Unit History

The 5th Gebirgsjaeger Division was formed in the fall of 1940 from the 100th Mountain Infantry Regiment of the 1st Gebirgsjaeger Division and elements of the 10th Infantry Division. After training in the Bavarian Alps, it first saw action in the Balkans during the spring of 1941 where it helped crack the Metaxes line and then swept through Greece. Within weeks of the successful Greek campaign, it became part of the German assualt force launched against Crete. The unit distinguished itself during the Battle of Maleme, where it came to the aid of the beleaguered Fallschirmjager.

From late summer 1941 to March 1942 the division was on occupation duty in Norway. In March of 1942 it was sent to the Eastern Front, where it was attached to Army Group North. It helped check the Russian counter offensive between Lake Ladoga and Nogorod. It remained on the Finnish Front and took part in the seige of Leningrad until the end of 1943.

In November, the 5th was withdrawn from the Russian Front and was tranferred to Italy under the control of 10.Armee. It took part in the fighting retreat up the Italian mainland, distinguishing itself during the battles for the Gustav and Gothic lines. Near the end of the war, it was fighting in the border region between Italy and France, where it surrendered to American forces in April 1945.

COMMANDERS

• Generalleutnant Julius "Papa" Ringel (1940-44)
• Generalmajor Max-Gunther Schrank (1945)

MAIN UNITS

• Gebirgs-Infantrie Regiment 85
• Gebirgs-Infantrie Regiment 100
• Gebirgs-Artillerie Regiment 100
• Radfahr Abteilung 95
• Gebirgs-Panzerjaeger Abteilung 95
• Gebirgs-Pionier Abteilung 95
• Gebirgs-Nachrichten Abteilung 95