Military Motorcycles (WW 2) - Germany: Books - History and Models (1/2)

German Military Motorcycles - In the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht, 1934-1945

This volume of photographs provides a documentation of the many motorcycle riders of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht and their various cycles between 1934 and 1945, including requisitioned machines.

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Two-Wheeled Blitzkrieg

No other combatant nation employed motorcycles on the scale produced by the Third Reich. During Nazi Germany's campaigns, first of invasion, then of the retreat that followed, motorcycles served a variety of functions: as couriers, for reconnaissance, for medical evacuation, as assault shock troops taking the brunt of battle, even as tank destroyers and for delivering hot meals to the frontline.

As the Third Reich gained absolute control of Germany and sought to spread its domain by fire and steel, some 300 different brands of motorcycles had been in production, yet only a select few were chosen to join the Wehrmacht in its war of conquest.
Among the motorcycles were the vaunted BMW, as well as NSU, Zundapp and the now lesser known yet `bullet tough' DKW, among several others, either domestically produced or confiscated from occupied territories.

As with all motorcyclists, there was a kinship among the soldiers on two (or three) wheels who called themselves Kradmelder (despatch riders).
"Two-Wheeled Blitzkrieg" shares the uniquely personal, largely unpublished images they took of themselves and their machines as they entered the crucible of war.

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German Motorcycles of WWII: A Visual History in Vintage Photos and Restored Examples (Part 1)

During World War II, the Germans emerged as pioneers in harnessing the motorcycle as a potent tool for offensive warfare, surpassing other nations in its utilization. These units undertook pivotal roles such as mopping-up operations for subsequent troops, functioning as advance guards, launching surprise raid-like attacks on an adversary's flanks and rear, and pursuing retreating opponents. To fulfill these roles, a diverse array of motorcycles was employed, including impressed and modified civilian models, as well as purpose-built military motorcycles.

This unique reference publication merges rare vintage photographs with images of impeccably restored German WWII motorcycles. This inaugural volume in a multi-part series showcases large, full-color detailed photos of select models, including the BMW R4, R12, R35, R71, R74, and Zündapp KS750. Only the most exceptional examples of these motorcycles were featured in this comprehensive work.

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Motorcycles of the Wehrmacht - A Photo Chronicle

Covers the various types of motorcycles used by the Wehrmacht during WWII.

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Deutsche Militärmotorräder - Seit 1905

Although motorcycle construction experienced its first boom at the beginning of the 20th century, motorcycles only slowly began to establish themselves in the military during the First World War.
In the Weimar Republic, the Reichswehr increasingly commissioned motorcycle rifle units on heavy motorcycles. It was not until 1938 that BMW and Zündapp began developing so-called super-heavy motorcycles with low-range gears, reverse gear and sidecar drive. After the war, two-stroke engines were mainly used.

In this volume, Frank Rönicke documents the development of German military motorcycles since 1905.

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Kräder im Einsatz 1934-1945 - Militärkräder in Reichswehr und Wehrmacht

This illustrated book documents the use of many motorcyclists and their various motorcycles between 1934 and 1945. As motorcycle messengers or motorcycle riflemen, they served on "steel horses" in pre-war and wartime times. In battlefields from Norway to Africa and from the Atlantic to the Volga, they were sent into the field with mostly non-off-road road machines.

Special equipment such as hand and foot heating or the "motorcycle coat" designed exclusively for motorcyclists is presented in this book. In addition to impressive operational photos with conventional Wehrmacht motorcycles from well-known manufacturers such as BMW, NSU, Zündapp or DKW, this volume also contains a wealth of photos of requisitioned machines. Without the use of these civilian motorcycles, the motorcycle messenger system would not have been possible during the Second World War.

A particular problem arose with the captured motorcycles. The Wehrmacht could only service them if their manufacturing plants were located in the German occupied area or if extensive spare parts stores had been captured.
Some of the captured French motorcycles from Terrot, Rene Gillet and Gnome et Rhone that were used are shown. This unusual illustrated book also gives an idea of the motorcycle use of former wartime enemies. In addition to the well-known solo and sidecar combinations from FN, Indian Chief, Harley Davidson, BSA and Norton, the super-light motorcycles of the English and American airborne troops are also presented here.

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