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Unit Bio

Area of Operations​:

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As 8th Infantry Division

  • Poland (September 1939 – May 1940)

  • France (May 1940 – June 1941)

  • Eastern front (June 1941 – December 1941)

As 8th Light Infantry Division

  • France (December 1941 – March 1942)

  • Eastern front, northern sector (March 1942 – June 1942)

As 8th Jäger Division

  • Eastern front, northern sector (June 1942 – March 1944)

  • Eastern front, southern sector (March 1944 – May 1945)

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Background:

*The main purpose of the German Jäger Divisions was to fight in adverse terrain where smaller, coordinated units were more facilely combat capable than the brute force offered by the standard infantry divisions. The Jäger divisions were more heavily equipped than mountain divisions, 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 (means 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.

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