The Hochgebirgs-Jäger-Bataillon 3 was formed on 20 November 1943 from half the I./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 98 which at that time was on active service in the Epirus area in Greece. The original units left that theatre at the end of October 1943 to be reorganized at Admont, Austria, in Wehrkreis XVIII and formed a battalion of four Companies, three of which were Jäger and the fourth a heavy weapons Company. A battery of mountain guns [from 5./Geb.Art.Rgt. 79, Kufstein] also formed part of the service as a Heerestruppe unit in Italy. During Fall 1944 it became a regular Gebirgsjäger Btl. of 157. Gebirgs-Division. and finally during the time period October-December 1944 it was redesignated III./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 296 of 157. Gebirgs-Division. The war service of the Btl. included the battles for Monte Cassino and the fightings at Monte La Pezze.

Commanders

Major Friedrich Bader (14 [appointed] / 20 Nov 1943 - 20 June 1944)
Hauptmann Ludwig Eisinger (20 June 1944 - Dec 1944)

Area of operations

Italy (? 1944 – December 1944)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the German Cross in Gold (4)
- Eisinger, Ludwig, 14.07.1944, Hauptmann, Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
- Gstrein, Alois, 14.07.1944, Hauptmann d.R., 1./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
- Lepold, Albert, 21.02.1944, Feldwebel, 1./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
- Maier, Georg, 14.07.1944, Oberjäger, 1./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (2)
- Bader, Friedrich, 17.07.1944, Major, Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
- Bader, Martin, 07.07.1944, Oberleutnant, 4./Hochgeb.Jäg.Btl. 3
Holders of the Knight's Cross (2)
- Bader, Friedrich 12.08.1944 Major Kdr Hochgebirgs-Jäg.Btl 3
- Gsinn, Josef 20.07.1944 Oberfeldwebel Zugführer i. d. 4./Hochgebirgs-Jäg.Btl 3

Order of battle

Stab
1. – 3. Jäger-Kp
4. schwere Kp
Gebirgs-Batterie

Sources used

James Lucas - Hitler's Mountain Troops, Cassel Military Classics, 1992, 1999
Roland Kaltenegger - Spezialverbände der Gebirgstruppe 1939-1945
Roland Kaltenegger - Die deutsche Gebirgstruppe 1935-1945

Reference material on this unit

None known at this time