100th Jäger Division (Wehrmacht)
The 100th Jäger Division (German: 100. Jäger-Division), initially designated 100th (Light) Infantry Division (100. (leichte) Infanterie-Division), was a light infantry division of the German Army during World War II. As such, it was provided with partial horse or motor transport and lighter artillery. Light divisions were reduced in size compared to standard infantry divisions. The Walloon Legion was briefly attached to this division from January 1942 to May 1942.[1] During the latter stages of the war, the division was composed of members from most of Germany's geographic areas and many German-speaking Walloons (Belgian/French).
| 100th Jäger Division | |
|---|---|
| German: 100. Jäger-Division | |
 Unit logos of the 100th Jäger division | |
| Active | 10 October 1940 – 1945 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | light infantry |
| Size | Division |
Background
edit
The main purpose of the German Jäger Divisions was to fight in adverse terrain where smaller, coordinated formations were more facilely combat capable than the brute force offered by their standard infantry counterparts. The Jäger divisions were more heavily equipped than the mountain Gebirgsjäger equivalents, but not as well armed as a larger infantry division. In the early stages of the war, it was the interface divisions fighting in rough terrain and foothills as well as urban areas, between the mountains and the plains. The Jägers (means "hunters" in German) relied on a high degree of training, and slightly superior communications, as well as their not inconsiderable artillery support. In the middle stages of the war, as the standard infantry divisions were downsized, the Jäger structure of divisions with two infantry regiments, became the standard table of organization.[2]
In 1944, Adolf Hitler declared that all infantry divisions were now Volksgrenadier Divisions except for his elite Jäger and Mountain Jäger divisions.[2]
Operational history
editInitially established in December 1940 as the 100th Light Infantry Division, the unit was raised in Upper Austria, and based in Ried. The 54th Jäger Regiment was detached from the 18th Infantry. The division comprised two-thirds Austrian and one-third Silesian men.
The 100th Light Infantry Division's first campaign as a fighting force was Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, where it served with the 17th Army in the Southern Sector. Its first campaign was in the Battle of Uman, followed by action at Kiev and Odessa.[3]
In October, the 369th Reinforced Croatian Infantry Regiment was attached to the division to bolster its size when attacking the Eastern Front.[4]
The formation was the only German Jäger Division that fought at the Battle of Stalingrad. The 100th Light Infantry Division, along with the 369th Reinforced Croatian Infantry Regiment, was virtually destroyed at Stalingrad.
After the destruction of the division at Stalingrad, it was reformed in March 1943. During the period of restoration, the division was moved to Albania, where it was tasked with combating partisan groups. The situation became more complicated when Italy switched sides in September 1943. The division had to secure the coast from the Italians. In December 1943 the division received a new tactical sign. A green oak leaf and a white sign.
At the beginning of January 1944, the division was moved to Hungary, where it was supposed to take part in Operation Margarethe alongside other Axis forces. After a regime change in Hungary, the division should be relocated to southern France. However, in early March, the division was instead tasked with relieving the encircled 2nd Army in the Zlotyky and Podajec area.
At the Strypa,
the division was positioned defensively at the river Styrpa. After the initial battles in March, the unit was instructed to dig in and hold their position. The unit received reinforcements and new officers. In early May, the division was supplied with new anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust to defend against the mass of Russian tanks. During Operation Bagration, the division saw little action. However, at 19 July, the division was forced to retreat to the Carpathian Mountains.
Carpathian Mountains and Slovakia
During this time, the division had time to rest again. The tank destroyer battalion was sent to Mlawa for training. After losing the Carpathian position, the division had to retreat to the ridge area, where it received a large number of defensive fighters. When the front stabilized, the division was transported to the Ludwig position in Slovakia on October 10th.
In the new position, the division received new recruits. On October 3rd, the trained tank destroyer units returned with new weapons, including the Panzerjäger IV. In the final battle in Slovakia, the division had its first encounter with IS-2 tanks, which it destroyed in combat.
On 1 January 1945, the 100th Jäger Division, then under Army Group Heinrici of Army Group A had a strength of 9,669 men.[5]: 504
Divisional order of battle
edit- 54th Jäger Regiment (moved from 18th Infantry Division)
- 227th Jäger Regiment
- 83rd Artillery Regiment
- 100th Reconnaissance Battalion
- 100th Panzerjäger Battalion
- 100th Engineer Battalion
- 100th Signal Battalion
- 100th Field Replacement Battalion
- 100th Divisional Supply Troops
- 369th (Croatian) Reinforced Infantry Regiment (attached from October 1941)
Commanding officers
edit- Lieutenant General Werner Sanne (10 October 1940 – 31 January 1943)
- Lieutenant General Willibald Utz (25 April 1943 – 1 January 1945)
- Major General Otto Schury (1 February 1945 – May 1945)
References
editNotes
edit- ^ De Bruyne, Eddy. For Rex and for Belgium: Leon Degrelle and Walloon Political & Military Collaboration 1940-45.
- ^ a b Mcoy, Breaker (2009). German Army 101st Light Division, 101st Jäger Division 1941 – 42. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
- ^ Mitcham, 2012, pp. 247–248
- ^ Muller, 2012, pp. 97–98
- ^ Lakowski, Richard (2008). "Der Zusammenbruch der deutschen Verteidigung zwischen Ostsee und Karpaten". In Müller, Rolf-Dieter (ed.). Die Militärische Niederwerfung der Wehrmacht. Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg (in German). Vol. 10/1. München: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. pp. 491–681. ISBN 9783421062376.
Bibliography
edit- Hanns Neidhardt, Mit Tanne und Eichenlaub— Kriegschronik der 100. Jäger Division vormals 100. leichte Infanterie Division, Leopold Stocker Verlag Graz-Stuttgart, ISBN 3-7020-0373-8.
- Muller, Rolf-Dieter (2012). The Unknown Eastern Front: The Wehrmacht and Hitler's Foreign Soldiers. New York: I.B. Taurus. ISBN 978-1-78076-072-8.
- Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). German Order of Battle, Volume 2: 291st–999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in World War II. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-81173-437-0.