Tarrackin's Home Scroll (THS) 2009 German Gebirgsjäger Mountain Troops

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As it was during the Second World War in the Wehrmacht, the modern day Gebirgsjäger serves in the elite of the Bundeswehr. They play a critical role in the specialist role of mountain infantry and are otherwise known as 'Mountain Hunters'. The global movement towards low intensity conflict and need for peacekeeping has seen the Gebirgsjäger take a lead role in UN operations for the German Armed Forces and urban warfare has taken a key place in their training. This transition all occurs while the Gebirgsjäger still provide for the Allied Mobile Force (AMF), a collection of exercises and formations left over from the Cold War days. The mountains present unique challenges to anyone who fights there and the terrain offers up the ability of very small units of prepared thoroughly trained forces' to hold off and even dictate to a much larger even technologically advantaged opposition.

Operating at high altitudes makes waging war a very difficult task. It is an environment not conducive to modern technology where trucks are better given way to mules, and airstrikes are difficult, often impossible to conduct effectively. Heavy equipment gives way to light forces trained and conditioned to the high altitudes where the environment is often more of a threat than is enemy fire. This is further hampered by the difficulties with modern communications which are a critical aspect of modern maneuver warfare.

War in the mountains is slow where low or medium tech level equipment puts less a strain on logistical lines of support. Some groups of guerilla fighters have been able to control vast areas against numerically superior conventional forces for centuries. Train networks have been one of the few successful modern implementations to counter this.

Gebirgs und Winterkampfschule
This school is based in Mittenwald where specialist mountain skills are taught, including mountain rescue, climbing and sniping at high altitudes.

Luftlande und Lufttransportschule
In Altenburg this is the Airborne Landing and Air-transport School where all training pertaining to parachute drops, and airborne logistics is taught.

Internationale Fernspähschule
Based in Pfullendorf this school teaches battlefield intelligence and reconnassiance. Fernspäher are Rangers. Units from all around the globe come here to train.

Infanterieschule
Based in Hammelburg this is the Infantry school, a very large facility with its own small village for training, for all infantry and UN courses.

23 Alpine Rifle Brigade is part of the German Rapid Deployment Force. It is hoped that by 2003 the EU Rapid Deployment Force will be operational, where 60,000 troops will be available year round if required in the European continent and where the US does not or is not able to contribute forces. Germany, along with the UK are the major contributors to this unified arrangement.

These specialists are tasked with leading mountain units and advising their unit commanders both in military and civil situations such as mountain rescue. The Mountain Guides provide the future Gebirgsjäger with the necessary ski and mountaineering training they require which will form the central keystone to all their other training as Mountain Infantry specialists. The German Army Mountain Guide course has both winter and summer elements.

The Gebirgsjäger needs to be a first rate map reader to allow for safe and rapid travel through alpine regions. Route direction needs to be backed by strong intelligence of the terrain ahead to avoid avalanches. Mountain troops also become experts in weather prediction which is a essential skill as a forewarning to the dangers the weather can bring in such a short space of time. Regards safety of terrain above the snow-line Pioneers perform a role in making mountainous areas safe for both civil and military concerns.

In a civil capacity the Gebirgsjäger provide essential services where their training includes Search and Rescue (SAR). Working with the injured in the mountains provide unique challenges for any rescue party. This includes heliborne operations using UH-1 'Huey' helicopters. The cold weather conditions place special requirements medically for Gebirgsjäger so frostbite and hypothermia prevention and treatment is focused on. Living in these environments requires particular discipline so training in the conditions in which you intend to fight takes precedence.

Being that Gebirgsjäger skills make up a critical part of the German Army Special Forces Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) those involved in such duties must train additionally in specialised areas to be part of that Regiment. This may include counter terrorism work, and will almost defiantly involve training for Peace-keeping duties. Other units tasked with missions under KSK include Remote Scout units (Fernspäher or Ranger) and Paratroops (Fallschirmjäger). Though the Gebirgsjäger and Fallschirmjäger are seperate units they are all under the Division für Spezielle Operationen or Special Operations Division (DS0).

