The Waffen-SS Bergführer Badge
After the Waffen-SS had established two mountain divisions during the war, namely the 6th SS Gebirgs-Division Nord and the 7th SS Mountain division “Prinz Eugen”, it proved necessary to set up a special school in the spring of 1942.
As a result, the establishment of a Waffen-SS Bergführer school was ordered and an old army Bergführer from the Austro-Hungarian army was entrusted with the preparatory work – SS-Standartenführer Eberhard Quirsfeld.
Here are his memories of preparing for school:
“First of all, it was necessary to find a suitable location that offered everything necessary in terms of mountain training . After 4 weeks of study and selection according to all possible functional aspects, I had discovered a vacant barracks warehouse in Neustift – Stubai valley in Tyrol – which was suitable for a mountain school due to its appropriate expansion. According to my information, old additional barracks, stables, storage rooms, dormitories and recreation rooms, as well as weapon and alpine chambers were erected there, which did not go off without a hitch during the war.
The second task was to find suitable training personnel for the regulars. By giving orders to the front and replacement units, those who had either already been Bergführer in their civilian occupation or could prove that they had the appropriate mountain skills were to report. The basic requirements for enlistment were one year of frontline service, possibly the Iron Cross 2nd Class and suitability as a group leader.”
At the end of August, the mountaineering training began with around 100 men from the Innsbruck Gendarmerie Hochgebirgs School (Gendamerie General Albert), of which 45 men were taken out as Bergführer and ski instructors in November 1942.
In the meantime, the barracks camp in Neustift had been completed, the service personnel such as doctors and paramedics, maintenance and mess room personnel, drivers and porters had been assembled, so that the various training courses here could begin in mid-November 1942.
The school was divided into:
2 Lehrgruppen mit den Inspektionen
The first Bergführer exercises took place in the spring of 1943. In order to recognize the participants who had successfully completed the exercises, they were later given a special mountain guide certificate, following the example of the army, the police and the gendarmerie as well as a special Bergführer Badge that i will discuss further down this Thread. The SS-Führungs-Hauptamt issued the guidelines in the fall of 1944, which were compiled on the basis of the experiences made and read in full:
Guidelines for the training of Waffen-SS Bergführer during the war.
Tasks of the Bergführer of the Waffen-SS:
a) Carrying out reconnaissance and combat missions that require special mountaineering skills.
b) Advising the troop commander on combat operations in the mountains and on all issues relating to the special alpine-technical features of the march, accommodation, supplies and supplies.
c) Supporting the corps and platoon leaders with training in high altitude and military skiing.
d) Recognizing and warning of the dangers of the mountains and rescuing casualties and injured persons in difficult and extremely difficult mountain terrain.
e) Bergführer are also certified ski instructors.
f) Advising the corps and battalion leaders on the selection of mountain guide trainees and carrying out preparatory training for the mountain guide courses.
Career:
For all branches of the mountain troops and the units of the Waffen-SS deployed in the high mountains and the mountain infantrymen trained at the Waffen-SS Mountain Infantry School.
Selection:
Prerequisites for selection for training as a Waffen-SS Bergführer are:
a) full fitness for mountain service;
b) above average physical performance in endurance, strength and physical fitness;
c) full completion of basic mountaineering training on grass, rock, stone and ice;
full mastery of military skiing;
d) Qualification as a trainer;
e) leadership qualities. exemplary soldierly conduct and above average service performance. In the case of teams, also suitability as a group leader.
f) High quality aptitude of character, above all aptitude for duty, courage and willingness to help.
SS leaders and SS leader trainees as well as subordinates are especially intended for training to become a member of the SS. It is desirable that at least all active leaders of the mountain troops are mountain guides or mountain guide candidates of the Waffen-SS.
The training and selection of suitable leaders, sub-leaders and mountain fighters suitable for training as Waffen-SS mountain leaders is the responsibility of the units and training units. It is carried out under the personal responsibility of the Rgts. and BtIs. commandos most appropriately in corresponding preparatory courses which are to be carried out in the troops.
Aim and scope of the training:
The aim of the training of Bergführer is to train mountain guides (plus ski instructors) of the Waffen-SS who, according to their rank, are able to lead a troop properly in the high mountains themselves, as well as to be expert advisors for troop leaders who are less trained in the high mountains.
