Kradschützen Truppen motorcycle troops were motorized, lightly armed and highly mobile infantry units of the German Wehrmacht and Waffen SS, usually incorporated into the Panzer Divisions.

The Wehrmacht developed Kradschützen as a rapid mobile assault and reconnaissance force from 1936 and were used extensively during the early stages of the Second World War as part of the German Blitzkrieg successes (1939-1940) and Operation Barbarossa Invasion of Russia (June 1941).

On 31st January 1943, the German 6th Army under Field Marshal Frederick Von Paulus finally surrendered at Stalingrad to the Russians. After Stalingrad the tide of war turned against the Germans who were forced to develop defensive strategies as usa replica rolex yacht master rolex calibre 2836 2813 116695 mens 14mm black tone they were slowly pushed back by the ever increasing strength and resources of Russian and Anglo – American forces.

German defensive strategy development included Kampfgruppen as an ad hoc combined arms formation, usually employing combination of tanks, infantry, artillery, anti-tank elements, generally organised for a particular task or operation. A Kampfgruppe could range in size from a corps to company, but the most common was an Abteilung (battalion)-sized formation. Kampfgruppen were generally referred to by either their commanding officer’s name or the parent division, such as Kampfgruppe Peiper.

The development of kampfgruppen, panzer grenadier regiments and armoured halftracks meant that large formations of lightly armed Kradschutzen motorcycle troops became obsolete with the soldiers being transferred to other services such as panzer grenadier regiments and kampfgruppen. For the remainder of the war the motorcycles were now relegated to support roles such as despatch riders, messengers and light reconnaissance etc…

Wehrmacht Motorcycles (Krads)

Kradschutzen Motorcycle Troops – Wartime Photographs

 

  

        

           

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