The German Heer Mountain Hunters Gebirgsjäger consists of the following sub-units;

Staabskompanie Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23
- Logistical Command
- Signals
- Medical

Gebirgsjägerbataillon 231
- based in Bad Reichenhall
- consists of the following 5 Companies
1. Staff / Supply
2. Infantry
3. Infantry
4. Infantry Gebirgskampf *
5. Heavy Company - AT and Mortar
*Urban Specialists

Gebirgsjägerbataillon 232
- based in Berchtesgaden
- consists of the following 5 Companies
1. Staff / Supply and Hochgebirgsjägerzug *
2. Infantry
3. Infantry
4. Infantry
5. Heavy Company - AT and Mortar
*High Mountain Infantry Platoon

Gebirgsjägerbataillon 233
- based in Karwendel Center Forest, Bayern, Mittenwald
- consists of the following 6 Companies
1. Staff / Supply and Hochgebirgsjägerzug *
2. Sniper / Infantry
3. Infantry
4. Infantry
5. Light Artillery
6. Recruit Training
*High Mountain Infantry Platoon

Gebirgsjägerbataillon 571
- based in Schneeberg
- Reserves
- reverted to standard Infantry on reunification

Gebirgspionierbataillon 8
- based in Brannenburg
- Regular
- consists of the following 5 Companies
1. Staff and Supply Company
2. Armoured Pioneer / Battle Support *
3. Pioneer
4. Mountain Pioneer
5. Engineer / Demolitions
*TPZ Fuchs and Milan ATGW

Gebirgsartilleriebataillon 225
- based in Füssen
- consists of the following 4 Batteries
1. Staff / Supply
2. Gun Battery 4x FH-155-1
3. Gun Battery 4x FH-155-1
4. Gun Battery 4x FH-155-1
Feldersatzbatterie 6x Feldhaubitzen 105mm

Einsatz und Ausbidungszentrum Gebirgstragtierwesen 230
- based in Bath Realm
- Application and Education centre
- provides horse and mule transportation

Gebirgsversorgungskompanie 230
- based in Bad Reichenhall
- Mountain Logistics Company
- logistics for the Brigade

Gebirgsfeldersatzkompanie 230
- based in Bath Reichenhall
- Mountain Field Replacement Company
- personnel management for the Brigade
- Reserves

Gebirgs und Winterkampfschule
- based in Mittenwald
- Mountain and Winter Battle-school

Artilleriekaserne
- based in Bad Reichenhall
- Artillery barracks
- disbanded

For any mountain unit robustness of kit is paramount. German technology has a good reputation on this count but the terrain offers particular challenges. Recent decades of the NATO adoption of 5.56mm ammunition for standard issue weapons does not help with the longer than typical ranges expected in the mountain warfare environment, yet logistical requirements of operational standardisation dicatate. Speicalist units are always at the centre of such conflicts and must consider on one hand what equipment best suits their needs while not foregoing the bigger picture.

This General Purpose Machinegun (GPMG) is essentially a modern rendition of the highly successful wartime MG42. It is belt fed and able to be used in the light role, as a medium machinegun or mounted on a tripod. Additionally the MG3 can be used in a light anti-aircraft role or be mounted on vehicles.

Gebirgsjäger troops can appreiate the powerful ammunition of the MG3, and when not carrying them, sledges can be used to move them at greater speed while on skis, also making the hard job of carrying support weapons in the snow that bit easier. One of the minor but substantial modifications of the MG3 from its wartime counterpart is the addition of a heavier bolt option, meaning the MG3 can be fired at the considerably lower rate of 850 rounds per minute over the standard 1200.

This is another flexible weapon from Heckler und Koch. Taking either belts or rifle magazines the HK21 allows for both a lighter alternative to the MG3 and a weapon which is more tactically flexible for the Gebirgsjäger. This machinegun may be replaced by in large by the newer MG36 for compatibility with the new G36 Assault Rifle. Based off the proven Roller locking bolt technology used in the G3 Battle Rifle, the HK21E is very reliable and accurate. Improved recoil management over earlier models makes for much easier handling of the full power ammunition while maintaining lethality. It is also able to fire single shots or burst mode and asides belt feed, 20 or 50 round magazines can be used to lighten the gunner's load in non-sustained roles. The HK21E is also a popular weapon with specialist German units such as GSG9. Whether the Mountain Hunters will adopt the new MG43 in 5.56mm is yet to be seen.

