Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

German Heer 1935-1945.

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tigre
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Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

Post by tigre »

Hello to all; here goes an excerpt of an article written by Oberstleutnant Schonfehld, CO of the A.A. 20 during the Polenfeldzug.

Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” (Fast Troops)
[“Aufklarung durch Schnelle Truppen” by Lieutenant Colonel Schonfehld. Translated from the German by Mr. La vergne Dale, at the Command and General Staff School Libraty. Fort Leavenworth Kansas, from Wissen und Wehr, January 1941.]
condensed by CAPTAIN O. C MICHELMANN, Military Intelligence.

Sections of “Schnelle Truppen” (fast-moving trnops) are organically placed in all units of the army—though different in their composition. They are entrusted with special assignments. The most important is reconnaissance. It is of first importance. The following description will provide an insight as to the character and the conception of reconnaissance.

Reconnaissance consists of obtaining such complete picture of the enemy, as may be required, for a successful, strength conserving troop leadership; superior to that of the enemy. The production of these basic things is accomplished in various ways.

It is necessary to differentiate air reconnaissance, as made by reconnaissance planes, from ground reconnaissance by mobile troop units. especially gathered togetber for the purpose. Both represent the eyes and ears of higher command in their purposeful cooperation and supplement, rather than duplicate, each other’s effort.

Thus we find division horse cavalry and bicycle units in our army as reconnaissance troops for the infantry. Thanks to horse flesh and the fast bicycle, they can exceed the rate of march of the infantry many times, cover broad stretches in considerably shorter time than these, advance ahead of the infantry, and report to the command so opportunely the picture of the enemy situation, gained in the reconnaissance, that the command can govern the march correspondingly, as to dividing and dispatching of its units.

Within armored and motorized divisions such troop units have assumed the duties of reconnaissance, and they also can march considerably faster than their divisions. They are the armored reconnaissance detachments which, depending on their purpose, are composed of armored scouting vehicles, motorcycle snipers and other motorized arms.

First, the cavalry, motorcycle or armored scouting party is sent on its way, by the reconnaissance officer, with detailed instructions regarding the mission. We get a clear idea of the duties of scout troops most easily if we compare it to the human body.

Just as the groping fingers of a searching hand, in the dark, the individual scouting troops of a reconnaissance detachment, feel for the enemy. They go on in different directions and distances. At times, they go on a dangerous path. With their orders, announcers and radio installations, they are comparable to the sinews and nerves of the human body; in uninterrupted and flexible touch with the reconnaissance officer. With resistless energy and unimaginable courage, their orders continually before their minds’ eye, the aims of their reconnaissance officer constantly in mind, the scout detail officers work toward the enemy.

From reports, constantly supplemented by his own perceptions, the reconnaissance officer visualizes a many-colored mosaic picture with contours in part clear cut, in part hazy. It is the first picture of the enemy.

Its follows. Regards. Tigre 8) .
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Post by Paulus II »

Not meaning to interrupt your narrative Tigre but here's a little background info on Oberstleutnant Schönfeld for those interested:

http://www.bridgend-powcamp.fsnet.co.uk ... 6nfeld.htm

Best regards,

Paul
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Oberstleutnant Schönfeld.

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You're welcome Paul; thanks for showing the man behind the tale. Cheers. Tigre 8) .
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Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

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Hello pals, the story follows................................................

Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” (Fast Troops) - part 2.

But the far more difficult part of the reconnaissance begins at this point. Every scouting detail does not reach its goal. Because of opposition from the enemy, not every one is able to obtain a definite, clear picture of the enemy. No every report from the scouting detail reaches the reconnaissance officer in time. In these cases, it will always be an art, inborn and difficult to acquire, to send out new scouting details, to the right place, at the right time and in sufficient strength in cooperation with whatever forces are available.

The obtaining of the first reports concerning the enemy forms the basis for new activity by the reconnaissance detachment. However, this first picture of the enemy gives only an idea regarding the limits of the area in or back of which major enemy forces may be suspected:”

A number of essential questions must now be answered by the reconnaissance detachment, some of the most important of which are enumerated here. How strong is the enemy? what does he have in the way of infantry, artillery, tanks and other arms? How is he organized? Has he taken up a position or is he only camping in the area? Has he ended his march or has he not yet started it? From where has he come? Where does he plan to go? In how many columns is he marching or does he plan to march?.

