MECHINF-A15 Posted November 27, 2018 #1 Posted November 27, 2018 Period photograph of a Heer motorcycle messenger on a BMW. Note that this soldier carries the message tube clutched between his teeth.
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 28, 2018 Author #2 Posted November 28, 2018 A weary Kradmelder pauses for smoke during the advance into France, 1940.
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 28, 2018 Author #3 Posted November 28, 2018 A member of the NSKK gives instruction on a motorbike to Motor HJ boys.
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 28, 2018 Author #4 Posted November 28, 2018 Gebirgsjäger use block & tackles to ferry a motorcycle with sidecar over a ravine.
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 28, 2018 Author #5 Posted November 28, 2018 A BMW with side car assigned to the 1./Panzerjäger-Abteilung 323 of the 323. Inf.-Division.
SARGE Posted November 28, 2018 #6 Posted November 28, 2018 Great motorcycle photos! As an old police motorcycle guy myself, here is one of my favorites. This is a photo of the Vienna Police just prior to the German Annexation of Austria. Notice that the first motor guy in line is riding an American Indian motorcycle.
retread12345 Posted November 28, 2018 #7 Posted November 28, 2018 SOME REALLY. interesting photos. Love the old Zundapp and BMW bikes. Had the pleasure of owning an R69S. around 1972. , super beautiful ride and dependable. Germany depended on these for a variety of missions. I can't say for certain but I believe there was an auto biography published concerning a BMW rider in Russia during WW II.
Tony v Posted November 28, 2018 #8 Posted November 28, 2018 Super pictures! Thanks for posting them all Tony
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 28, 2018 Author #10 Posted November 28, 2018 Sarge, great photo you posted! Retread & Tony thanks for the kind words. Here is a shot of Kradschützen negotiating a rough trail. Speaking of Kradschützen I had a great, late friend who was the Company Commander in 2./Kradschützen-Btl. 20 in Russia. More to come on him.
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 28, 2018 Author #11 Posted November 28, 2018 Here is another view (as in post #3) of the NSKK member instructing Motor HJ boys on a Motorbike. Any ideas on the maker and model of this bike?
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 28, 2018 Author #12 Posted November 28, 2018 Good one Salvage Sailor, I like it! :)
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 29, 2018 Author #13 Posted November 29, 2018 Learning to repair vehicles at the Motor Sports School.
SARGE Posted November 30, 2018 #14 Posted November 30, 2018 Here is a good shot of a three man Polizei crew with their machine gun mounted on the side car. These set-ups were used by Military Police (Feldgendarmerie) and other active service police division crews. This particular crew is from Essen as can be seen from the vehicle markings on the side car. Also, a couple of police issue postcards showing Motor Cops and their uniforms. I have a photograph album of a German municipal motorcycle policeman just prior to the war. It seems he was issued his motorcycle as a take-home vehicle and there are photos of him working on it at the police garage and riding it off duty with his wife on the back. Along with the regular uniformed duty he performed he went on a rally. These were called a Sternfahrt and were yearly police motorcycle trips that checked in at various check points set up by the police as a timed run from place to place over a long course. This couple camped by the side of the road and flew their Star traveling pennant from the handlebars during the trek. It seems they had great fun on his police issue bike.
MECHINF-A15 Posted December 3, 2018 Author #15 Posted December 3, 2018 SARGE, Nice photo and postcards! Thanks for sharing.
KVSkelton Posted December 21, 2018 #16 Posted December 21, 2018 Great photos everyone! Thanks for sharing. Here are a few from my personal collection:
KVSkelton Posted December 21, 2018 #17 Posted December 21, 2018 Another one with a gorget in wear (Perhaps a Feldgendarmerie?).
KVSkelton Posted December 21, 2018 #18 Posted December 21, 2018 And finally another krad that is plated for Polizie use. Kev
MECHINF-A15 Posted December 22, 2018 Author #19 Posted December 22, 2018 Nice shots KVS! Thank you for posting. Your are indeed correct on the ID in post # 17 The Unteroffizier in this picture is a member of the Feldgendarmarie.
KVSkelton Posted February 19, 2019 #20 Posted February 19, 2019 I picked this photo up at the SOS in 2016 and have been unable to identify the unit emblem on this Krad. Thought I'd post it here to see if anyone might have an idea. Thanks in advance for any help! And a little closer image of the emblem. Appears to possibly be a drum with crossed drumsticks above, but I could be entirely wrong! Wouldn't be the first time today! Kev
hellcatm18 Posted March 13, 2019 #21 Posted March 13, 2019 What brands of motorcycles did the german army use besides bmw?
KVSkelton Posted March 14, 2019 #22 Posted March 14, 2019 What brands of motorcycles did the german army use besides bmw? Zündapp is another manufacturer that immediately comes to mind. They made a model for heavy-duty military sidecar use, the KS750. DKW (Dampf-Kraft-Wagen, I think) and NSU (NSU Motorenwerke) also produced motorcycles for the Wehrmacht, or at least civilian models adapted to military use. NSU also produced the Kettenkrad. There are more, of course. And bikes were also taken for military use from occupied nations.
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