NOTE : The HK21 has now been completely replaced by the MG36 in Gebirgsjager service. This is intended now to remain as a source of historical information. In essence the MG36 is a heavy barrelled version of the new G36 rifle designed for the laying down of surpressive fires, for which it uses the high capacity 100 round C-MAG 100 drum magazine.

This is the new Assault Rifle for the German Army. Deemed highly reliable it has already seen active service in places like Kosovo on Peace keeping missions. For mountainous terrain though, it lacks the range and punch necessary for the kind of warfare Gebirgsjäger is primarily trained for. All the same, the new weapon means more ammunition can be carried and it comes standard with a x3.5 magnification scope. The German only red dot designed for close range work on the local G36 would be deemed of limited value for these troops, but this all changes when Gebirgsjäger are deployed in the predominantly urban terrain of peace-keeping operations. The G36 is now standard issue to the Mountain Hunters.

The Gebirgsjäger do not use the AG36 but rather the HK69A1 Grenade Pistol which is more compariable to the American M203 PI, mountable under the issue rifle but also usable independant of the rifle. The HK69 has a butt and pistol grip and can use the full range of low powered 40mm munitions.

As modern warfare sees a greater emphasis on closer ranged combat encounters, operations in urban areas and so forth, mountain warfare still lends itself to longer range exchanges of fire. Here, sniping and older generation rifles using full power ammunition, such as the G3 Battle Rifle have obvious advantages over 5.56mm rifles. The G3 rifle 20 round magazine can be used in the HK21E machinegun without modification.

The Scharfschuetzengewehr G22 is the British Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum - Folding (AWM-F) in 7.62 mm x 67 (300 Winchester Magnum), using German optics. The .300 Win Mag provides substantial improvements in performance over the standard 7.62x51mm NATO round and allows a sniper the ability to both engage more realistically at longer ranges and with more lethal effect, helping to reduce counter fire. Specialist ammunition allows for the neutralising of light vehicles and some enemy ground assets such as communications equipment. The G22 allows for engagement of targets beyond the 1000m mark.

Mortars have a important role to play in the mountains were their mobility and indirect fire capacity have distinct advantages. Light pack artillery are also able to be transported for fire support in longer range engagements. Gebirgsartilleriebataillon 225 (Mountain Artillery Battalion) supply the heavy guns for the Gebirgsjäger. They were re-equipped with 155mm M109 self-propelled howitzers in 1977. For portable Air Defence they use the American designed Stinger as the Fliegerfaust 2.

For personal weapons at close quarters the Gebirgsjäger also use the Israeli Uzi 9mm submachinegun, designation MP2. This is slowly being replaced by the more effective MP5. Difficulties in financing this move have been much to do with the reunification of Germany.

The Wiesel (Weasel) WIESEL 1 BTM 208 is used by the Mountain Hunters, armed with a variety of weapon types for tactical flexibility including TOW or Milan for Anti-tank work, and 20mm as a standard weapons fit. 120mm Mortars and Stinger for anti-air work can also be fitted. It is a very agile vehicle and has an excellent cross country capability. The M113 is in use as a Mortar carrier, command vehicle and as a standard personnel carrier. Bv206 "Hägglund", as used by the Royal Marines in Norway, is also used by the Gebirgsjäger.

Over centuries many of the world's greatest armies have been at the mercy of mountainous terrain and tended to either avoid it altogether or cross it at great peril. Italy's Alpini troops, and the French Chasseurs Alpins were amongst the first of modern mountain troops. Germany was soon to follow. Not surprisingly the first German mountain units hailed from the mountainous region of Bavaria. Famous German General Erwin Rommel was commander of the Wurtemburg Gebirgsjäger during World War One and saw action on the Italian Front.

After the conclusion of the war the mountain units only grew, by 1937 the Gebirgs Brigade was formed under General Hubert Lanz. Soon that further expanded to a full Division and this is where all the World War Two units emerged from. Austria annexation meant their mountain forces' were absorbed into the German Army of the time further building up German strength and providing a great deal of experience in the field of mountain warfare. In addition to 9 Divisions there were 4 Hochgebirg Battalions specialising in particularly high altitude operations.