Leaders of the Waffen-SS must be familiar with the way of life and combat in the high mountains.
The training of the Waffen SS mountain school covers the following areas (structure according to training guidelines for mountain schools):
a, mountaineering and skiing training up to military completion.
b, training as a mountain instructor for the troops and ski instructor;
c, Basic training in high mountain scouting with all weapons;
d, Care and maintenance of the troops’ mountain equipment;
e, Advice to less experienced troop and platoon leaders on all questions concerning the special features of mountain warfare, combat, supply and training in the high mountains;
f, Recognizing and assessing the dangers of high mountains;
g, First aid for people injured and buried by avalanches in the high mountains
Co m m e n d a t i o n:
The transfer to the mountain guide courses at the Waffen-SS Bergführer school is carried out by the SS-Führungshauptamt, In. 2 Abt. Gebirgstruppen.
Implementation of the courses:
For the duration of the war, training in grass, rock and ice is carried out in a “summer course” of 6 weeks, training in snowy high mountains in a “winter course” of 6 weeks. Preparatory courses no longer take place at the Waffen-SS mountain infantry school.
Training can begin with either the summer or winter course.
Unsuitable participants are to be send right away to their units by the commander of the mountain infantry school after the end of the second week of training.
An examination takes place at the end of each course. After completion of the first course, it must be determined whether the participant is eligible for further training as a Waffen-SS Bergführer or whether he is immediately suitable as a mountain guide trainee. At the end of the second course it must be determined :
a) whether the course participant is suitable as a Bergführer;
b) whether the course participant is suitable for Bergführer maintenance, i.e. whether he promises to become a suitable mountain guide if he repeats a course;
c) whether he cannot meet the requirements of a mountain guide even with further training.
The corresponding assessments are to be prepared by the commander of the Waffen-SS Bergführer School and submitted to So-FHA In. 2.
Appointment as Waffen SS Bergführer
a) The commander of the Waffen SS Bergführer School is responsible for the appointment of mountain guides. A certificate of appointment shall be drawn up and issued to the recipient.
The appointment is to be confirmed in the pay book on a sheet to be inserted behind part 22.
b) The appointment as a Waffen-SS Bergführer is applied for by the commander of the Waffen-SS mountain infantry school at the SS-Führungshauptamt and issued by the head of the SS-Führungshauptamt.
Appointment as a Waffen SS Bergführer is dependent on proof of at least 6 months of frontline service. This proof can be provided before, between or after attending the mountain guide courses at the mountain infantry school.
A certificate of appointment as a Waffen-SS Bergführer is issued by the chief of the SS-FHA. It will be issued to the recipient.
Badge
Together with the certificate of appointment, the Waffen-SS Bergführer will be issued with two Cloth Versions of the Badge for Waffen-SS Bergführer approved by the Reichsführer-SS for the duration of the war. The badge is worn on the left side of the chest.
Proof of performance
Extraordinary achievements as a Bergführer or Bergführer trainee (in combat or during training, in the replacement troop, mountaineering performance only from difficulty level VI or equivalent) must be entered on the sheet inserted behind page 22 in the pay book with date and performance details and confirmed by the next disciplinary superior.
Card index
The Mountain Infantry School keeps a file on
a) all Waffen-SS Bergführer
bl all Waffen-SS Bergführer candidates,
c) all participants in Bergführer courses.
Deletion
All SS members who no longer possess the aptitude for this are to be deleted from the list of Bergführer candidates and Bergführer.
These are
a) SS members who have failed before the enemy in a task that a Bergführer must solve.
b) SS members who, due to their physical or mental development – not as a result of being wounded or ill on duty
no longer have the ability to be a Bergführer Anwarter or Bergführer
A strict standard must be applied when assessing suitability.
SS members removed from the list of Bergführer Anwarter and Bergführer lose the right to wear the badge!
The deletion must be submitted by the field troop unit, replacement troop unit, mountain infantry school, etc. to the SS-Führungshauptamt In. 2 Abt. Gebirgstruppen in with the appropriate justification. It will be issued by the Chief of the SS-FHA and forwarded to the responsible.
