24th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Karstjäger The 24th " Waffen " Mountain Division of the SS " Karstjäger was a German mountain infantry division of the " Waffen " - SS , the armed wing of the German Nazi Party that served alongside but was never formally part of the Wehrmacht during World War II . Named " Karstjäger " , it was one of the thirty - eight divisions fielded by the " Waffen " - SS . Formed on 18 July 1944 from the SS Volunteer " Karstwehr " Battalion , its nominal strength was never more than theoretical and the division was soon reduced to the Waffen " Mountain ( " Karstjäger " ) Brigade of the SS . Throughout its existence as a battalion , division and brigade , it was primarily involved in fighting partisans in the " Karst " region on the frontiers of Yugoslavia , Italy , and Austria ; the mountainous terrain required specialized mountain troops and equipment . Founded in 1942 as a company , the unit consisted mainly of Yugoslav " Volksdeutsche " and recruits from South Tyrol ( in modern - day Italy ) . Although primarily focused on anti - partisan operations , it also saw action in the wake of the Italian surrender when it moved to disarm Italian troops in Tarvisio and protect ethnic German communities in Italy . In addition , at the end of the war it successfully fought to keep passes into Austria open , allowing German units to escape the Balkans and subsequently surrender to British forces . The remnants of the unit became some of the last Germans to lay down their arms when they surrendered to the British 6th Armoured Division on 9 May 1945 . History . Origins . In mid - 1942 , the " Waffen " - SS formed a company intended for anti - partisan operations in the rugged and high - altitude border region between Italy , Austria and Yugoslavia known as the " Karst " . SS - " Standartenführer " ( Colonel ) Hans Brandt , a geologist and speleologist , suggested the creation of the unit . The company was formed at the SS training centre at Dachau on 10 July 1942 from soldiers of the supply services training and replacement battalion of the 23rd " Waffen " Mountain Division of the SS " Kama " ( 2nd Croatian ) . It was expanded to battalion strength of around 500 troops in November 1942 , and as the SS - " Freiwilligen - Karstwehr " Battalion , it spent the first six months of 1943 training in Austria . The unit drew its recruits mainly from Yugoslav " Volksdeutsche " ( ethnic Germans ) and South Tyrolians , with the officer cadre being drawn from SS geological detachments . The battalion - strength " Waffen " - SS Geological Corps ( ) from which such detachments were drawn had been formed in April 1941 , and consisted mainly of engineers with a few geologists . They examined caves and natural obstacles , and determined whether off - road terrain was suitable for tank s . They were also responsible for locating sources of fresh water . Following the Italian capitulation in September 1943 , the battalion was tasked with disarming Italian troops around Tarvisio on the border between the three countries . It then moved on to protective duties for nearby " Volksdeutsche " communities . From October 1943 until June 1944 , the battalion was based at Gradisca d ' Isonzo in Italy , and participated in anti - partisan operations in the areas of Trieste , Udine and the Istrian peninsula . On 10 October , a column of the battalion was ambushed at the Predil Pass , suffering three killed and eight wounded . The following day the battalion burned down the village of Strmc and killed 16 local men in retaliation . Up to 19 October 1943 , the battalion suffered a total of 18 killed and 45 wounded in a series of engagements near the village of Flitsch . During the same period , the battalion captured two Italian mountain guns , which significantly increased its firepower . During late October and November 1943 , the battalion was engaged in anti - partisan operations around Saga and Karfreit , including Operation " Traufe " ( Eaves ) . In late November , the battalion was placed under the command of the Supreme SS and Police Leader , Italy , " SS - Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen - SS " ( Lieutenant General ) Karl Wolff for an operation . In February 1944 , the battalion conducted Operation " Ratte " ( Rat ) , during which it burned down the villages of Komen and Rihenberg , and interned the population of both villages in labour camps . Early in 1944 , Brand suggested that Slovene nationalists be recruited into the battalion , but the idea was rejected by SS headquarters , who feared that such a policy would allow the infiltration of the unit by Yugoslav