The Gebirgsjäger Division was formed in April of 1938. Under Heeresgruppe Süd the Mountain troops were involved in the invasion of Poland in 1939. As part of Army Group South Gebirgsjäger efforts aided in the surrender of city of Lemberg. In France the Division crossed the Maas, Aisine and Loire Rivers. Several Hochgebirgs Jäger Battalions' or High Alpine Battalions' were formed and their personnel filtered out into various sub units of the Gebirgsjäger to operate at particularly high altitudes. Ski Jäger Regiments were also formed but these were more considered specialist Jäger units as opposed to being Mountain Hunter units.

When Austria was added to the Reich, many Austrian Mountain units were added to the German Heer (Army). The 2nd Gebirgsjäger Division was formed this way, being formed from the 5th and 7th Austrian Divisions. In 1939, the 3rd Division took part in the Invasion of Poland along with the 1st and 2nd Gebirgsjäger Divisions, but it was pulled out of Poland before the Campaign was concluded and was posted to the Western Front to guard against suspected Allied incursions along the Westwall.

In 1940 the 139 Gebirgsjäger Regiment of 3 Gebirgsjäger Division saw action at the Battle of Narvik during the Norwegian Campaign, under Gebirgsjäger General Eduard Dietl. As a result of a fierce naval battle between the German and British during the second battle of Narvik at Jössing Fjord 8 German destroyers and a U-Boat are sunk. The surviving crews join Gebirgsjäger units. About two and a half thousand saliors' of the Kriegsmarine fight in this way and as a result they are called 'die Gebirgsmarine'. Survivors of U64 later used the Edelweiss as a symbol for their next U-Boat. 13. May “The 2nd Gebirgsjäger Division (Austrian) out of Innsbruck, Austria moves in from Trondheim to reinforce. A Fallschirmjäger Battalion is dropped two days later as reinforcements.

Two Companies of the 137 Gebirgsjäger Regiment arrive by way of parachute on the 21st of May after a rather hasty course at the Parachute jump school of the Fallschirmjäger in Stendal. An Allied decision to retake Narvik by way of amphibious attack and bombardment fails. The 139th Regiment was heavily engaged in operation holding Narvik from the Allies until it was nearly destroyed, only to be saved by the collapse of the Allies in Norway and the Surrender of the Norwegian Government, just days before elements of the 2nd Gebirgsjäger Division managed to link up with them. Later, under XIX Gebirgskorps, the Division was charged with occupational duties there. The mission's success is such that Dietl is known as the 'Hero of Narvik'. He was the first soldier of the Wehrmacht to be awarded the coveted Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.

After operations in Northern Norway, the Division was posted to Finland, pulled back to Germany for rest and regrouping, and then posted back to Finland in the area around Lenningrad. Soon after, the Division was moved to Army Group Center along the Eastern Front. In 1944, the Division was in the Southern Ukraine where it fought, and then in Hungary. Late in the War, the Division was pushed into Slovakia and then into Southern Silesia, and it surrendered to the Soviets in May, 1945.

Asides the Fallschirmjäger the other major component of the German invasion of Crete which the New Zealanders and Australians were to face was the elite Gebirgsjäger.

The 5th Gebirgsjäger Division from Salzburg in Austria was under General Julius "Papa" Ringel, but like many of the Mountain Divisions its personnel were made up of men from Bavaria. This Division was involved in the invasion of Greece in March of 1941 and was then airlanded into Crete where its job was to wrestle the islands from the New Zealand and Australian defenders there, under Freyberg. It has been deemed by many since, that had the New Zealanders had adequate air assets the battle would have gone the other way. Indeed it probably would have but it is one battle where victory was surely earned, and by the the very best forces' of the German Army of the time.

Little more than 250 kilometres long the small rugged Mediterranean island of Crete was a necessary target if the Germans were to control the region. Its three airstrips, the major one at Máleme and its single port at Suda Bay were vital assets that would allow for future military operations there for this reason. Most of the defenders were Anzac (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) veterans of the hard fought Greek campaign. This included the 21st Battalion who had held back half an Armoured Division for 36 hours in the Peneios Gorge. On Crete they faced exhaustion and lack of ammunition and supplies, and most of all, air support.

