8th Mountain Division (Wehrmacht)
Defense of the invasion of Italy
The 8th Mountain Division was a major unit of the mountain troops of the Wehrmacht in World War II.
History
The 157th Reserve Division ( military district Garmisch VII ) was on October 1, 1944 was reclassified to the 157th Mountain Division and renamed on 27 February 1945 in 8 Mountain Division. 1942, still as a Reserve Division, the troops were moved to France and used there in the southeast as an occupation force.
In April 1944, the division took part in the company " Spring" for anti-partisan part. After the Allied invasion of southern France on 15 August 1944, their use against large groups of partisans, saboteurs and Allied Paratroopers in the spaces around Besancon, Lyon, Grenoble and Avignon.
After discontinuation of the use areas in southern France, the division moved to the French-Italian border back with the mission to defend the high mountain passes in the Western Alps. In January 1945, the Division was relieved by the 5th Mountain Division and in the area south of Bologna ( Italy) relocated, first as a reserve, then used for the relief of the 4th Parachute Division.
The troops were involved in heavy defensive fighting in the Apennines and eventually pushed back to the Po. After last missions on Lake Garda and the Adige valley surrendered the remnants of the Division on Monte Pasubio (Dolomites).
Commanders
- Lieutenant General Paul Schricker - Establish the 157th Mountain Division until the surrender
Structure
- Mountain Infantry Regiment 296 ( I. -III. )
- Mountain Infantry Regiment 297 ( I. -III. )
- Mountain Artillery Regiment in 1057 ( I-IV )
- Tank Destroyer Division 1057
- Mountain Engineer Battalion in 1057
- Mountain news department in 1057
- Field Replacement Battalion in 1057
- Mountain division supply officer in 1057
Ersatzgestellung
- Staff: Mountaineer replacement battalion I./98 in Mittenwald