3. Gebirgs-Divison was formed on 1 April 1938 from the 5. Division and 7. Division of the Austrian Bundesheer.

It fought in Poland as a part of Heeresgruppe Süd but was transfered to the Western front before the campaign was over to guard the western border.

The division took part in the invasion of Norway and fought in the northern parts of the country. Gebirgsjäger Regiment 139 fought at Narvik and seized it. The regiment was then besieged by a British Expeditionary Force which succeded in retaking the city. The regiment was saved from destruction by the surrender of the Norwegian government.

It took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union and advanced om the artic port of Murmansk but was repulsed by the soviet counter-attacks. It later fought on the southern sector of the eastern front and took part in the failed attempt to relieve the german forces at Stalingrad. It retreated through Hungary, Slovakia and ended the war in Southern Silesia.

Holders of high awards
Holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold (3)
  Hollerer, Franz, 01.11.1944, Obergefreiter, Gruppenführer i. d. 4./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 138
  Pickl, Alois, 22.02.1945, Feldwebel d.R., Zugführer i. d. 3./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 144
  Reinau, Ernst, 05.01.1945, Oberjäger d.R., Gruppenführer i. d. 2./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 138
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (3)
  Knöpfler, Raimund, 25.02.1945 (5489), Hauptmann, Geb.Jäg.Felders.Btl. 112
  Müller, Konrad, 27.12.1944 (5072), Feldwebel, Zugführer i. d. 9./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 144
  Rath, Hermann, 25.09.1944 (3982), Oberst, Kdr. Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 138
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (89)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (1)
  Haas, Franz, 26.04.1945, Hauptwerkmeister, IV./Geb.Art.Rgt. 112
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (24)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (34)
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (1)
  1. Gebirgs-Division und 3. Gebirgs-Division
  Date/Place of Action: 21.08.1942 Besteigung des Elbrus-Gipfels
  Award Date: 14.12.1942 / Vorschlagsbuch (1423)
Holders of the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty, 1st Class with Swords (1)
  Kreysing, Hans, 26.10.1941, Generalmajor, Kdr. 3. Geb.Div.

Order of battle

138. Gebirgsjäger Regiment

   1. Battalion

   2. Battalion

   3. Battalion

139. Gebirgsjäger Regiment

   1. Battalion

   2. Battalion

   3. Battalion

112. Gebirgs Artillery Regiment

   1. Battalion

   2. Battalion

12. Gebirgs Reconnaissance Battalion

48. Gebirgs Panzerabwehr Battalion

82. Gebirgs Pioneer Battalion

68. Gebirgs Feldersatz Battalion

68. Gebirgs Signals Battalion

68. Gebirgs Supply Troops

Service Troops

Notable members
Josef "Sepp" Allerberger (sniper credited with 257 kills, Franz Karner is a pseudonym for him)
Matthäus Hetzenauer (sniper credited with 345 kills)
Helmut Wirnsberger (sniper credited with 64 kills)

Sources used

James Lucas - Hitler's Mountain Troops: Fighting at the extremes

Gordon Williamson - German Mountain & Ski Troops 1939-45

Reference material on this unit

Paul Klatt - Die 3. Gebirgsdivision 1939-1945

Karl Ruef - Odyssee einer Gebirgsdivision: Die 3. Gebirgsdivision im Einsatz

Albrecht Wacker - Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross