Aufklarung Lehr Abteilung in Poland 1939

[tigre]

Hello every body

Around 06.09.1939 the unit was transferred towards Lyck and placed under command of XIX. AK (Gen. Guderian)/left wing of 3º AOK (v. Kuhchler) as a KorpsAufklärungsAbt. After that, the ALA crossed the border at Prosken and later on fought a hard engagement at Grajewo, suffering high casualties: Rittm v. Häublien, OIC of the 3. Lehrschwadron (Kradschutzen) and 9 men KIA. Cuold be possible to get some detailed account about this action and/or as least a map/skecht. Thanks in advance and regards. Tigre.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; here goes something I've got sometime ago and some pictures I've recently found....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs Lehr Abteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

In early August 1939 the ALA moved with a night march through Berlin towards Stettin, with final destination in Deutsch-Krone. There it was subordinate to the III AK, within the framework of the 4 AOK, and joined the so-called Netze Security Command (cover name).

At dawn on September 1, 1939 at 04:45 hours the detachment crossed the border of the Reich by Preussenfeld in order to fulfill the assigned task: reconnaissance towards the Vistula. The first goal set by the commander was Nakel / Naklo town which was reached at dusk. The actions of the first day were: crossing the border in Preussenfeld; attack on Dembowo and conquest of Nakel. The resistance on the border was quickly overpowered by the motorcyclists, in the customs shed was the first casualty, a seriously injured motorcyclist.

Sources: Album seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

In Dembowo, 40 kilometers inside Poland, the ALA found resistance again. The motorcyclists, supported by heavy weapons from the 4. Squadron, entered the town while the armored vehicles opened fire on a machine gun nest located in the bell tower of the church. In half an hour the town was in German hands and a Polish cyclist squadron was defeated.

In Nakel, the ALA reached the market place without resistance and there ensued a guerrilla war with civilians and soldiers who had stripped of their uniforms. After shot against the buildings with all the available weapons the detachment assembled in the northern exit of the town while the sappers cleared the barricades made ​​of logs. The ALA was not able to rake and clear Nakel.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

The next two days the Detachment reconnoitered towards the Vistula between Crone and Bromberg. On September 3, 1939 after a night march, the Detachment reached the area around Jastrow-Rummelsburg.

On September 4, 1939 the ALA crossed the corridor and then got across the bridge on the Vistula by Kasemark. On September 6, 1939 it went to fulfill a new task in the area of Lyck, where it was subordinate to the XIX AK (Mot) led by General Guderian.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

Grajewo.

On September 9, 1939, after crossing the Polish border by Prosken, unfortunately there were further losses for the detachment. As it move ahead on Grajewo collided with a strong defensive position well organized and occupied by Polish infantry. Leading his motorcyclist squadron, fell in action Rittmeister Häublein and with him nine brave members of that subunit.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

I wonder what Polish unit was still deployed so close to the border as late as September 9, 1939. Could be troops of the 9 psk?. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

Grajewo.

The motorcyclists were able to overcome this resistance through the fire support provided by the squadron of armored vehicles of Oberleutnant Winter. The occupation of the town of Grajewo necessarily had to be assigned to the Fortress Brigade Lötzen which followed behind, therefore the ALA proceeded westwards. The casualties suffered by the detachment at Grajewo, were buried in the cemetery of Prosken by the rearguards echelons.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

Towards the Narew.

Continuing the progress west of Grajewo, the detachment reached the Narew by Wizna area, but the bridge had been already blown up so that the crossing was no longer possible there.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

Across the narew.

Following orders from the High Command, the ALA crossed the Narew by a pontoon bridge laid by the sappers of the 20 ID (Mot) on September 10, 1939 and proceeded behind that division towards Lomza.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

To the Bug River .................

On the march's path the Commander of the Army Corps assigned a new task, it prescribed turn due south in Zambrow and go south until reaching the bridge over the River Bug in Tonkiele. This goal was reached and occupied after running a night march of 100 km by Czyzewo and Ciechanowiec.

After blasting the bridge the ALA came back towards Czyzewo and engaged in combat by Dmochi with the Polish forces of the 18 DP trying to break the siege there. In these circuntanscias the light armored vehicles "Schill" and "Karlsbad" were destroyed by Polish anti tank fire.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the end....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

Towards Kobryn.

Upon ending the fighting around Dmochi, the ALA received a new task, to press towards Bielsk, passing aside Brest-Litovsk in the direction of Kobryn; the advance of the ALA ended in Kleszehle and Ogrodnicki, where it established contact with Soviet forces advancing from the east. New orders and the ALA retreated to Zambrow, a town where it arrived after marching three days by the Forest of Bialowiece. Finally the detachment retreated towards Friedenstal in East Prussia.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .