42nd Jäger Division

42nd Jäger Division (German: 42. Jäger-Division) was a light infantry formation of the German Army during World War II. It can trace its origins to the 187th Infantry Division which was based in Austria until September 1942, when it was redesignated as the 187th Reserve Division. The 187th was sent to Croatia and was redesignated the 42nd Jäger Division in January 1944. 42. Jäger-Division was formed 22 Dec 1943 in Croatia from the 187. Reserve-Division. After taking part in Operation Margarthe, (the military occupation of Hungary) in March 1944, and then returned to Yugoslavia in May. In July 1944 the division was transferred to Italy where it remained for the rest of the war and surrendered in April 1945.[1][2]

42nd Jäger Division
42. Jäger Division Vehicle Insignia
Active1939–45
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsWorld War II

Background

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 the standard infantry divisions. The Jäger divisions were more heavily equipped than their 'mountain' counterparts, 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 (meaning 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.[3]

Adolf Hitler declared that all infantry divisions were to be Grenadier Divisions in 1943 except for his elite Jäger and Mountain Jaeger divisions.[3]

War crimes

The division is one of several implicated in the Ronchidoso massacre, Emilia-Romagna between 28 and 30 November 1944, when 66 civilians were executed.[4][5]

Commanders

Area of operations

As 187th Division
Austria (October 1939 - August 1942)

As 187th Reserve Division
Austria (August 1942 - September 1942)
Croatia (September 1942 - January 1944)

As 42nd Jäger Division
Croatia (January 1944 - March 1944)
Hungary (March 1944 - May 1944)
Yugoslavia (May 1944 - July 1944)
Italy (July 1944 - April 1945)[1]

Order of battle (1944)
  • Jäger Regiment 25
  • Jäger Regiment 40
  • Reconnaissance Battalion 142
  • Artillery Regiment 142
  • Pioneer Battalion 142
  • Panzerjäger (anti-tank) Kompanie 142
  • Mountain Flak Kompanie 142
  • Signals Battalion 142
  • Feldersatz Battalion 142
  • Versorgungseinheiten 142 [1]

References
  1. Wendal, Marcus. "42. Jäger-Division". Axis Hi.
  2. "42 jager division". Lexikon der Wehrmacht (German). Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  3. Mcoy, Breaker (2009). German Army 101st Light Division, 101st Jager Division 1941 - 42. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  4. "Ronchidoso, Gaggio Montano, 28-30.09.1944" (in Italian). Atlas of Nazi and Fascist Massacres in Italy. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  5. "42. Jäger–Division" (in Italian). Atlas of Nazi and Fascist Massacres in Italy. Retrieved 20 September 2018.

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