Luftwaffe commanders convinced Hitler that a airborne assault on the island of Crete would forgo any issues with the British naval assets in the area. General Alexander Löhr was given command of Operation Mercury, the invasion of Crete. While the Fallschirmjäger would go in, the Gebirgsjäger would take control of the vast mountainous terrain of the island ensuring an overwhelming of the some 25,000 defenders. It was their job to reinforce the gains made by the initial airborne efforts, making good the campaign.

General Löhr was given less than two weeks to plan this critical mission and the airstrips only allowed for a single aircraft to land at one time. This made things disastrous for the German Paratroops. Things were much the same in opening stages for the Mountain troops whereby Admiral Cunningham’s fleet sank 10 transports. 800 German troops were killed onboard, only 49 managing to get ashore. The following day an Luftwaffe attack on Allied Naval elements was just enough to secure a second attempt at landing further Gebirgsjäger troops. Fallschirmjäger took overwhelming casualties at both Canea and Heráklion, but won through at Máleme thereby securing the critical airfield asset there.

A bitter defence and undeterred New Zealand counter attacks could not hold back the specialist training of the Gebirgsjäger nor the German Paratrooper. The 25th of May had seen the Allied defenders pull back to Galatas, after the onslaught of deadly Stuka dive bombers. Dogged defence and precise marksmanship inflicted even more causualties on the Germans but eventually they were able to build on their invasion force making it impossible for the Allied forces to redeem the battle in their favour. This all lead to final intense house to house fighting which, in the end was to prove too much. Allied evacuation was inevitable.

The end of the Crete campaign saw Allied forces withdrawing to Eygpt, after a incrediably hard fought battle which would go down in history for Both New Zealand and Australia and the invading elite of the German Army. The loses sustained by the Germans was enough to cause Hilter to not attempt another airborne invasion again. The looses were too great. After the Battle for Crete and occupation duties, the Division was posted back to Germany for rest and refitting.

During Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of Russia which began in June 1941, Gebirgskorps Norwegen was made up of the 2nd and 3rd Gebirgs Divisions and 4, 13, 14 and Machinengewehr Motorised Battalions, and 463 Panzerjäger equipped with 3.7cm Pak Anti-tank guns. The Division fought in Lappland until November 1944. The 5.Gebirgsjäger-Division was sent to the Eastern Front to take part in operations against Leningrad in the Volkhov region. Specifically, in March 1942 the division arrived in the Leningrad area where it was to remain until November 1943. During that time the division was used essentially as a "fire brigade" for the 18th Armee, serving at various times on the Volchov front, near Mga, near Schlüsselburg, and on the Neva near Kolopino. In the East, the Division took part in actions at Uman, Stalino and Mius.

In 1942, the 1s Gebirgs Division took part in operations in the Donetz region, and then took part in the drive through the Caucasus Region until it was pulled out and posted to Serbia in 1943. After nearly a year on the Eastern Front, the Division was moved to Italy and in December 1943 the 5th arrived on the "Gustav Line" near Cassino. Late in the War the Division fought in the mountain region between France and Italy and then surrendered to the Americans near Turin in May, 1945. But only after, on the 20th of April 1945 seven Gebirgsjägers made a night climb up the Northeast face of Roc Belleface to rout French defenders there.

Late in 1944 the 2nd Division was sent to Denmark for reorganisation after having been involved in both Poland and Norway. It was involved in fighting in Würtemburg, southern Germany where it surrendered to the American forces at the end of the war.

1 Gebirgsjäger Division was renamed 1 Volks-Gebirgs Division in 1945. Its geographical home base was in Mittenwald. When the 1st Division was withdrawn from Greece it was held as part of Oberkommando der Wehrmacht's strategic reserve, involved in anti-partisan fighting until April 1944, when it was sent to Hungary.

Mittenwald was also the home of the 157th Gebirgsjäger Division formed in January 1944. It was stationed on the German/Austrian border. There where three regiments (296th, 297th and the 1057th). Additional elements consisted of a Panzerjäger, signals, engineer and support regiments. The 157th fought in Italy until February 1945.

The 188th Gebirgsjäger Division was a reserve Division which was based in Innsbruck, Austria. In January 1944 it fought in Yugoslavia against Tito's Partisans surrendering to them in May 1945.

