German 2nd Mountain Division
Encyclopedia
The German 2nd Mountain Division was raised in 1938 from the former Austrian 6th Mountain Division
and German mountain troops. It fought as part of Army Group South
during the Invasion of Poland
(1939, attacking from the territory of Slovak State), then took part in the invasion of Norway
in 1940, and attempted to relieve the beleaguered 3rd Mountain Division
at Narvik
. In 1941 it moved into Lapland to participate in Operation Silberfuchs, the attack on the Soviet Arctic as part of Operation Barbarossa
. In late 1944 it withdrew to Norway and then transferred to Denmark
. In 1945, it fought on the Western Front
, where it was engaged in heavy combat near Trier
.
The Allies
destroyed much of the division near Württemberg
towards the end of the war, with survivors surrendering to the Americans.
Austrian 6th Mountain Division
The Austrian 6th Mountain Division was a division of alpine troops that eventually was folded into the 2nd Mountain Division after Austria became part of Nazi Germany....
and German mountain troops. It fought as part of Army Group South
Army Group South
Army Group South was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.- Poland campaign :Germany used two army groups to invade Poland in 1939: Army Group North and Army Group South...
during the Invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
(1939, attacking from the territory of Slovak State), then took part in the invasion of Norway
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
in 1940, and attempted to relieve the beleaguered 3rd Mountain Division
German 3rd Mountain Division
The 3rd Mountain Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was created from the Austrian Army's 5th and 7th Divisions following the Anschluss in 1938.-History:...
at Narvik
Battles of Narvik
The Battles of Narvik were fought from 9 April-8 June 1940 as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian city of Narvik as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War....
. In 1941 it moved into Lapland to participate in Operation Silberfuchs, the attack on the Soviet Arctic as part of Operation Barbarossa
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...
. In late 1944 it withdrew to Norway and then transferred to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. In 1945, it fought on the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
, where it was engaged in heavy combat near Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
.
The Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
destroyed much of the division near Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
towards the end of the war, with survivors surrendering to the Americans.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Valentin FeursteinValentin FeursteinValentin Feurstein was an Austrian military officer serving in the Austrian and German armies.Feurstein served in the Austrian Bundesheer in the 1930s. He served as Commander of 3.Division...
(1 April 1938 - 4 March 1941) - Generalleutnant Ernst Schlemmer (4 March 1941 - 2 March 1942)
- Generalleutnant Georg Ritter von HenglGeorg Ritter von HenglGeorg Ritter von Hengl was a highly decorated General der Gebirgstruppe in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XIX Mountain Corps. 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...
(2 March 1942 - 23 October 1943) - Generalleutnant Hans DegenHans DegenHans Degen was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. 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 military leadership...
(1 November 1943 - 6 February 1945) - Oberst Hans Roschmann, (6 February 1945 - 9 February 1945)
- Generalleutnant Willibald UtzWillibald UtzWillibald Utz 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...
, (9 February 1945 - German capitulation)