Radfahrschwadronen, Füsiliere and other bicyle troops
Many people may have the image of the wehrmacht as a gigant panzer machine. Which is very popular shown by german propaganda. Nevertheless the Wehrmacht was marching to over 80% on foot und most of the artillery was horse drawn, like the armies in the napoleonic wars. To become faster the bycicle was used for more mobility. In Western europue it was a great sucess, because of the good roads.
At the end of 1944 more and more troops got bicycles, even the panzergrenadiers. Because the Wehrmacht had not enough petrol and vehichles.
Radfahrschwadronen
Bicycle company in france 1940.
Bicycles soldier 1941, Balkan.
1939
2. Schwadron – Radfahrschwadron[Bicycle company]
three bicycle platoons with each
- platoon leader and troop
- three squads of 12 men one l.MG
- one light mortar(5cm) squad (2 heavy motorbikes)
one heavy platoon
- platoon leader and troop(3 heavy motorbikes)
- Heavy MG-half squad (2 sMG, 8 heavy motorbikes)
http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn3531sept39.htm
Radfahrschwadron 1943, K.St.N. 356a, 1.8.1943
Each Infantry division had one bicycle company in the Aufklärungsabteilung [reconnaissance bataillons], one cavalery companie, a armoured car company and a heavy company. Many recon bataillons never catch the ideal, so they had only three bycicle companies and were called Radfahrabteilung, the name were changed in 1942/43 to Aufklärungsabteilungen, after that the Füsiliers were introduced.
Füsiliere
The change form Aufklärungsabteilung [reconnaissance bataillons] to Füsilierbataillons the Bataillon got more fire power for offensive and defensive operation, which were needed, specially on the eastern front. one or two companies got bicycles for better mobility.
Füsilierbataillon autumn 1943
3 rifle-companies (16 light MG, two 8cm mortars),
1 machine gun company(12 heavy MG, four 12cm mortars)
(Minimun one company on bycicles)
MG Troop with bicycles.
A german soldier in france 1944.
Volksgrenadiers
Divisionsfüsilierkompanie September/Oktober 1944
Volksgrenadierdivisions got only one Füsilier company, but it got many heavy weapon for one company. Volkgrenadiere division should have a bicycle bataillon in each of its three Grenadierregiments, so they could be more mobile. These bataillons but have nothing to do with the Füsiliers.
1. (Radfahr-MP-) Zug
[1st (Bicycle Machinepistol) Platoon]
- two squads with eight men each equiped with Sturmgewehren or MP
- one squad with 5 MP/StGw, 3 Kar 98k mit Gewehrgranatgerät[rifle granate launcher] and one l.MG.
2. (Radfahr-MP-) Zug
[2nd (Bicycle Machinepistol) Platoon]
like 1st platoon
3. (Radfahr-) Zug [3rd (Bicycle) Platoon]
- two squads with 2 MP/StGw, 6 Kar 98k/G 43, 1 light MG
- one squad with 1 MP/StGw, 3 Kar 98k/G 43, 3 Kar 98k mit Gewehrgranatgerät[rifle granate launcher], 1 l.MG.
4. (Schwerer Radfahr) Zug [4th (heavy bicycle) Platoon]
- two 8cm mortars
- two heavy MGs
5. leichter Infanteriegeschützzug [5th (Infantry gun) Platoon]
- two Infantry guns 7,5cm
http://downloads.sturmpanzer.net/Docume ... 9.1944.pdf
Bicycle troops, maybe Füsiliere, near Arnheim in September 1944.
Panzergrenadiere (fahrradbeweglich)
Bicycles become commen with the panzergrenadiers in November 1944. Many panzergrenadier regiments got bicycle insteed trucks or halftrucks because of the lack of petrol and vehicles.
Since the 1st Nov. 1944 the [armoured infantry bataillon on bicycles]Panzergrenadierebataillon (fahrradbeweglich)
Each had Combat company 12 light MG, 3 Panzerschreck, in heavy company waren 12 heavy MG and six 2cm Flak.
Examples for Panzergrenadier Regiments with Bicycle Bataillons 1944-45:
Panzergrenadier-Regiment Müncheberg 2, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 42,Panzergrenadier Regiment 139, , Infanterie zbV 829 (Führer-Grenadier-Brigade),
Other bicycle troops in 1945
1. Panzervernichtungsbrigade Hitlerjugend formed in Febuary 1945, most men were 15-17 year old boys. The brigade surendered in April 1945 in Berlin.
Literature:
Handbuch der Infanterie, Alex Buchner, Dörfler Verlag
Radfahrschwadronen: Fahrräder im Einsatz bei der Wehrmacht 1939-1945 Horst Hinrichsen, Dörfler Verlag
Taktische Zeichen auf den Fahrzeugen des deutschen Heeres 1939-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, Dörfler Verlag
Die motorisierten Schützen und Panzergrenadiere des Heeres 1935-1945, Wolfgang Fleischer, Richard Eiermann, Dörfler Verlag
http://www.sturmpanzer.com/Default.aspx
http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstnmain.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Zus ... derung.htm
K.St.N. 1114 b Panzergrenadierkompanie (fdbew.)1.11.1944
K.St.N. 1115 b schwere Panzergrenadierkompanie (fdbew.) 1.11.1944