Two units were labeled the 9 Gebirgsjäger Division. Formed very late in the war but neither being an official unit, one was from Divisionsgruppe Kräutler ('Nord') in Norway while the other was from Kampfgruppe Semmering ('Ost'). It seems that these two units were the results of unrealised intentions to build up further Mountain Divisions, but since the war ended this was not to be. 'Nord' surrendered to the British, while 'Ost' surrendered to the Russians.

Into the Second World War the Waffen SS formed their own Gebirgs unit, the 6th 'Nord' Division, made up of Regiment 11 and Regiment 12, the SS-Gebirgs Artillerie Regiment 6 and SS-Sturmgeschutz Battterie 6. The Division was created on February 1941 in Norway and it's first action took place in Finland on the Lapland front in June 1941. This new unit suffered heavily on the Eastern Front. Further units were to follow fighting with limited success on several fronts. They were sent back to Finland in August 1942 . They fought the Soviets in Finnish Karelia until September 1944. The SS Gebirgsjäger School (SS-Hochgebirgsschule) was in Neustift.

The 'Desert Rat' General Rommel joined the a Württemberg infantry regiment as a cadet in 1910. For the following two years he trained as an officer at the military academy in Danzig. A year after the war started the young officer was wounded near Varennes. In late 1915 he was transferred as a first Lieutenant to a new elite troop, the Württemberg Mountain Battalion, which he led in the Vosges, the Carpathian Mountains, and finally in the Eastern Alps. In 1916, during the Battle of Caporetto in Italy, his mountain combat group breached the Italian fortification system and captured over nine thousand prisoners. In December 1917 Rommel received Germany's highest award for bravery, the Pour le mérite. His superior called him "a commander of genius whom his troops followed with blind trust anywhere." This most certainly followed on into World War Two with the Middle Eastern theatre where Edwin Rommel gained that now famous title, leading the predominantly Italian Afrika Korps. Rommel often wore the Bergmütze, a field cap, was more typically worn by the Gebirgsjäger rather than the standard issue steel helmet.

Other Mountain Units

10th Mountain Division, Light

Charles Minot 'Minnie' Dole, the president of the National Ski Patrol in the United States was promoted to call for the creation of a US Army Ski unit after the world saw the effectiveness of Finnish Ski troops against Russian Armour in 1939. From the fledgling 87th Mountain Infantry Battalion activated on the 8th December 1941, the nature of Mountain Infantry grew from its base at Fort Lewis in Washington.

The birth of the Division came sometime later on the 13th July, 1943, at Camp Hale in Colorado as the 10th Light Division (Alpine). Hale provided the necessary attitude of 9,200 feet in order for the troops to get used to the conditions they would be expected to fight in, and also the survival skills they needed for the inhospitable environment. On November 6, 1944, the 10th Division was redesigned the 10th Mountain Division. That same month the blue and white 'Mountain' tab was authorised.

Entering late into the war, the Division first saw combat in the North Apennine Mountains of Italy. After three failed attempts by other Divisions to assault Mount Belvedere. A night assault was decided on and with a 1,500 vertical assent the 10th Mountain were the ones to do it. With only a single Battalion of their own Gebirgsjäger there, after a hard climb the Germans were overwhelmed. The Americans pushed through, until, three days later at the cost of 850 casualties, they were within reach of the Apennine Mountain line. On April 14, 1945, the final phase of the war in Italy began. The 10th Mountain Division attacked toward the Po Valley spearheading the Fifth Army. The fighting was fierce with the loss of 553 mountain infantryman killed, wounded, or missing in the first day. Six days later the Division began breaking out of the Valley. April 23rd saw the 10th as the first division to reach the Po River.

The first battalion of the 87th Mountain Infantry, the original mountain infantry unit, made the crossing under fire in 50 light canvas assault boats. On the 27th the Mountain troops cut off the Germans' escape through the Brennner Pass. Fighting in Italy was soon to end, and the 10th Mountain Division would go down as one of the Elite US Infantry units of World War Two.

