Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1979-123-32,_Athen,_Einmarsch_deutscher_Truppen

An ''Aufklärungsabteilung'' ("reconnaissance detachment") was an ''

Abteilung ''Abteilung'' (; abbrv. ''Abt.'') is a German word that is often used for German or Swiss military formations and depending on its usage could mean detachment, department or battalion; it can also refer to a military division. In German, it is ...

'' (

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...

)-sized

reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...

unit attached to a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

division Division or divider may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The ''Aufklärungsabteilung'' was the eyes and ears of the parent division. During the first campaigns of the Second World War they included horse-mounted and

bicycle troops Bicycle infantry are infantry soldiers who maneuver on (or, more often, between) battlefields using military bicycles. The term dates from the late 19th century, when the "safety bicycle" became popular in Europe, the United States, and Austra ...

in the infantry divisions; in the more mobile

motorized infantry Motorized infantry is infantry that is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles, and from light infantry, which ca ...

and ''

Panzer This article deals with the tanks (german: panzer) serving in the German Army (''Deutsches Heer'') throughout history, such as the World War I tanks of the Imperial German Army, the interwar and World War II tanks of the Nazi German Wehrmacht, ...

'' divisions they were equipped with motorcycle combinations (e.g., BMW R75,

Zündapp KS 750 The Zündapp KS 750 is a World War II-era motorcycle and sidecar combination developed for the German Wehrmacht (armed forces) before and during the Second World War, by the German company Zündapp G.m.b.H. After entering service in 1941, over 18 ...

Volkswagen Kübelwagen The Volkswagen Type 82 ''Kübelwagen'' (), or simply ''Kübel'', contractions of the original German word ''Kübelsitzwagen'' (translated: 'bucket-seat car' — but when the contractions are translated literally a back-formation of 'bucket' or ' ...

s, and Sd.Kfz. 221/222/223 light armored cars. Units in the mobile divisions were also equipped with six- and eight-wheeled heavy armored cars such as the Sd.Kfz. 231/232 and the

Sd.Kfz. 234 The Sd.Kfz. 234 ('' Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234'', Special Purpose Vehicle 234), was a family of armoured cars designed and built in Germany during World War II. The vehicles were lightly armoured, armed with a 20, 50 or 75 mm main gun, and po ...

. Later in the war they were issued with

Volkswagen Schwimmwagen The Volkswagen ''Schwimmwagen'' (literally "swimming car") was a four-wheel drive amphibious vehicle, used extensively by German ground forces during the Second World War. The ''Schwimmwagen'' is the most-produced amphibious car in history. Pro ...

s, light

half-track A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels at the front for steering and continuous tracks at the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cro ...

s such as the

Sd.Kfz. 250 The Sd.Kfz. 250 (German: ''Sonderkraftfahrzeug'' 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armoured half-track, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in Worl ...

, as well as '' Panzer II Ausf. L "Luchs"'' and '' Aufklärungspanzer 38''

light tank A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movements in and out of combat, to outmaneuver heavier tanks. It is smaller in size with thinner armor and a less powerful main gun, tailored for better tactical mobility and ease of ...

s. These rarely operated as whole

companies A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of people, whether natural, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specific, declared go ...

, 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 in half-tracks. The ''Abteilung'' had to be able to move quickly, and as its mission was reconnaissance, it was not intended to engage enemy

medium Medium may refer to: Science and technology Aviation *Medium bomber, a class of war plane *Tecma Medium, a French hang glider design Communication * Media (communication), tools used to store and deliver information or data * Medium of ...

heavy tank Heavy tank is a term used to define a class of tanks produced from World War I through the end of the Cold War. These tanks generally sacrificed mobility and maneuverability for better armour protection and equal or greater firepower than tanks ...

s, although these engagements did happen quite frequently. The addition of an

anti-tank gun An anti-tank gun is a form of artillery designed to destroy tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, normally from a static defensive position. The development of specialized anti-tank munitions and anti-tank guns was prompted by the appearance ...

( PaK)

company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of people, whether Natural person, natural, Legal person, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common p ...

later in the war was an attempt to deal with these opponents; however, the unit's armoured vehicles were no match for

T-34 The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank introduced in 1940. When introduced its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was less powerful than its contemporaries while its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against Anti-tank warfare, anti-tan ...

s or

M4 Sherman } The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the Military history of the United States during World War II, United States and Allies of World War II, Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman prove ...

s. The composition of two example ''Aufklärungsabteilungen'' were as follows:

Example orders of battle

Aufklärungsabteilung (teilmot) (Wehrmacht)

''SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1'' (Attached to Infanterie-Regiment (mot.) ''Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler''), Mid-1941 * Stab/SS-AufkAbt. 1 Headquarters Unit * 1./SS-AufkAbt. 1 Heavy Armoured Car Company (Sd.Kfz. 222 / 231) * 2./SS-AufkAbt. 1 Motorised Recon Company (Motorcycle / Car / Truck mounted infantry) * 3./SS-AufkAbt. 1 Motorised Recon company (Motorcycle / Car / Truck mounted infantry) ''Panzer Aufklärungsabteilung-2'' (Attached to 2. Panzer-Division) 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 (Sd.Kfz. 250) (infantry in half-tracks only) * 4./AufkAbt. 2 Light Armoured Half-Track Company (Sd.Kfz. 250) (infantry in half-tracks only) * 5./AufkAbt. 2 Heavy (support) Company (Sd.Kfz. 251) This company had infantry guns, Pak 40s etc. * Supply Company

Example orders of battle

See also