Kaiserslautern 40/15 28th Jäger Division / 83rd Regiment
ABOUT US
Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is located within Gau Westmark (Gau 40) west of the Rhine along the borders of France, and Luxembourg. World War II had a major effect on Kaiserslautern with more than 60% of the city bombed and destroyed by allied aircraft. The railway and several main roads were primary targets. Heaviest attacks occurred 7 January, 11 August, and 28 September 1944. Of the 20,000 homes, 11,000 were destroyed or damaged. The cemetery wall opposite Kleber Kaserne still bears shell marks of these raids. On 20 March 1945, as the last of Bradley's 1st Army crossed the Rhein River at Remagen, the US 80th Division, 319th Infantry (part of Patton's 3rd Army) seized Kaiserslautern without resistance.
The Jäger Divisions
The purpose behind the Jäger (Hunter) Divisions was to fight in areas where smaller, more well coordinated, and highly mobile units could operate more effectively. While smaller and less heavily armed than standard infantry divisions, Jäger divisions were more heavily equipped than their Gebirgsjäger (Mountain) division counterparts. The Jäger model of organization, which consists of two infantry regiments, became the model adopted by all other German infantry units later in the war.
The 28th Jäger Division was originally formed October 1936 in Breslau, Silesia as the 28th Infantry Division, drawing it's manpower from this region. It's divisional nickname: "Eisernes Kreuz Schlesische Division" or Iron Cross Silesian Division stayed with it throughout the war. In December of 1941, after heavy fighting and casualties in the battles for the Crimea and Sevastopol, the unit was reconstituted as the 28th Leicht-Infanterie Division. In July of 1942, the unit was again reconstituted, this time, as the 28th Jäger Division were the unit saw action on the Leningrad Front, Opotschka, Kowel, and Minsk. The 28th fought through valiantly till the end of the war where it surrendered to the Russians in Samland, East Prussia.
The Volkssturm
The Volkssturm (or People's Storm) was established 18 October 1944 on the order of Hitler. Although a national militia existed on paper since 1925, this "home guard" was raised to free additional military units for the front and provide manpower to fill the gaps in advance of the invading Allied Armies. Duties would include guarding bridges and railways, supply areas, POW camps, and other assignments deemed necessary. Men between the ages of 16-60 who were not already in military service or in essential industries, and those deemed unfit for active service were conscripted to fill the ranks. Many were veterans of the First World War. Training and morale were often very low in some of these units with some members choosing to surrender rather than fight. In the East, however, the Russian Army was so feared that many of these units had a little more motivation for fighting rather than surrendering thus these units fared slightly better in combat.
Kaiserslautern is located within Gau Westmark (Gau 40) west of the Rhine along the borders of France, and Luxembourg. World War II had a major effect on Kaiserslautern with more than 60% of the city bombed and destroyed by allied aircraft. The railway and several main roads were primary targets. Heaviest attacks occurred 7 January, 11 August, and 28 September 1944. Of the 20,000 homes, 11,000 were destroyed or damaged. The cemetery wall opposite Kleber Kaserne still bears shell marks of these raids. On 20 March 1945, as the last of Bradley's 1st Army crossed the Rhein River at Remagen, the US 80th Division, 319th Infantry (part of Patton's 3rd Army) seized Kaiserslautern without resistance.
The Jäger Divisions
The purpose behind the Jäger (Hunter) Divisions was to fight in areas where smaller, more well coordinated, and highly mobile units could operate more effectively. While smaller and less heavily armed than standard infantry divisions, Jäger divisions were more heavily equipped than their Gebirgsjäger (Mountain) division counterparts. The Jäger model of organization, which consists of two infantry regiments, became the model adopted by all other German infantry units later in the war.
The 28th Jäger Division was originally formed October 1936 in Breslau, Silesia as the 28th Infantry Division, drawing it's manpower from this region. It's divisional nickname: "Eisernes Kreuz Schlesische Division" or Iron Cross Silesian Division stayed with it throughout the war. In December of 1941, after heavy fighting and casualties in the battles for the Crimea and Sevastopol, the unit was reconstituted as the 28th Leicht-Infanterie Division. In July of 1942, the unit was again reconstituted, this time, as the 28th Jäger Division were the unit saw action on the Leningrad Front, Opotschka, Kowel, and Minsk. The 28th fought through valiantly till the end of the war where it surrendered to the Russians in Samland, East Prussia.
The Volkssturm
The Volkssturm (or People's Storm) was established 18 October 1944 on the order of Hitler. Although a national militia existed on paper since 1925, this "home guard" was raised to free additional military units for the front and provide manpower to fill the gaps in advance of the invading Allied Armies. Duties would include guarding bridges and railways, supply areas, POW camps, and other assignments deemed necessary. Men between the ages of 16-60 who were not already in military service or in essential industries, and those deemed unfit for active service were conscripted to fill the ranks. Many were veterans of the First World War. Training and morale were often very low in some of these units with some members choosing to surrender rather than fight. In the East, however, the Russian Army was so feared that many of these units had a little more motivation for fighting rather than surrendering thus these units fared slightly better in combat.
- excerpts in part from Wikipedia
A MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC
War is not something we glorify but learn from. There are many stories to be told and Volkssturm and Jagers are ones we choose to tell. We are like any museum or film but one which you can see live and can interact with. Stop by and visit us at any living history event. We'll be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you may have about our respective units.
all images obtained through various sources on the internet...
