DAK Kradschutzen Platoon

The true tip of Germany’s armored spear-thrusts are the motorcycle companies and their supporting armored cars. Fast and mobile they often fight alongside the panzers. Kradschützen companies outmaneuver the enemy, speeding
through gaps in their lines to capture key objectives.

In 1941 15. Panzerdivision had a Kradschützen, or Motorcycle Reconnaissance, battalion as part of 15. Schützen Brigade, while both the 15. Panzerdivision and 21. Panzerdivision had Kradschützenkompanies as part of their respective Aufklärungs or Reconnaissance Battalions. Their role is to reconnoiter ahead of the main body, seeking the enemy and investigating the terrain ahead, critical in the North African desert conditions.

Although they would later prove unsuitable in the desert conditions and be replaced, at the beginning of the North African campaign the most prevalent motor vehicle in the Deustche Afrika korps was the motorcycle, with 21. Panzerdivision alone having almost 1000 of them in December 1941.

Contents:

Kradschützenkompanie HQ section

Kradschützen Platoon HQ section with Anti-tank Rifle team & three Schützen Squads