Based in upstate New York at Fort Drum the Division was officially reactivated on February 13, 1985, at Fort Drum where it got its Mountain status back, after the post war years spending most of its time training new recruits for other units of the Army. The division has unfortunately had little time to practice the arts of high altitude fighting as it has been concentrating on peacekeeping missions over the last few years. This has come by its means to act as a rapid response force where it has been able to be deployed to places like Mogadishu in Somalia and Uzbekistan.

During the 1991 Gulf War, the 548th Supply and Services Battalion of the Division deployed in support of the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division in Iraq. During Operation Uphold Democracy, Haiti over deployed in 1994-95. More recently the 10th Light was in Afghanistan the Division was charged with blocking actions against al-Qaeda in the Battle of Shah-i-Kot.

10th Mountain, Afghanistan

3/172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain)

3/172 Mountain

While the 10th Division holds to a history of mountain warfare, to discover a unit specifically trained for the rigors of Mountain Warfare as its primary specialist role in contemporary times, you need to look towards the Army National Guard. Created in 1982, the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain) Regiment is the only organic force in the US military formed to fight specifically in this environment. Their role is to "fight, survive, and win in a mountainous, cold weather environment." The Battalion consists of sub units in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and its HQ is based in Vermont.

As such each Guardsman of the 3/172 must complete the summer and winter phases of the Army's Mountain Warfare School at the Ethan Allan Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont. Success awards the graduate of the school the skill identifier "Echo", or Military Mountaineer. Members of all branches of the US military, including Special Forces, Coast Guard, FBI Hostage Rescue Teams and civilian police attend this school for the vital and unique skills training it provides. Many students hail from as far away as Australia and other mountain schools such as Chile, Pakistan and Austria, which only adds to the prestige of MWS Vermont.

In recent times elements of the 3/172nd have deployed to Afghanistan with the Oklahoma National Guard. C Co. of the battalion joined Operation Iraqi Freedom and have been appointed as an MP company charged with protecting military convoys throughout the Bala region.

Italian Alpini

Alpine Truppe

In the Italian Army there are three Alpine Brigades; 'Taurinense', 'Julia' and 'Tridentina'. They are collectively under the Alpine Troop Command (COMALP) based in Bolzano. It has the following assets assigned to it;

Alpine Training Centre
2nd Combat Engineer Regiment
4th 'Altair' Air Cavalry Regiment
16th Alpine Regiment (RAR)
24th 'Dolomiti' Logistics and Maintenance Regiment
'Monte Cervino' Alpine Parachute Battalion
'Edolo' (BAR) Battalion

Italian Mountain troops have been deployed in recent years to several UN missions including Mozambique and operation Ibis in Somalia. In more recent times during missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Italian Army deployed female soldiers within a combat unit. There are with the 14th Alpine Regiment, the main component of the Italian Battle Group (IBG). They are in Rogatica with the 72nd Company. Alpini soldiers' also taught Bosnian soldiers' mountaineering skills. The Italian Alpini wear a hat with a feather known as the Capello Alpino. Elite Alpini troops have taken part in operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces' in Afghanistan alongside US Special Forces, and the SAS.

Italian Alpine Regiment

27 Équipe d'Infanterie de Montagne

The 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade is the French Army's only mountain unit. The unit includes the famous French Chasseurs Alpins. In recent years reorganisation has meant the addition of heavy artillery and Main Battle Tanks into its ranks, providing additional organic firepower. Its flexibility and capacity to fight in this terrain and in urban surrounds lends it well to overseas deployments and peace keeping roles. As such it has seen deployment in Bosnia, Lebanon and Somalia.

The Brigade unit includes;

4e Chasseurs (4e RCh)
7e Mountain Rifles (7e BCA)
13e Mountain Rifles (13e BCA)
27e Mountain Rifles (27e BCA)
93e Mountain Artillerie (93e RAM)
2e Foreign Legion Engineers (2e REG)

French Chasseurs Alpins

Romanian Mountain Rifles

From the home of Count Dracula comes the Romanian Mountain Rifles, 'Vanatori de Munte'. Most of these soldiers are from a rural background and all hail from the Carpathian Mountains. This means that there is a major advantage with the environment in which these troops are trained to fight, and also, many are already skilled in areas useful to their units such as skiing or rock climbing. What personnel lack in modern equipment they make up for with a natural hardiness to the conditions. Romania is the only country to still, asides Switzerland, make extensive use of horses in the military. Their ability to carry large loads effectively over difficult terrain, even where it is even impossible for vehicles to travel, is a major asset. The Romanians did not assist the Soviets against the Hungarians in 1956 nor did they enter the fray when Czechoslovakia attempted to break away from the Communist Bloc. Situations have slowly been on the improve since Nicolae Ceausescu was opposed in 1989. Meanwhile budgets increase for the Romanian Army and efforts to enter NATO continue, with an emphasis on downsizing and modernization.

