Background and History of the International Divisional Skiing Championships
of 10 Armoured Division
and Outlook for 2015 IDSM

There have been military skiing championships since the first ski units were formed: In 1897 four light infantrybattalions competed on the Feldberg, the highest peak in the Black Forest. The primary goal of the competitions then and now was and is the intensive training of specific skills required in mountainous terrain.

Wintersports in the Thuringian Forest (source: German Army/Press and Information Centre)

In 1958 the Bundeswehrheld the first Army skiing championships atMittenwald. Three teams of the mountain classand five teams ofthe so-called “Flachländer”(lowlanders) had met at the Mountain and Winter Combat School to compete in a 25 kilometre patrol race including a shooting bout under the patronage of then Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Röttiger.In 1961 Garmischstagedthe first challenge trophy donated by the then Federal Minister of Defence.Bad Reichenhallis mentioned in the chronicle of the military skiing championships forthe first time in the year 1963, when it provided the venue for a ski patrol competition. Besidesthe Army Skiing Championships, which were carried out until 1979 but were losing popularity, the Divisional Skiing Championships became ever more important for 1 Mountain Division. Since 1966 thesemountain infantry championships had mostly been held at Bad Reichenhall. Other venues were Freyung (1971 and 1980) as well as Schmelz (Inzell) in the year 1976 and, for specific disciplines, Mittenwald (1978/79). From 1970 the championships of the Mountain Division had been carried out together with the National Biathlon Championships of the German Ski Association. 1 Mountain Division provided the biathlon team for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games atLake Placid (USA). The team won the bronze medal in the relay competition. Since 1985 the Federal Performance Centre at Ruhpolding–now referred to as ChiemgauArena–had been considered as a possible venue to host the military skiing championships. With the participation of foreign teams, these have been international championships since 1988.After the fusion of Military District Command VI and 1 Mountain Division,the championships would be carried out jointly from 1995.Following split-up and the disbandment of 1 Mountain Division in the year 2002, 10 Armoured Division headquartered at Sigmaringenassumed responsibility for the traditional event and initially partnered with newly formed Military District Command IV to organize the championships. In 2005 the “Lion Division”, as the “Tenth” is also named, for the first time acted as sole host - in close cooperation with 23 Mountain Infantry Brigade based at Bad Reichenhall. The competitions were carried out both in the ChiemgauArena (Ruhpolding) and the Götschen (Bischofswiesen) ski resort.

In 2007 and 2008,23 Mountain Infantry Brigade was the sole organizer.The International Divisional Skiing Championships [InternationaleDivisionsskimeisterschaften - IDSM] had turned into International Brigade Skiing Championships. In 2009 the International Brigade Skiing Championships were hosted by 12 Armoured Brigade and organized by 112 Armoured Infantry Battalion based at Regen.
In 2010 the traditional idea of International Divisional Skiing Championships was revived by Division Commander Major General Bühler. Starting with 2010 IDSM, 23 Mountain Infantry Brigade and 12 Armoured Brigade were to take turns assuming responsibility for the organization of theIDSM. Besides this assignment of primarily organizationalresponsibilities, the IDSM programme was revised as well. It is essential to put the athletes and competitors at centre stage and reduce the scope of the events and activities surrounding the championships so far as is reasonably practicable.In doing so, the main challenge will always be to balance what is feasible with what is desirable against the backdrop of the Armed Forces being focussed on operations.This guiding principle was realized, while retaining an atmosphere of thrilling and fair competitions, passion and enthusiasm, internationality, creativityand aspirit of comradeship.
Thus, in 2010 the mountain infantry troops based at Bad Reichenhallagain organized the International Divisional Skiing Championships under the auspices of 10 Armoured Division. 23 Mountain Infantry Brigade invited the competitors to come to the Götschenski resort and the ChiemgauArena.

In 2011 the International Divisional Skiing Championships were held in the Great Arber region in the Bavarian Forest.Overall responsibility for the organization of the championships had been assigned to 12 Armoured Brigade headquartered at Amberg. 112 Armoured Infantry Battalion based at Regenhad been tasked with the execution of the championships.According to the rotation system 23 Mountain Infantry Brigade would have been next to organize the championships in the year 2012. Given the fact that the 2012 Biathlon World Championships were also to be held at Ruhpoldingand the competition venues in the Berchtesgadener Landwould thus not have beenavailable, the Commander of 10 Armoured Division again tasked 12 Armoured Brigade with the organization of the International Divisional Skiing Championships in 2012. Therefore, the competitions were carried out again at the foot of the Great Arber in the Bavarian Forest from 29 January to 3 February 2012.

The 2013 IDSM were again organized by 23 Mountain Infantry Brigade. It was a resounding success considering the fact that more than 600 competitors participated in the championships, which, in addition, provided the setting for the fielding of the future infantryman system, which was a special highlight particularly for our soldiers deployed on operations. What is more, these IDSM were blessed with the most beautiful weather andcarried out in the warm and friendly atmosphere of the mountain infantry and under the patronage of our Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Kasdorf, who had been present there almost the whole time. To sum up, it was a successful major event, which was absolutely worth it.

23 Mountain Infantry Brigade was again responsible for the execution of the 2014 IDSM from 10 to 14 March 2014. Despite adverse snow conditions the competitions ran smoothly, not least because many hard-working helpers had displayed outstanding resourcefulness and a great talent for improvisation in preparing slopes and cross-country ski trails. Approximately 700 participants from 12 countries engaged in fierce competition – it was a glorious sporting event – and a great success.

Supported by 37 Armoured Infantry Brigade and the new division troops, the 2015 IDSM will be organized by 12 Armoured Brigade and held in the Great Arber region from 23 to 27 February 2015.