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Aufklärungs: German Reconnaissance 3

Information Kfd.1 VW Kubelwagens & va


Joining the Aufklärungs Wagons and light trucks mak
3/.Kradschützen.Btl.GD (3rd
Film & TV work
‘Volkswagens’) note the whit
Links
tactical symbol below the GD
the number ‘3’ denoting the S
Articles
Summer 1942.
Aufklärungspanzer 38(t)
German Aufklärungs 1
German Aufklärungs 2
German Aufklärungs 3
1st Panzer Division A superb explanation of the m
adopted by German reconna
Rzhev 1942 article
described here by Oberst a.D. Fabian von Bonin von Ostau, who served in Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1:
German Gas Equipment 1
German Gas Equipment 2 “Having been given a task by division, the commanding officer would despatch several troops along the most impo
WW2 Re-enactors magazine lead them personally. Behind him, the squadron thickened up the flanks with further troops. As an officer comman
article two eight-wheeled cars, I carried out tasks given to me directly by the commanding officer. I was given a distant ob
The MP-40 20 to 40 kilometres into enemy territory, and, without consideration of neighbouring reconnaissance sections, had
Karabiner 98k rifle using my own initiative. Enemy forces had to be reported and if possible circumvented without detection so that w
The MG-34 penetrate deep into their rear areas. Often we had not reached our objective by nightfall and remained as stationa

The Stahlhelm suitable features, until daybreak. On reaching the objective we were either ordered to return to our unit or were re
another reconnaissance Zug that had followed us up. Occasionally we remained stationary in enemy territory until
Grossdeutschland 39-45
our own division caught up with us”.
Waffenmeister
Signals
“At first one had to overcome and become used to a feeling of loneliness, of being all alone in enemy territory with
Die Feuerwehr to rely on outside help. With increasing experience, one's self-confidence grew; apart from which, such independe
War report Oct '41 were particularly attractive to a young cavalry officer in that one was not pressed into a restrictive framework with
Sd.Kfz.222 and neighbours”.
The Breadbag
“The initial penetration into unknown enemy territory was difficult. For this purpose our own local attacks were take

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2/Pz. Aufkl.Abt. Grossdeutschland - UK based WW2 German Re-ena... http://www.gdrecon.co.uk/panzer_rec3.html

The MG-42 before the enemy could recover his balance. When one had achieved some penetration, the advance became eas
40's Jet Technology 1 A reconnaissance leader must be a good observer and have a nose for knowing where he might run into the enem
40's Jet Technology 2 cars were well camouflaged and used all available natural cover, following each other with the last car covering th
features where a good field of vision was offered, one halted and made a thorough observation. If no enemy were
40's Jet Technology 3
first car went on to the next observation point under surveillance, when it arrived safely the next car was called for
Berlin Flak Towers 1
Berlin Flak Towers 2
“It was important to make a thorough observation of villages as the enemy in one form or another nearly always u
see the enemy, then you know. If the enemy is not visible and the civilian population is going about its normal bus
village is not occupied by the enemy. If no people are seen, this is highly suspicious and the village should be by-p
wide margin”.

“The best patrols I had were those with clean guns. Even worthwhile targets were only reported and not engaged;
business of others. A troop leader with a tendency to bang away is useless for reconnaissance purposes since he
by the enemy and chased like a rabbit. A report giving the location of an enemy tank lager is of infinitely more valu
up lorries”.
“Reports were made in Morse code and communications were good.' The operators were well trained and could s
quickly, but it was up to the section commander to formulate the report. This soon became a matter of routine. Voi
transmissions were used only between vehicles. Every report concerning the enemy's whereabouts, and even neg
information contained in periodic situation reports, helped build up a picture of the overall enemy situation. The es
ingredients of a successful reconnaissance section were a well-drilled team, mutual confidence and strong nerves
thought was always “There is always a way out and all is not lost so long as one is alive."

The Stower 40 Kfz.1; Seen h


struggling Krad through a se
mud known as the ‘Rasputits
was fairly typical of the type o
passenger vehicles to be fou
the rest of the following moto
stabs/signal units and emplo
roles including the radio supp
the vehicle designated the K

Sd.Kfz.233 armed with the L


of the 1/.Kradschützen Batta
on the Russian step summer
integral part of the reconnais
organic firepower supporting
mounted infantry against fort
positions and bunkers these
much loved for their firepowe
manoeuvrability.

Sd.Kfz.231 (8 Rad) Heavy A


Reconnaissance vehicles arm
Kwk38 2cm flak Cannon for u
vehicles and infantry. Note th
smoke discharge canisters m
front wing which sprays a fin
of chlorosulfuric acid that abs
from the air to form a dense

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2/Pz. Aufkl.Abt. Grossdeutschland - UK based WW2 German Re-ena... http://www.gdrecon.co.uk/panzer_rec3.html

Unfortunately small arms fire


these canisters and dispense
an inopportune moment.

The Sd.Kfz.250 halftrack (Alt


2/.Kradschützen Battalion GD
designated 2/Pz.Aufkl.Atb.GD
reconnaissance mission in S
mounting MG34’s for vehicle
covered in the dry fine dust o
over the familiar dark Panzer
7021) paint; August 1942. No
(Owl) stencil in white seen be
port celebrating the unit com
Usedom.

Although having superior off


when compared to the 4 whe
cars, the 250 series was at a
disadvantage having an open
compartment leaving the cre
susceptible to overhead shel
enemy fire from elevated pos
Furthermore the vehicle was
still out performed by the 8 w
across open country and req
scrupulous field maintenance

By January 1943 with the war turning against Germany and the earlier success were beginning reversed. The We
itself fighting multiple defensive actions rather than offensive operations of earlier years, which by default negated
traditional reconnaissance unit’s roles. Instead the reconnaissance battalions were reassigned to performed crucia
covering forces by concealing from the enemy the details of their our own movements and intentions. For this purp
armoured reconnaissance squadrons, with their good communications equipment were deployed over a wide area
squadron leaders. In defence the motorcycle troops and the heavy company, were deployed mainly to thicken the
Division gave specific missions to the armoured car troops. When covering a withdrawal the method employed by
reconnaissance battalions was the reverse of that used in the advance. The armoured reconnaissance squadrons
concealed observation positions after their division had disengaged, while the remainder of the battalion establish
defensive fronts, usually based on narrow-frontage features such as a bridge or causeway, through which the cars
when they received the order to retire. In these circumstances the two major tasks of the armoured reconnaissanc
were to screen the divisional flanks and rearguard against observation by the enemy's reconnaissance units, and
enemy line of attack as they developed. From the flow of information provided by the cars, the divisional command
adjust his plans accordingly and conduct the successful withdrawal of his battle group. The cars were recalled wh
had consolidated its main defence line and would retire through their own battalion's interim defence lines while br
blown up, trees felled and roads mined behind them.

Clearly the daily life of a reconnaissance troop Soldat was that of hardship and fear. Concealment, observation an
steel were the order of the day, and all carried out deep behind the enemies front lines far from friendly supporting
von Bonin von Ostau was wounded on three separate occasions, and of four of his fellow troop leaders who joined
time, three were killed during the 1941-1942 fighting and the fourth the following year.

By Kurt Volkmar

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This is strictly a non political organisation and seeks only to portray the uniforms and equipment of the ordinary German soldier of World War II. No deliberate attem
the political beliefs of those who were in power at the time. Anyone attempting to use the group as an outlet to promote or further their own extreme poltical beliefs
tolerated. This site, images and content are copyright© of GD Aufklarungs 2005-2012, unless stated.

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