November 27, 20187 yr #1 Period photograph of a Heer motorcycle messenger on a BMW. Note that this soldier carries the message tube clutched between his teeth.
November 28, 20187 yr Author #2 A weary Kradmelder pauses for smoke during the advance into France, 1940.
November 28, 20187 yr Author #3 A member of the NSKK gives instruction on a motorbike to Motor HJ boys.
November 28, 20187 yr Author #4 Gebirgsjäger use block & tackles to ferry a motorcycle with sidecar over a ravine.
November 28, 20187 yr Author #5 A BMW with side car assigned to the 1./Panzerjäger-Abteilung 323 of the 323. Inf.-Division.
November 28, 20187 yr #6 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.
November 28, 20187 yr #7 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.
November 28, 20187 yr Author #10 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.
November 28, 20187 yr Author #11 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?
November 30, 20187 yr #14 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.
December 21, 20187 yr #16 Great photos everyone! Thanks for sharing. Here are a few from my personal collection:
December 22, 20187 yr Author #19 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.
February 19, 20197 yr #20 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
March 14, 20197 yr #22 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.
Create an account or sign in to comment