From these and other equally important questions, ensues, perforce, the increased employment uf all parts of the reconnaissance detachment to their bodily and mental
limits, as well as to their limit with respect to numbers, space and time.

Time is the second factor affecting the results of reconnaissance. Like Damocles’ sword, it hovers over the operations of the reconnaissance detachments. Every fleeting minute that passes hy unused, every second diminishes the distance between their own and the enemy’s main forces.

With it, diminishes the time for freedom of action for the higher command. The reconnaissance officer must be greedy of seconds, without permitting over-haste to drive his reconnaissance detail headlong into destruction.

As next factor, there is the dispatch rider’s service. Probably no field of military activity is exposedto greater opposition and external influence. For the burden of the transmission of information from the scouting detail to the reconnaissance detachment, and then from here to the higher command, does not rest on many shoulders. In individual cases, it rests only on the particular dispatch rider or wireless operator entrusted with this task.

The fate of entire formations may depend upon an important bit of information which a scouting detail has acquired through sacrificial effort, if it does not reach its destination in time. Horse-mounted, bicycle and motorcycle dispatch riders may be shut down or taken prisoner while on their way. A fall, or enemy interference, has prevented many a message from reaching its goal.

Reconnaissance is also seriously interfered with by the enemy when he will not let you see his hand, (as at cards).

Source: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” (Fast Troops)
[“Aufklarung durch Schnelle Truppen” by Lieutenant Colonel Schonfehld. Translated from the German by Mr. La vergne Dale, at the Command and General Staff School Libraty. Fort Leavenworth Kansas, from Wissen und Wehr, January 1941.]
condensed by CAPTAIN O. C MICHELMANN, Military Intelligence.

Its follows. Regards. Tigre 8) .
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

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Hello folks; the last part..............................................

Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” (Fast Troops) - part 3.

If no craft and trickery of the scouting detail or reconnaissance detachment is of further help, the reconnaissance officer is obliged to force the enemy to reveal his strength by battle, He does this by breaking through the enemy’s weak screens,by avoiding his-stronger. formations, by keeping a position in front of the enemy or by pushing on toward him, A short excerpt from my daily work in Poland gives a good idea of the foregoing:

On 10 September, 1939, toward noon, a tank division had forced the retreat across the Narew. river between the fortresses of Lomza and Osowiec and had broken through the enemy’s front. While the break was being widened by severe infantry combat, my detachment (AA 20) drove through the gap and went southward toward Siedlce. After a 19-mile march, the scouting troops at the head of the column sent out the following message: “Zambrow is occupied by the enemy: go round in the direction of Siedlce.” A few minutes later our own advanced columns attack the surprised enemy on the way out of the town and take the market place of the town of about 6000 inhabitants; one hundred prisoners and antitank guns are the bouty. The enemy, a whole battalion, slowly comes to its senses. The defense becomes stronger. Our detachment breaks off combat, and goes further in the direction ordered. A radio message to the division flashes through the ether “Zambrow strongly occupied by the enemy, must be cleared.” Twenty minutes later we are on our way through other weakly occupied towns.

The passage through, these is forced by gun tire from motor vehicles. An auxiliary scouting detail under Lieutenant P. drives into a heavy forest to the right of the highway. The point has advanced even farther. Suddenly there is heavy machine-gun fire. Lieutenant P’s scouts are forced into combat. The staff halts momentarily. Then all available officers and men of the staff go toward the nearby forest to reconnoiter. A short fight ensues. Several Polish officers and about thirty men are taken prisoners in the skirmish. The regiment is identified.

In the meantime, Lieutenant P. travels along the woods in his armored scout car, where the columns were resting, and explores the woods to a depth of about 21,2 miles. He is about to turn around when several Polish officers spring out of the woods onto him. One of them makes ready a hand grenade. Lieutenant P. leans far out, of his car as he turns, and, at three paces he sends a pistol bullet through the officer’s breast. As quick as lightning, he pulls back into his car. The hand grenade goes off while still in the thrower’s hand and tears him to pieces. The scouting detail returns safely. In the meantime, a radio command comes in from the division. A motorcycle rider, out-of breath, brings it to me. It reads: “Direction of march no longer south, but east, in the direction of Brest-Litowsk” . I order firing ceased. All rush to their cars. Prisoners and wounded are loaded onto trucks and sent to the rear. By radio, I guide the scouting detail some 18 miles farther toward the east. A new point is installed by me during the advance, the old one called in by radio. All is accomplished in the course of minutes. By exemplary cooperation of all officers, men and radio operators taking part in the operations, and with war’s luck, great success is achieved. A new message flashed through space to the division: “Zazeby Woods-Wocholy; resting enemy columns of all arms, at least a regiment, regiment identified through prisoners.” The reconnaissance goes on deep into enemy territory.

