8th Jäger Division
Encyclopedia
The German 8th Infantry Division (8. Infanterie-Division) was formed in Oppeln on 1 October 1934 under the cover name Artillerieführer III which was used until 15 October 1935. It was mobilized in August 1939 and took part in the Polish Campaign, the Battle of France
and the invasion of the Soviet Union
. On 1 December 1941, it was reorganized and redesignated 8th Light Infantry Division. It was again redesignated on 30 June 1942 as the 8th Jäger Division. It surrendered to the Red Army
in Moravia
in May 1945.
In 1943, Adolf Hitler
declared that all infantry divisions were now Grenadier Divisions except for his elite Jäger and Mountain Jaeger divisions.
As 8th Light Infantry Division
As 8th Jäger Division
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
and the invasion of the Soviet Union
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
. On 1 December 1941, it was reorganized and redesignated 8th Light Infantry Division. It was again redesignated on 30 June 1942 as the 8th Jäger Division. It surrendered to the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
in May 1945.
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 down sized, the Jäger model with two infantry regiments came to dominate the standard tables of organization.In 1943, Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
declared that all infantry divisions were now Grenadier Divisions except for his elite Jäger and Mountain Jaeger divisions.
Area of operations
- Poland (September 1939 – May 1940)
- France (May 1940 – June 1941)
- Eastern front (June 1941 – December 1941)
As 8th Light Infantry Division
- France (December 1941 – March 1942)
- Eastern front, northern sector (March 1942 – June 1942)
As 8th Jäger Division
- Eastern front, northern sector (June 1942 – March 1944)
- Eastern front, southern sector (March 1944 – May 1945)
Commanders
- General der Kavallerie Rudolf Koch-ErpachRudolf Koch-ErpachRudolf Koch-Erpach was an officer in the German Army during World War II.Koch-Erpach was born in Munich, and became a General of the Cavalry . In 1939, he commanded the German 8th Infantry Division during the invasion of Poland...
(15 October 1935 – 25 October 1940) - General der InfanterieGeneral der InfanterieGeneral of the Infantry is a military rank of a General officer and refers to:* General of the Infantry * General of the Infantry...
Gustav HöhneGustav HöhneGustav Höhne was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held commands at the division and corps levels. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(25 October 1940 – 23 July 1942) - General der Panzertruppen Gerhard Graf von SchwerinGerhard von SchwerinGerhard Helmuth Detloff Graf von Schwerin was a German army General in World War II. As General der Panzertruppe, he was tasked with defending the city of Aachen while in command of the 116th Panzer Division "Windhund" .By the time the 3rd US Armored Division reached Aachen on 13 September 1944,...
(23 July 1942 – 13 November 1942) - General der GebirgstruppeGeneral der GebirgstruppeGeneral der Gerbirgstruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1940....
Friedrich-Jobst Volckamer von KirchensittenbachFriedrich-Jobst Volckamer von KirchensittenbachFriedrich-Jobst Volckamer von Kirchensittenbach was a highly decorated General der Gebirgstruppe in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 16. Armee. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(13 November 1942 – 1 September 1944) - Generalleutnant Christian PhilippChristian PhilippChristian Philipp was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
(1 September 1944 – April 1945)
Order of battle
- JägerJäger (military)Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
Regiment 28 - Jäger Regiment 38
- Radfahr Battalion 8
- Artillery Regiment 8
- Pionier Battalion 8
- PanzerjägerPanzerjägerPanzerjäger was a branch of service of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War which were the anti-tank arm-of-service who operated anti-tank artillery, and made exclusive use of the tank destroyers which were also named Panzerjäger...
Battalion 8 - Signals Battalion 8
- Feldersatz Battalion 8
- Versorgungseinheiten 8