42nd Jäger Division (Wehrmacht)

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.

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 ''Jäger''s (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.

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

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.

Commanders

* ''General der Infanterie'' Walther Graeßner (15 October 1939 - 6 February 1940)
* ''Generalleutnant'' Konrad Stephanus (7 February 1940 - 15 August 1942)
* ''Generalleutnant'' Josef Brauner von Haydringen (15 August 1942 - 26 April 1944)
* ''Generalleutnant'' Walter Jost (26 April 1944 - 24 April 1945)

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)

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''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:42nd Jager Division (Wehrmacht)
Jäger Divisions
Military units and formations established in 1939
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945