FINAL NOTE

Since I am not German speaking and research is often difficult at the best of times. Please contact me if you feel there needs to be any amendments, corrections or additions made to this article. Thank you. One key reason for the Gebirgsjäger project is the connection of this elite force with my own country of New Zealand, most specifically with regards the Battle of Crete. In the efforts of perceiving history, any personal accounts would be most gratefully received. Also, anyone who can claify the status of the French mountain forces as either a Division or a Brigade would be very helpful. It seems that the unit has been downsized?

Thanks to Matthias Kessler for his assistance. Thanks also to John Sampson, a graduate of the Mountain School in Jericho, Vermont, USA.

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Specialist kit such as crampons, goggles and Eispicke (Ice Axe) are vital as they always have been and every Mountain trooper is already, due to their previous experience, or will soon become, a first rate skier. Skiing allows a troop to move at incredible speed under even the most inhospitable terrain. Heavier weapons and equipment is often towed behind skiers on sledges.

The Gebirgsjäger played a part in every theatre of the European war and distingished themselves with their unique and prized skills of the mountain infantryman, to live on in the post war era. They were trained in climbing, skiing and rappelling and employed some special weapons including the Gewehr 33/40. This lightened carbine had a metal plate added to the right side of the butt enabling the Mountain trooper to use it for climbing without damaging the weapon.

The now famous Edelweiss is the renowned symbol of the German Mountain Infantryman. Otherwise known as the Lion's Foot, Edelweiss is found only in the highest of mountainous terrain and as such one needs to travel to very high altitudes in order to obtain it.

It must be said that many many more countries than can be referred to here have mountain troops, or at least those trained to some extent to operate in extreme weather conditions. Pakistan and India's mountain troops have been fighting it out for years, including upon the Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world. Almost anywhere where there is high altitude fighting to be done there are men trained for this specialist mission. At Andematt Zentralen Gebirgskampfschule (ZGKS) provide Mountain training for the Swiss Army which has four mountain divisions of three infantry and one artillery regiment each. There are also nine unique Fortification brigades.

The Royal Marines Commando have responsibilities of Arctic warfare and exercise in Norway regularly. Relatively young to this particular business the 3 Commando Brigade are forging their own prestigious history in these environments. Most specifically trained is the Brigade Patrol Troop (BPT), formerly the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre whose skills were of particular value during the Falklands War. During the Second World War Britian had the 52nd (lowland) Infantry Division trained in this specialist warfare but they were never called to action in this manner.

Some of the oldest mountain troops hail from Chile where the Andes covers a great majority of that country. The Chilean Army has a total of 13 Mountain Rifle Regiments. Expectantly, in countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Scandinavian countries, where mountains and cold weather are prevalent, soldiers, no matter their role will receive some form of training in operating in such environments as a matter of course. Canada, though mountains aren't an issue, most certainly cold weather is so there is some transperancy of skills there. The US Marines maintain the Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) in Bridgeport, California enabling their personnel in cold weather survival and arctic warfare skills.

Nick names given to the Mountain Troops by other members' of the Bundeswehr;

Edelweißpflücker - Edelweiss picker
Edelweißgeschwader - Edelweiss squadron
Gemsengrenadier - Chamois Grenadier

So who said the German's didn't have a sense of humour?

Links

http://www.gebirgsjager.de/ - Official German Gebirgsjager Site

http://www.bundeswehr.de/ - the German Army

Die Kommando-Kompanie Nagold - German Army Fallschirmjaeger Btl 252

Battle of Crete

Gebirgsjäger of World War Two

Royal Marines Commando

10th Mountain Division Association

Romanian Mountain Troops of World War Two