Unit Name: | 157th Infantry Division 157th Mountain Division 8th Mountain Division |
Native Name: | 157. Infanterie-Division 157. Gebirgs-Division 8. Gebirgs-Division |
Dates: | 1945 |
Type: | Gebirgsjäger |
Role: | Mountain warfare |
Size: | Division |
Identification Symbol 2: | Division arm insignia, monk with beer mug |
Battles: | World War II |
The 8th Mountain Division (German: 8. Gebirgs Division) was formed on 27 February 1945 by the redesignation of the 157th Mountain Division, which itself had been formed from the 157th Infantry Division in September 1944, and which had participated in operations against the maquis of Vercors. The division was stationed in France until the Italian surrender when it then moved to Italy taking 5,772 prisoners in two days during the disarmament of the Italian Army. The division remained in Italy for the rest of the war and surrendered to the Americans in April, 1945.[1] [2]