| 5th Infantry Division 5th Jäger Division | |
|---|---|
| German:5. Infanterie-Division 5. Jäger-Division | |
 Unit insignia | |
| Active | October 1934 – 8 May 1945 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  German Army |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Freiburg |
TheGerman 5th Infantry Division (German:5. Infanterie-Division) was formed in October 1934 and mobilized on 25 August 1939. The division's troops were garrisoned inKonstanz,Ulm, andFreiburg.[1] When formed, the division consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battalions of the 14th, 56th, and 75th Infantry Regiments, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 5th Artillery Regiment, the 1st battalion of the 41st Artillery Regiment, and assorted 5th Division support units.[1]
The division sat out theInvasion of Poland on thewestern front and first saw battle with theSecond Army during theCampaign for France in 1940. Thereafter, the division was engaged in occupation duties in France until March 1941.[1]
In April 1941, the division was sent toEast Prussia and then took part inthe invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, fighting in the vicinity ofVyazma until the end of the year, when the division was pulled back to France for a two-month refit.[2]
In 1942, the division returned to theEastern Front, took part in the fighting aroundDemyansk in March and April 1942 and fought in the area ofStaraja Russa until the close of 1943.[3][4]
In July 1942, the division was reorganized as aJäger division and renamed the5. Jäger-Division.[1]
The division retreated through the areas ofVitebsk,Kovel, andNarev during 1944. In early 1945, the division fought in the vicinities ofNeustettin andDramburg, with its last battles fought aroundFreienwalde near theOder River during theBattle of Berlin in April 1945. The division surrendered to theRed Army atWittenberge.[3]
The main purpose of the German Jäger Divisions was to fight in adverse terrain where smaller, coordinated units weremore facilely combat capable than the brute force offered by the standard infantry divisions. The Jäger divisions weremore heavily equipped than mountain division, but not as well armed as a larger infantry division. In the early stages ofthe war, they were the interface divisions fighting in rough terrain and foothills as well as urban areas, between themountains and the plains. The Jägers (meanshunters 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.[5]
In 1943,Adolf Hitler declared that all infantry divisions were now Grenadier Divisions except for his elite Jäger and Mountain Jaeger divisions.[5]
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