A Tale of Three Uncles

Walter Hanel

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Walter was born on 26 August 1920 in Gros-Raden, Czechoslovakia. His rank was Obergefreiter. He served in the 5th Kompanie, Jäger-Regiment 28, 8 Jäger Division, and was reported missing in action on 24 January 1945. Jäger ("Hunter") Divisions traditionally existed in the Wehrmacht and were extremely mobile and lightly equipped formations. They were highly suitable for the type of combat that characterized the final months of the war in the East. They operated much like mountain units, performing administratively and tactically independent of the usual armor or heavy artillery. Utilizing their very mobile light cannon (75mm) and generously issued Panzerfausts, Jäger formations of any size could be quite effective in defending cities which were nearly rubble since they could be easily deployed and were quick to displace and re-entrench themselves. The Jäger Arm Badge (or Jäger Abzeichen) was worn on both the M-43 Field Cap (Einheitzfeldmütze) and the right sleeve of the tunic (see below; the tunic pictured is that of an Obergefreiter, Walter's rank) and greatcoat. A certain amount of pride was felt by the soldiers who wore the Jäger arm and cap badge due to their kinship with the regular mountain troops, who were held in high esteem by soldiers and civilians. The arm badge (above) was dominated by three green oak leaves that extended from a small brown twig, along with a a single green acorn. These elements were embroidered on a dark green background and were ringed with a light green rope.

	8.Jäger-Division
History	The 8.Jäger-Division was renamed from the 8.leicht-Infanterie-Division in June, 1942. The 8.leicht-Infanterie-Division was reformed from the 8.Infanterie-Division in December, 1941. After the 8.leicht-Infanterie-Division was formed in December, 1941, it was sent to the northern sector of the Eastern Front. While there, it took part in operations to break the siege of the Demyansk Pocket. While fighting in the nothern sector of the Eastern Front, it was renamed as the 8.Jäger-Division in June, 1942. Taking part in further operations in the northern sector, mostly defensive, the 8.Jäger was then transfered to the southern sector of the front in March, 1944, after the German withdrawl from the region of Leningrad began. It then fought in the defensive withdrawl through the Ukraine region until it was pushed into the region of Czechoslovakia where it was surrounded by the Soviets in April, 1945. The 8th surrendered to the Soviets shortly after in May, 1945.
Organization	28.Jäger-Regiment 38.Jäger-Regiment 8.Artillerie-Regiment 8th Divisional Support Units
Commanders	General der Infanterie Gustav Hoehne, cont - 7/23/42 General der Panzertruppen Gerhard Graf von Schwerin, 7/23/42-11/13/42 ??, 11/13/42-12/1/42 General der Gebrigstruppen Friedrick-Jobst Volckamer von Kirchensittenbach, 12/1/42-9/1/44 Generalleutnant Christian Philipp, 9/1/44-4/??/45
Schematische Kriegsgliederung	Date Corps Army Army Group Area 12.41 - 2.42 VIII 1. Armee D France 3.42 - 7.42 X 16. Armee Nord Demjansk 8.42 - 2.43 II 16. Armee Nord Demjansk 3.43 - 5.43 X 16. Armee Nord Ilmensee 6.43 Reserve 16. Armee Nord Ilmensee 7.43 - 2.44 X 16. Armee Nord Ilmensee 3.44 XXXVIII 18. Armee Nord Pleskau 4.44 Reserve Nord Pleskau 5.44 - 9.44 XVII 8. Armee Südukraine Carpathian Mountains 10.44 - 11.44 XVII 8. Armee Süd North Hungary, Slovakia 12.44 - 1.45 XXIX 8. Armee Süd North Hungary, Slovakia 2.45 - 3.45 LXXII 8. Armee Süd Slovakia, Mähren 4.45 XXIX 1. Pz. Armee Mitte Slovakia, Mähren 5.45 XXIV 1. Pz. Armee Mitte Mähren