Partisans . At this stage , it was estimated that there were about 20 , 000 communist partisans operating in the Gorizia region . During March 1944 , the battalion was involved in a rapid series of named operations , including " Zypresse " ( Cypress ) , " Märzveilchen " ( Violet ) , " Maulwurf " ( Mole ) and " Hellblau " ( Light Blue ) , resulting in significant guerilla casualties , as well as executions of captured partisans . In March and April , Operation " Osterglocke " ( Daffodil ) was conducted over 12 days , followed by Operation " Liane " in late May , and the long - running Operation " Annemarie " which covered the period 7 May to 16 July 1944 . In June 1944 , a patrol from the battalion failed to return from a task in the vicinity of Cividale del Friuli . Two days later , they were located with their torsos stripped naked and their severed heads impaled on bayonets . The unit became known for shooting suspected partisans . While engaged in anti - partisan work , the battalion grew to a strength of around 1 , 000 . Expansion . On 18 July 1944 , " Reichsführer " - SS Heinrich Himmler ordered that the battalion be expanded to divisional size , although the authorised strength was only 6 , 600 troops . The 24th " Waffen " Mountain Division of the SS " Karstjäger " was to be established by the Higher SS and Police Leader ( ) for the Operational Zone of the Adriatic Littoral , SS - " Gruppenführer " ( Major General ) Odilo Globocnik . The name " Karstjäger " was derived from a combination of " Karst " , denoting the region of operations , and " Jäger " , the German military term for light infantry . The division was to consist of two " Gebirgsjäger " ( mountain infantry ) regiments , with an artillery regiment , reconnaissance , " Panzerjäger " ( anti - tank ) and pioneer battalions , as well as replacement and supply troops . The division was supplied with 14 captured Italian Carro Armato P 40 tanks , but these proved unreliable , with only half being serviceable at any one time . In August 1944 , the under - strength division participated in Operation " Dachstein " under the command of the 188th Mountain Division . Between August and November 1944 , the division continued performing anti - partisan duties in the same region , but its strength had only reached 3 , 000 , less than half of its authorised establishment . It proved impossible to recruit sufficient troops for the division , and in December 1944 the division was downgraded to a brigade . During late 1944 and early 1945 , the " Waffen " Mountain ( " Karstjäger " ) Brigade of the SS fought first against British - supported partisans in the Julian Alps , and was then deployed to the coastal area around Trieste and the Marano - Grado Lagoon . In danger of being cut off by Allied forces , the brigade soon returned to the Julian Alps , having to fight its way through the Tagliamento river valley between Osoppo and Gemona . Toward the end of April 1945 , the brigade fought British and New Zealand forces on the southern fringe of the Julian Alps . The brigade replacement company , which had been sent to Cividale from Pottenstein , managed to destroy a number of British tanks with panzerfaust s and the assistance of a tank company . In the final weeks of the war the brigade was part of a " Kampfgruppe " ( battlegroup ) commanded by SS - " Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen " - SS ( Brigadier ) Heinz Harmel , which was ordered to keep the Karawanken passes open between Yugoslavia and Austria . This task was critical in allowing German forces to withdraw from Yugoslavia in order to surrender to British rather than Yugoslav forces . The " Kampfgruppe " succeeded in its final task , and was one of the last German units to surrender , when it encountered the British 6th Armoured Division on 9 May 1945 . Order of battle . On paper , the division ' s final order of battle was to consist of : The division establishment also included supply units . However , only the 59th " Waffen Gebirgsjäger " Regiment , one battalion of the 24th SS Mountain Artillery Regiment , one company of the 24th SS Pioneer Battalion and a half - company of the divisional panzer company were ever established . Commanders . According to Gordon Williamson , three " Waffen " - SS officers commanded the division and subsequently the brigade : In contrast , Roland Kaltenegger only lists Hahn as commanding the unit . Uniform . The unit insignia was a stylised Týr rune with arrows pointing to the left and right . A collar insignia was manufactured , but it is believed that these were never issued or worn , and the members of the division wore the Sig runes .