Gebirgsjger

Video introduction to the American Edelweiss channel and a look at WW2 re-enacting. Our organization does not practice or condone any of the ideals of National Socialism, nor do we support the agendas of any past or contemporary racist organizations. This is the website of the 136th Regiment/2nd Gebirgsjger Division Re-enactor organization, a group... of men with an interest in military history. While many of us are involved with re-enacting and living history groups of other time periods and other armies, this website serves as a resource for the World War II German Gebirgsjger impression. The German Gebirgsjger (mountain infantry) of WW2 found its origins in the Alpenkorps of both the Royal Bavarian Army and the Austrian Alpenkorps of WWI, where they were used to defend the mountain passes from their Italian equivalent, Alpini. They were trained to operate in mountainous terrain and cold weather. The Austrians chose the edelweiss flower as their symbol in 1907 and this eventually became the universal emblem worn by all mountain troops. The flower only grows at higher altitudes and means "noble purity." Men from the Germanic tribes of pre-Christian Europe would bring these blossoms down from the mountains for their betrothed. That somewhat romantic notion endured through the political turbulence of the 1920s and the Nazi dictatorship that followed. Both Austria and Germany chose to grow their mountain infantry units in the 1930s. When Germany annexed Austria in 1938, the Deutsches Gebirgsjger Divisions were formed. There were 11 divisons of Das Heer (the army); some were mixed Austrian and German, some were exclusively German, and 8 divisons of Waffen SS. With the exception of the 6. SS Gebirgsjger Division Nord, the SS divisions were raised from the local populations of the Balkan countries and primarily assigned to anti-partisan, rear guard duty. Gebirgsjger divisions were used in virtually every theatre of WWII: including the invasions of Poland in 1939, Norway in 1940, Africa, Crete and the Balkans in 1941, ...Read More