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

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 used both ...

'' (

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

)-sized

reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...

unit attached to a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

division during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. 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 Austr ...

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 c ...

and ''

Panzer {{CatAutoTOC, numerals=no Words and phrases Germanic words and phrases Words and phrases by language la:Categoria:Verba Theodisca ...

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

BMW R75 : ''For the 1970s 750 cc motorcycles see BMW R75/5, BMW R75/6, or BMW R75/7'' The BMW R75 is a World War II-era motorcycle and sidecar combination produced by the German company BMW. The BMW R75 stands out by its integral two-wheel drive desig ...

, Zündapp KS 750),

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. Later in the war they were issued with

Volkswagen Schwimmwagen The Volkswagen ''Schwimmwagen'' () is a light four-wheel drive amphibious car, used extensively by German ground forces during the Second World War. With over 15,000 units built, the ''Schwimmwagen'' is the most-produced amphibious car in history ...

s, light

half-track A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with wheels at the front for steering and continuous tracks at the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. A half-track combines the soft-ground traction of a tank with the Car handl ...

s such as the Sd.Kfz. 250, as well as '' Panzer II Ausf. L "Luchs"'' and '' Aufklärungspanzer 38''

light tank A light tank is a Tank classification, tank variant initially designed for rapid movements in and out of combat, to outmaneuver heavier tanks. It is smaller with thinner vehicle armour, armor and a less powerful tank gun, main gun, tailored for ...

s. These rarely operated as whole

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

, 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: Aircraft *Medium bomber, a class of warplane * Tecma Medium, a French hang glider design Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''The Medium'' (1921 film), a German silent film * ''The Medium'' (1951 film), a film vers ...

heavy tank A heavy tank is a tank classification produced from World War I to the end of the Cold War. These tanks generally sacrificed mobility and maneuverability for better armour protection and equal or greater firepower than tanks of lighter classes. ...

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 armoured 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 Pak or PAK may refer to: Places * Pakistan (country code PAK) * Pak, Afghanistan * Pakpak Bharat, a regency in North Sumatra, Indonesia * Pak Island, in the Admiralty Islands group of Papua New Guinea * Pak Tea House, a café in Lahore, Punj ...

)

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

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 from World War II. When introduced, its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was more powerful than many of its contemporaries, and its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against Anti-tank warfare, ...

s or

M4 Sherman The M4 Sherman, officially medium tank, M4, was the medium tank most widely used by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. I ...

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

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 * 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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aufklarungsabteilung Military units and formations of Germany in World War II

Example orders of battle

See also

References