7th Mountain Division (Wehrmacht) explained

Unit Name:	7th Mountain Division
Native Name:	7. Gebirgs-Division
Dates:	1941-1945
Type:	Gebirgsjäger
Role:	Mountain warfare
Size:	Division
Command Structure:	XXXVI Mountain Corps
Notable Commanders:	Robert Martinek
Identification Symbol:	Edelweiss Mountain boot
Nickname:	Bergschuh Division
Battles:	World War II

The 7th Mountain Division (German: 7. Gebirgs Division) was formed through the redesignation of 99th Light Infantry Division, which had fought on the southern sector of the Eastern Front until being withdrawn to Germany in October 1941. In 1942, it was sent to Finland and remained there until the Finnish withdrawal from the war. The Division retreated into Norway where it remained until the end of the War.^[1]

Commanders

• General der Gebirgstruppe Rudolf Konrad (1 November 1941 – 19 December 1941)
• Generalmajor Wilhelm Weiß (19 December 1941 – 1 January 1942)
• General der Artillerie Robert Martinek (1 January 1942 – 1 May 1942)
• Generalleutnant August Krakau (1 May 1942 – 22 July 1942)
• General der Artillerie Robert Martinek (22 July 1942 – 10 September 1942)
• Generalleutnant August Krakau (10 September 1942 – 8 May 1945) ^[1]

Order of battle

• 206. Gebirgsjäger Regiment
  • 1. Battalion
  • 2. Battalion
  • 3. Battalion
  • Mountain Panzerjäger Company (mot)
• 218. Gebirgsjäger Regiment
  • 1. Battalion
  • 2. Battalion
  • 3. Battalion
  • Mountain Panzerjäger Company (mot)
• 99. Panzerjäger Battalion
• 99. Reconnaissance Battalion
• 79. Mountain Artillery Regiment
  • 1. Battalion
  • 2. Battalion
  • 3. Battalion
  • 4. Battalion
• 99. Mountain Pioneer Battalion
• 99. Mountain Signals Battalion
• 54. Mountain Feldersatz Battalion
• 54. Ski Battalion
• 99. Supply Troops ^[1]

Finnish auxiliaries

In spring of 1944, the Division controlled several Finnish units that supported it. These were:

• • Frontier Battalions 7 and 8
  • Independent Battalions 8 and 11
  • Mortar Company 11
  • Gun Company 48
  • Light Artillery Battalion 17
  • Independent Armoured Car Platoons 7 and 9

Further reading

• James Lucas - Hitler's Mountain Troops: Fighting at the extremes
• Gordon Williamson - German Mountain & Ski Troops 1939-45
• Roland Kaltenegger - Schicksalsweg und Kampf der 'Bergschuh'-Division: Die Kriegschronik der 7. Gebirgs-Division vormals 99. leichte Infanterie-Division (in German)
• Emil Schuler - Mit dem Bergschuh in Rußland und Finnland: Kriegserlebnisse und Kriegserfahrungen der 7. Gebirgs Division, vormals 99. leichte Infanterie Division (in German)
• Dominic Balcom - Survival From The Mountains Troops

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wendal, Marcus. 7 Gebirgs Division. 2009-01-04. Axis History.