The German 5th Infantry Division (german: 5. Infanterie-Division) was formed in October 1934 and mobilized on 25 August 1939. The division's troops were garrisoned in
Konstanz
Konstanz (, , locally: ; also written as Constance in English) is a university city with approximately 83,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south of Germany. The city houses the University of Konstanz and was th ...
,
Ulm
Ulm () is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Danube on the border with Bavaria. The city, which has an estimated population of more than 126,000 (2018), forms an urban district of its own (german: link=no, ...
, and
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau (; abbreviated as Freiburg i. Br. or Freiburg i. B.; Low Alemannic: ''Friburg im Brisgau''), commonly referred to as Freiburg, is an independent city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With a population of about 230,000 (as o ...
.
[Tessin, p. 288] When formed, the division consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battalions of the 14th, 56th, and 75th Infantry Regiments, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 5th Artillery Regiment, the 1st battalion of the 41st Artillery Regiment, and assorted 5th Division support units.
The division sat out the
Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland (1 September – 6 October 1939) was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union which marked the beginning of World War II. The German invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week aft ...
on the
western front and first saw battle with the
Second Army during the
Campaign for France in 1940. Thereafter, the division was engaged in occupation duties in France until March 1941.
In April 1941, the division was sent to
East Prussia
East Prussia ; german: Ostpreißen, label=Low Prussian; pl, Prusy Wschodnie; lt, Rytų Prūsija was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and again from 1878 (with the Kingdom itself being part of the German Empire from 187 ...
and then took part in
the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, fighting in the vicinity of
Vyazma
Vyazma (russian: Вя́зьма) is a town and the administrative center of Vyazemsky District in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyazma River, about halfway between Smolensk, the administrative center of the oblast, and Mozhaysk. Throu ...
until the end of the year, when the division was pulled back to France for a two-month refit.
In 1942, the division returned to the
Eastern Front, took part in the fighting around
Demyansk
Demyansk (russian: Демя́нск) is an urban locality (a work settlement) and the administrative center of Demyansky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located along the Yavon River. Municipally, it is incorporated as Demyanskoye Urban Se ...
in March and April 1942 and fought in the area of
Staraja Russa until the close of 1943.
[Tessin, p. 289][Mitcham, p. 320]
In July 1942, the division was reorganized as a
Jäger division and renamed the 5. Jäger-Division.
The division retreated through the areas of
Vitebsk
Vitebsk or Viciebsk (russian: Витебск, ; be, Ві́цебск, ; , ''Vitebsk'', lt, Vitebskas, pl, Witebsk), is a city in Belarus. The capital of the Vitebsk Region, it has 366,299 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-largest ci ...
,
Kovel, and
Narev
The Narew (; be, Нараў, translit=Naraŭ; or ; Sudovian: ''Naura''; Old German: ''Nare''; uk, Нарва, translit=Narva) is a 499-kilometre (310 mi) river primarily in north-eastern Poland, which is also a tributary of the river Vist ...
during 1944. In early 1945, the division fought in the vicinities of
Neustettin
Szczecinek ( ; German until 1945: ''Neustettin'') is a historic city in Middle Pomerania, northwestern Poland, with a population of more than 40,000 (2011). Formerly in the Koszalin Voivodeship (1950–1998), it has been the capital of Szczecin ...
and
Dramburg
Drawsko Pomorskie (until 1948 pl, Drawsko; formerly german: Dramburg) is a town in Drawsko County in West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland, the administrative seat of Drawsko County and the urban-rural commune of Gmina Drawsko Pom ...
, with its last battles fought around
Freienwalde near the
Oder River during the
Battle of Berlin in April 1945. The division surrendered to the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...
at
Wittenberge
Wittenberge () is a town of eighteen thousand people on the middle Elbe in the district of Prignitz, Brandenburg, Germany.
Geography
Wittenberge is situated at the right (north-eastern) bank of the middle Elbe at its confluence with the Stepe ...
