was redesignated 8th Mountain Division and consisted of the 296, 297 Mountain Infantry Regiments and the 1057th Mountain Artillery Regiment. All three say that the division was transferred to NW Italy in late 1944. Mitcham and the Osprey book both say that 8th Mtn Div was not initially raised to full strength.

Could the explanation be that the division was raised in '42 as an understrength unit and was brought up to strength by merging it with the 157th Res Mtn Div when both formations arrived in NW Italy?

[Martin Block]

According to German OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. records the 157. Res.Div. (Res.Gren.Rgt. 7, 157, Res.Geb.Jg.Rgt. 1, Res.Art.Rgt. 7) was renamed and reorganized into 157. Geb.Div. (Geb.Jg.Rgt. 296 and 297, Geb.Art.Rgt. 1057) on 18.9.1944, and finally renamed to 8. Geb.Div. (Geb.Jg.Rgt. 296 and 297, Geb.Art.Rgt. 1057) on 26.2.1945.
As far as I can tell an 8. Geb.Div. with a Geb.Jg.Rgt. 142, 144 and Geb.Art.Rgt. 124 never existed.
For an overview see also here:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... 57GebD.htm
here:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /8GebD.htm
and here:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Inhalt.htm
also dates given on those sites for renaming are a bit inaccurate.
The LdW is mostly based on the works of Georg Tessin.

On 1.10.1944 the 157. Geb.Div. was short of:
III./Geb.Jg.Rgt. 296 (1 out of 6 battalions)
Stabskp. and 3./Aufkl.Abt. 1057 (2 out of 5 companies)
2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 1057 (1 out of 3 companies)
2., III., IV./Geb.Art.Rgt. 1057 (2 1/3 out of 4 battalions)
3./Geb.Pi.Btl. 1057 (1 out of 3 companies)
2./Geb.Nachr.Abt. 1057 (1 out of 3 companies)
Feld-Ers.Btl. 1057
Tragtierkolonne 1., 2. and 3./1057, San.Kp. 2./1057, Veterinär-Kp. 1057 (5 out of 13 supply and support companies)
But most of the missing units then had arrived until and during Dec 1944.

Martin Block

[JeffF]

Thanks Martin,
Mitcham and the Osprey both mention that information on the 8th Mtn Div was sketchy and lacking in detail.
Jeff

[Helmut]

Servus,
According to the unit history, KAMPF DER GEBIRGSJAEGER UM DIE WESTALPEN UND DEN SEMMERING, by Roland Kaltenegger, The 157 GJ Div was formed from the 157 Reserve Div on 1 October 44 with the following component elements;
GJ Regt 296, I,II, III
GJ Regt 297, I,II,III
Geb Art Regt 1057,I-IV
theDiv wasr renamed the 8.GebDib on 27 Feb 45.

According to the same source, the 8 Geb Div was to have been formed in Mrch 44 from the GJ REgt 139. This cadre was subsequently used for the staff of the Divisionsgruppe Krauetler (K), later renamed 140. Division z.b.V.

Hope this hleps

Regards,

Helmut

[Kelvin]

The numbering of Gebirgsjager division were separated from infantry division but why 157. Gebirgs Division followed the those of infantry division ?

[Lupo Solitario]

my studies on Italian Campaign 1944-45 agree on the succession line 157th Reserve Division-157th Mountain Division-8th Mountain Division, as just described

[space pope]

Sorry for bumping a topic but I thought it might be better than starting a whole new topic for just a short question. I have read a memoir by a French maquisard who characterizes the 157th as an elite unit. I know mountain troops were typically regarded as superior but the 157th was also a reserve unit, correct? I saw some others posts here that said it was the best of the reserve units in the area but I am not sure if that qualifies it as elite. Thanks.

[Helmut]

Hi Space Pope,
I would not list the 157th or the 8th as Elite units. It sounds like this maquisard is trying to do a little bragging about the quality of the enemy forces they faced..Regards,

Helmut

[space pope]

Hi Space Pope,
I would not list the 157th or the 8th as Elite units. It sounds like this maquisard is trying to do a little bragging about the quality of the enemy forces they faced..Regards,

Helmut

Thanks, that is precisely how I interpreted his remarks.