Aufklärungsabteilung
Encyclopedia
An Aufklärungsabteilung (lit. reconnaissance detachment) was an Abteilung
sized reconnaissance
unit attached to a German
division during the Second World War.
The Aufklärungsabteilung was the eyes and ears of the parent division
. Initially, before the first campaigns of the Second World War they included horse-mounted and bicycle troops in the infantry divisions, and were equipped with motorcycle
combinations (BMW
R75s, Zündapp
s etc), VW
Kübelwagens and light armoured cars in the more mobile motorised infantry
and panzer
divisions. To offer the troops better all-terrain movement capability the Aufklärungsabteilungen were later issued with the amphibious Schwimmwagens and light halftracks.
Although later in the war companies in the mobile divisions were equipped with light armour in the form of SdKfz 23
(Heavy Armoured Car) and SdKfz 222/223 series (Light Armoured Car). Later in the war Sd.Kfz. 250/9 halftracks, Panzer II Ausf. L "Luchs"
and Sd.Kfz 140/1 light tanks were used. These rarely operated as whole companies, and instead worked in mixed teams gathered from various companies that included the motorcycles and the Schwimmwagens.
As with all German combat
formations, the composition of the Aufklärungsabteilung varied from division to division, and from one period of the war to another. Panzer Aufklärungsabteilungen were attached to Panzer
divisions, and were generally equipped with armoured vehicles, with all troops transported by halftrack, and an anti-tank gun (PaK) component was included. light tanks were also included in the detachment as the theory of Reconnaissance in force
was practiced.
The Abteilung had to be able to move quickly, and as its mission was reconnaissance, it was not equipped to deal with enemy medium or heavy armour, although these engagements did happen quite frequently. The addition of an anti-tank company
later in the war was to deal with these engagements; still, the Abteilung's armoured vehicles were no match for T-34
s or M4 Sherman
s.
The breakdown of several example Aufklärungsabteilung can be found below.
Panzer Aufklärungsabteilung-2 (Attached to 2.Panzer-Division
) Late 1944
Stab AufkAbt. 2 Headquarters’ unit.
Abteilung
Abteilung is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations...
sized reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
unit attached to a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
division during the Second World War.
The Aufklärungsabteilung was the eyes and ears of the parent division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
. Initially, before the first campaigns of the Second World War they included horse-mounted and bicycle troops in the infantry divisions, and were equipped with motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
combinations (BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
R75s, Zündapp
Zündapp
Zündapp was a major German motorcycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1917 in Nuremberg by Fritz Neumeyer, together with the Friedrich Krupp AG and the machine tool manufacturer Thiel under the name "Zünder- und Apparatebau G.m.b.H." as a producer of detonators...
s etc), VW
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
Kübelwagens and light armoured cars in the more mobile motorised infantry
Motorised infantry
In NATO and most other western countries, motorised infantry is infantry which is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers, infantry combat vehicles, or infantry fighting vehicles...
and panzer
Panzer Division
A panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
divisions. To offer the troops better all-terrain movement capability the Aufklärungsabteilungen were later issued with the amphibious Schwimmwagens and light halftracks.
Although later in the war companies in the mobile divisions were equipped with light armour in the form of SdKfz 23
Schwerer Panzerspähwagen
The term Schwerer Panzerspähwagen , covers the 6 and 8 wheeled armoured cars Germany used during the Second World War....
(Heavy Armoured Car) and SdKfz 222/223 series (Light Armoured Car). Later in the war Sd.Kfz. 250/9 halftracks, Panzer II Ausf. L "Luchs"
Panzer II
The Panzer II was the common name for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II...
and Sd.Kfz 140/1 light tanks were used. These rarely operated as whole companies, and instead worked in mixed teams gathered from various companies that included the motorcycles and the Schwimmwagens.
As with all German combat
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
formations, the composition of the Aufklärungsabteilung varied from division to division, and from one period of the war to another. Panzer Aufklärungsabteilungen were attached to Panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
divisions, and were generally equipped with armoured vehicles, with all troops transported by halftrack, and an anti-tank gun (PaK) component was included. light tanks were also included in the detachment as the theory of Reconnaissance in force
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
was practiced.
The Abteilung had to be able to move quickly, and as its mission was reconnaissance, it was not equipped to deal with enemy medium or heavy armour, although these engagements did happen quite frequently. The addition of an anti-tank company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
later in the war was to deal with these engagements; still, the Abteilung's armoured vehicles were no match for T-34
T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
s or M4 Sherman
M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
s.
The breakdown of several example Aufklärungsabteilung can be found below.
Example Orders of Battle
SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 (Attached to Infanterie-Regiment (mot.) Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), Mid 1941- Stab/SS-AufkAbt.1 Headquarters unit
- I./SS-AufkAbt.1 Heavy Armoured Car Company (Sd.Kfz 222 / 231)
- II./SS-AufkAbt.1 Motorised Recon Company (Motorcycle / Car / Truck mounted Infantry)
- III./SS-AufkAbt.1 Motorised Recon company (Motorcycle / Car / Truck mounted Infantry)
Panzer Aufklärungsabteilung-2 (Attached to 2.Panzer-Division
German 2nd Panzer Division
The 2nd Panzer Division was created in 1935, and stationed in Austria after the Anschluss. It participated in the campaigns in Poland and France , and then returned to Poland for occupation duties . It took part in the Balkans campaign and then transferred to the Russian Front in September 1941...
) Late 1944
Stab AufkAbt. 2 Headquarters’ unit.
- 1./AufkAbt. 2 (first company) Heavy Armoured Car Company (no infantry, armoured cars only)
- 2./AufkAbt. 2 Light Armoured Car Company (no infantry, armoured cars only)
- 3./AufkAbt. 2 Light Armoured Half-Track Company (SPW 250) (Infantry on half-tracks only)
- 4./AufkAbt. 2 Light Armoured Half-Track Company (SPW 250) (Infantry on half-tracks only)
- 5./AufkAbt. 2 Heavy (support) Company (SPW 251) This company had infantry guns, Pak 40s etc.
- Supply Company
See also
- AbteilungAbteilungAbteilung is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations...
- Armored fighting vehicle
- SonderabteilungSonderabteilungSonderabteilung is a German word often used to refer to some special German military formations during World War II. This term was similar to a detachment or battalion....
- Military unit