The provisions for the training of Waffen-SS mountain guides contained in the previous guidelines for training at the Waffen-SS mountain fighter school are repealed insofar as they deviate from the above guidelines. SS-FHA
In April 1944, the Waffen-SS High Mountain School was expanded and the training groups II, III and IV were formed. The three new teaching groups were housed in Predazzo, namely the:
II. training group: mountain combat school with a reinforced training company
III. training group: mountain sniper training
lV. training group: Officers’ school for mountain infantry officers.
After this expansion, the school was renamed the Waffen-SS Mountain Infantry School.
After Italy’s withdrawal as an ally of the German army, the school took part in disarming from the italien forces in the area of Reschenpass – Mals – Schlanders and Meran. This was followed by operations to combat partisans in the Tonale Pass – Sondrio – Lake Como area. The mountain combat school fought partisans at the Rolfe Pass.
Towards the end of the war, the Hochgebirgsschule (Neustift) fought in the Scharnitz-Seefeld and Zirlerberg area on the orders of the Landesverteidigungskommissar, Gauleiter Hofer. The mountain combat school (Predazzo) with the training groups III and IV were given defensive tasks in the area of the Salurner Klause in South Tyrol by the Landesverteidigungskommissar, Gauleiter Hofer.
The regular staff of the high mountain school and the Waffen-SS mountain infantry school wore the Waffen-SS mountain infantry uniform with the special edelweiss badge. In winter, a skirt and wedge trousers were worn, in summer short bloomers and a field gray uniform shirt. Rank insignia on the epaulettes or shoulder straps and on the upper arm of the anorak.
Description of the Waffen-SS badge for Bergführer
There are 2 Version that exists of this Badge. One was made for NCOs and then an Officer Version. Both are different in Size as well as Material. The Officer Version is made with Aluminium Wire the NCOs Version complete in Wool. The Officers Version also was made to use on the Windjackets this is the Reason why the size is larger then the NCOs one.
Officers Version:
The Bergführer of the Waffen-SS – sleeve badge for Officers – is oval (height 85 mm, width 73 mm). An aluminum-silver cord 3 mm wide is laid along the edge of the black cloth backing. The field is filled with an embroidered alu-silver edelweiss flower (largest width 40 mm, height with stem 50 mm) with 14 main petals of different lengths; the gold-embroidered seed head is made up of seven almost regular groups. The silver stem with the silver leaves attached to it is partly covered by the petals. In the lower third of the badge – following the curve of the oval – is the embroidered silver-aluminum inscription: Bergführer
NCO Version:
The Bergführer of the Waffen-SS – sleeve badge for NCOs – is oval (height 55 mm, width 43 mm). An wool cord 2 mm wide is laid along the edge of the black cloth backing. The field is filled with an embroidered edelweiss flower (largest width 33 mm, height with stem 42 mm) with 14 main petals of different lengths; the gold-embroidered seed head is made up of seven almost regular groups. The white stem with the white leaves attached to it is partly covered by the petals. In the lower third of the badge – following the curve of the oval – is the embroidered wool inscription: Bergführer
A badge was also produced for Bergführer Anwarter and worn only by them. The badge is identical to the Bergführer badge but without the inscription and made in Wool.
Please note that this badges were handmade by a 2 Companys, one in Innsbruck the other one in Predazzo on order and therefore there are very slight differences between the badges and each of these Companys used a slight different Form when making them.
Here you can see 2 of these extremely rare awards:
Original Waffen SS Bergführer Badge worn by the Commander of the School, SS-Standartenführer Eberhard Quirsfeld. Picture taken in 1953
Original Waffen SS Bergführer Badge from my own private Collection. This Badge was awarded to an Austrian Waffen SS Officer who i had the pleasure to known personal over many Years.
Award numbers:
From spring 1943 to May 1945, a total of about 40 Bergführer badges were awarded. This badge is one of the rarest awards of the 3rd Reich.
This Website is dedicated to researchers, archivists and collectors of historical military memorabilia. This site carries no affiliation whatsoever with any political ideology, especially of hate or intolerance. Any visitor to this site does so with the understanding that it is strictly for the purposes of historical collecting and research as stated above.
Due to the changed legal situation in Germany and Austria, we will not be selling or shipping to these countries with immediate effect.
