German Motorcycles at War, 1939–1945
The “Images of War” book series that Pen & Sword offers has fast become a favorite of mine. Each volume has many wartime photos of the subject at hand, and always includes rare photos that the reader has probably never seen before. This issue is no exception. Covering the Germans’ motorcycle corps during WWII, the book is rife with 200 B&W period photos of the bikes in action. Most of the photos are crisp and clear, although a few are a little blurry.
Almost every photo has a caption written by the author describing the scene. In studying the photos, the reader can detect a myriad of details, which are invaluable to the modeler, or even to the motorcycle enthusiast. Seeing the details conveys a sense of what the Kradschützen Truppen put up with on a day-to-day basis. These bikes were used heavily as a reconnaissance platform, but also as up-gunned combat vehicles, and even stretcher-bearers to evacuate the wounded from the battlefield.
The success of fast-moving Blitzkrieg tactics by the Nazi war machine depended on high mobility. With their on- and off-road capabilities, motorcycles became an important component of the Nazi war machine’s arsenal, having a particularly significant impact on the French and Russian campaigns.
The motorcycles were used in a variety of roles, including patrolling, intelligence gathering, and police duties in occupied Europe. Motorcyclists could be found in every unit of an infantry and Panzer division, including headquarters, which had a motorcycle messenger platoon. Their versatility also enabled them to survey enemy positions until coming under fire, before reporting back with vital intelligence relating to enemy locations and strengths.
The German industry produced a wide range of motorcycles for military use. By 1938, some 200,000 motorcycles were produced in Germany and occupied territories. The principal manufacturers included BMW, DKW, NSU, Triumph, Victoria, and Zundapp. Sidecar combinations, often mounted with an MG34/42 machine gun, also made the bike a very effective weapon.
By describing in words and contemporary images the role of German motorcycles and motorcyclists during the Second World War, this Images of War book fills an overlooked gap in coverage of Nazi military capability. It emphasizes that the German military perfected the use of motorcycles and employed them more widely than any other army.
Chapters include:
- Introduction
- Chapter 1. Origins of the Kradschützen Truppen
- Chapter 2. Blitzkrieg
- Chapter 3. Eastern Front, 1941-43
- Chapter 4. Last Years: Relegation
- Appendix I. Components of a Kradschützen Battalion
- Appendix II. Motorcycle Rifle Battalions, 1939-43
- Appendix III. Motorcycle Companies, Type b
I highly recommend this book to fans and modelers of German WWII motorcycles. Thanks to the folks at Casemate for providing this copy of the book for the IPMS/USA to review.

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