Reconnaissance must determine at once where important railway lines were’ blown up in the enemy’s zone of operations, where the enemy’s communication lines are destroyed, where bridges destroyed by the enemy have been repaired and numerous other difficult tasks.

I have endeavored, in this short description, to give an idea of the strenuous work of a reconnaissance detachment. Great was the part played by the reconnaissance detachment in the huge successes in all theaters of war.

Source: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” (Fast Troops)
[“Aufklarung durch Schnelle Truppen” by Lieutenant Colonel Schonfehld. Translated from the German by Mr. La vergne Dale, at the Command and General Staff School Libraty. Fort Leavenworth Kansas, from Wissen und Wehr, January 1941.]
condensed by CAPTAIN O. C MICHELMANN, Military Intelligence.

Its all. Regards. Tigre 8) .
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Post by Reb »

Tigre

Outstanding. That's the kind of detail I enjoy most.

cheers
Reb
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Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

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Thank you Reb. All the best. Tigre 8) .
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Across the Narew - 20 ID (Mot)

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Hello guys; is out there a detailed map/sketch showing the 20 ID (Mot)'s actions dealing with the Narew river crossing??. TIA. Cheers :beer: . Tigre 8) .
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Re: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

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Hello to all :D; as small complement some photos..................

Poland 1939!.

Source: http://www.odkrywca.pl

Greetings. Raul M 8).
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In the foreground a Sd Kfz 232 8x8 (Funkwagen - radio) and hidden behind a light vehicleSd Kfz 22.........
In the foreground a Sd Kfz 232 8x8 (Funkwagen - radio) and hidden behind a light vehicleSd Kfz 22.........
image022.jpg (29.76 KiB) Viewed 8108 times
A Column of the SS  Aufkl. Abt (Panzerverband Ostpreußen-Div Kempf) in the lead a Sd Kfz 231 8x8 and behind a Sd Kfz 232 8x8 (Funkwagen) ..................... ..
A Column of the SS Aufkl. Abt (Panzerverband Ostpreußen-Div Kempf) in the lead a Sd Kfz 231 8x8 and behind a Sd Kfz 232 8x8 (Funkwagen) ..................... ..
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Re: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

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Hello to all :D; more follows..............

Poland 1939. Sd Kfz 221 in action................

Source: Foto Panzerspähwagen, Fahrzeuge Wehrmacht. eBay Auction.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

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Hello to all :D; more follows..............

Poland 1939. Sd Kfz 221 in action................

Source: on the picture.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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image014.jpg
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The last vehicle in the column, is a Sd Kfz 223 funkwagen (although it seems that its antenna was somewhat low, has the appearance of a Sd Kfz 260 but these were not in production at that point) ........... ...........
The last vehicle in the column, is a Sd Kfz 223 funkwagen (although it seems that its antenna was somewhat low, has the appearance of a Sd Kfz 260 but these were not in production at that point) ........... ...........
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Re: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

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Hello to all :D; more follows..............

Poland 1939. Sd Kfz 231 in action................

Source: http://odkrywca.pl/panzer-1939-czesc-10,676891.html.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows..............

Poland 1939. Sd Kfz 221/222 in action................

Source: http://odkrywca.pl/panzer-1939-czesc-14,721701.html.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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German column rolling across a Polish town in ruins; in the foreground two Leichter Panzerspähwagen Sd Kfz 221/222 ......................
German column rolling across a Polish town in ruins; in the foreground two Leichter Panzerspähwagen Sd Kfz 221/222 ......................
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Re: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows..............

Sd Kfz 221/222 in action................

According to the auction it is a Sd Kfz 222 operating in a port area and in the background a German battleship. Any chance of finding out when, where and what ship is seen in the background?

Source: http://www.ebay.de/itm/K83-Sd-Kfz-222-P ... 7675.l2557.

TIA. Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Reconnaissance by “Schnelle Truppen” .

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D;
Sd Kfz 221/222 in action................
ok someone point me out that the vehicle is in fact a Sd Kfz 221 armed with the squeeze bore 28mm anti-tank gun sPzB 41. Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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