Just wondering who used the stylised chamois first, 5th Gebirgsjäger Division or Kitzbühel ? Did the 5th Gebirgsjäger use the Kitzbühel logo or was that designed post war ?
5.Gebirgs-Division referred to it as the 'Kitzbüheler 'Gamsbock'' so it looks like they copied it from Kitzbühel. (From the book: Landsknecht oder idealistischer Trottel ?: Als Gebirgsjäger im Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 by Hans-Günther Unger)
Googled "Kitzbuhel 1938" & this photo came up on pinterest. Kitzbühel 1938 | Kitzbühel austria, Kitzbühel, Reiseziele See the Goldene Gams sign. British cars too.
Went off on a tangent earlier. Looked at the website of the hotel in the 1938 photo. Read up on the history of it. Kitzbühel Hotels 4 Star | Ski Hotels in Austria | Tiefenbrunner Here are the 2 Waltls listed here. Kitzbühel (2. Weltkrieg), Bezirk Kitzbühel, Tirol, Österreich Both killed in Russia in 1942.
Just looking through an eBay shop & saw this poster. There's that Gamsbock again . 5.Gebirgsjäger-Division - Feldgrau 5.Gebirgsjäger-Division CAMPAIGNS Greece, Crete 1941 Occupation of Crete 1941-1942
For the sake of German thoroughness : The (really prosaic) coat of arms justification: The town's coat of arms, which first appeared in 1365, symbolises the town's name with a fawn (Kitz) on a mountain [Bühel/Old German for: Hügel (hill)] as a speaking coat of arms. The stylised logo, on the other hand, was only designed by Alfons Walde in 1933, while the 5th Mountain Division was established in 1940 bittesehr Olli
Thanks for the info on Alfons Walde , I've been enjoying looking at his work. Never heard of him before.
Missed this one last night. Alfons Walde | Summer Themes Horn Chapel “Hornkapelle”, about 1924 Temperasketch on Paper, 3,14 x 5,90 in (8 x 15 cm)
Anyone interested in the divisional history of the 5. Gebirgsjäger Division; I have it on offer for € 30,00 (excl. shipping costs): Bought it because of the Italian Campaign, but found that part quite sketchy. Most of the book deals in detail with the Greece and Crete campaigns 1941. German language hardcover, with 324 pp. Condition is good.
Owen - to avert further acoustic disaster: "Hurra, die Gams!" is used originally as a triumphant expression (Someone who bangs the trump cards on the table at a cards play, for example) The battle cry "Hurra, die Gams!" otherwise (still used today in the Bundeswehr by the High Alpine Platoon of the Gebirgsjäger) is the alpine equivalent to the "Horrido" of the Jägertruppe. Horrido, in turn is derived from the call of the pack leader during ancient battues to cheer the hunting dogs. (originally "Ho' Rüd' Ho' " - meaning: Up, male dog, up!) For reasons of good taste, I refuse to deal with the use of this phrase in Bavarian-Austrian folk music - Please don't do that again, PLEASE! regards Oli