Aufklärungsabteilung

During the first campaigns of the Second World War they included horse-mounted and bicycle troops in the infantry divisions; in the more mobile motorized infantry and Panzer divisions they were equipped with motorcycle combinations (e.g., BMW R75, Zündapp KS 750), Volkswagen Kübelwagens, and Sd.Kfz.

Units in the mobile divisions were also equipped with six- and eight-wheeled heavy armored cars such as the Sd.Kfz.

Later in the war they were issued with Volkswagen Schwimmwagens, light half-tracks such as the Sd.Kfz.

The addition of an anti-tank gun (PaK) company later in the war was an attempt to deal with these opponents; however, the unit's armoured vehicles were no match for T-34s or M4 Shermans.

The composition of two example Aufklärungsabteilungen were as follows: SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 (Attached to Infanterie-Regiment (mot.)

Entry of the Aufklärungsabteilung of the 5th Panzer Division into Athens , 1941
Battle structure of a partially motorized Aufklärungsabteilung of the Wehrmacht in 1939. Tactical symbols depict important weapons: departmental staff mounted and motorized, communications platoon partially motorized, 1. Cavalry squadron mounted; 2. Cyclist squadron on bicycles with heavy train; 3. Heavy squadron with anti-tank platoon, cavalry gun platoon, armored scout troop.