.
Background
The main purpose of the German Jäger Divisions was to fight in adverse terrain where smaller, coordinated units were
more facilely combat capable than the brute force offered by the standard infantry divisions. The Jäger divisions were
more heavily equipped than mountain division, but not as well armed as a larger infantry division. In the early stages of
the war, they were 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.
[
In 1943, ]Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
declared that all infantry divisions were now Grenadier Divisions except for his elite Jäger and Mountain Jaeger divisions.
Commanding officers
* ''Generalmajor'' Eugen Hahn, 1 October 1934 – 10 August 1938
* ''Generalleutnant'' Wilhelm Fahrmbacher
Wilhelm Fahrmbacher (19 September 1888 – 27 April 1970) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded several corps, including VII Corps, XXV Corps and LXXXIV Corps, fighting on both the Eastern Front and Wes ...
, August 1938 – 25 October 1940
*''Generalmajor'' Karl Allmendinger
Karl Allmendinger (3 February 1891 – 2 October 1965) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He commanded the 5th Infantry Division, V Army Corps then 17th Army on the Eastern Front. He was a recipient of the ...
, 25 October 1940 – renamed to 5. leichte Infanterie-Division
* ''General der Infanterie'' Karl Allmendinger
Karl Allmendinger (3 February 1891 – 2 October 1965) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He commanded the 5th Infantry Division, V Army Corps then 17th Army on the Eastern Front. He was a recipient of the ...
, November 1940 – June 1942
* ''Oberst'' Walter Jost
Walter Jost (25 July 1896 – 24 April 1945) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Jost was killed in action on 24 April 1945 in Villadose. Troops under his command ...
, June 1942 – redesignated to 5. Jäger-Division
*''General der Infanterie'' Karl Allmendinger
Karl Allmendinger (3 February 1891 – 2 October 1965) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He commanded the 5th Infantry Division, V Army Corps then 17th Army on the Eastern Front. He was a recipient of the ...
, July 1942 – 4 January 1943
*''General der Infanterie'' Helmut Thumm
__NOTOC__
Helmut Thumm (25 August 1895 – 13 July 1977) was a German general during World War II. After pulling Hitler Youth teenagers out of the front lines against orders from above, he was relieved of his command of the LXIV Army Corps on 20 J ...
, 4 January 1943 – 1 March 1944
*''Generalmajor'' Johannes Gittner, 1 March 1944 – 30 June 1944
*''General der Infanterie'' Helmut Thumm
__NOTOC__
Helmut Thumm (25 August 1895 – 13 July 1977) was a German general during World War II. After pulling Hitler Youth teenagers out of the front lines against orders from above, he was relieved of his command of the LXIV Army Corps on 20 J ...
, 30 June 1944 – 1 November 1944
*''Generalleutnant'' Friedrich Sixt __NOTOC__
Friedrich Sixt (28 October 1895 – 4 August 1976) was a German general during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.
Awards and deco ...
, 1 November 1944 – 19 April 1945
*''Generalleutnant'' Edmund Blaurock, 19 April 1945 – April 1945
See also
* Order of battle of the German Ninth Army, October 1941
References
Article Sources
*Hitler's Legions, Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr., Briarcliff Manor: Stein and Day, 1985.
*Burkhard Müller-Hillebrand: ''Das Heer 1933–1945. Entwicklung des organisatorischen Aufbaues.'' Vol. III: ''Der Zweifrontenkrieg. Das Heer vom Beginn des Feldzuges gegen die Sowjetunion bis zum Kriegsende''. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1969, p. 285.
*Georg Tessin: ''Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg, 1939–1945''. Vol. II: ''Die Landstreitkräfte 1–5''. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1966.
{{DEFAULTSORT:5th Jager Division (Wehrmacht)
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
Jäger Divisions
Military units and formations established in 1934
1942 establishments in Germany