Dragon 6039 GERMAN SKI TROOP

The command of the German army, after the experience of fighting on the Eastern Front in 1941-1942, decided in 1943 to form a special unit of skiers intended for fighting in winter conditions. In 1944, this unit was transformed into a full division of skiers (German 1. Skijäger-Division). The main striking force of this division were two regiments of skiers, however, reinforced with numerous additional subunits, among others: an artillery regiment, an anti-tank battalion or a sapper battalion. It is worth adding that the new division was partially formed on the basis of already existing units, often having considerable combat experience. 1. Skijäger-Division fought as part of Army Group "Centrum" on the Eastern Front, starting its combat route with the battles on the Vistula River. Later, the formation, under the pressure of the Red Army, withdrew to the south-west, towards Slovakia, and later to the Czech Republic, where in May 1945 it capitulated to the Red Army.