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Reorganization
of Kradschuetzen in Panzer-Division before Russian Campaign.
The victory of French Campaign had proved the value of German Panzer arms.
The number of panzer division doubled after French campaign by reorganization
of other formation; most of them were infantry divisions. The organization
of these panzer divisions was gradually standardized during late 1940
to early 1941. Thus there were 20 panzer divisions at that time. The panzer
brigades were disbanded in the previous existed panzer divisions and one
of the two panzer regiments was detached to the newly formed panzer divisions.
This dramatic reduction of Panzer arms made every panzer division consist
of only one panzer regiment with two or three battalions. The motorcycle
rifle battalion became an organic formation under motorized rifle brigade
in every panzer division and all the motorcycle rifle companies were extracted
from the motorized rifle regiments to form organic motorcycle rifle battalion
for those divisions did not have one before. Thirteen motorcycle rifle
battalions were raised for panzer divisions at that time. Besides the
motorcycle rifle battalion, there was one motorcycle reconnaissance company
under motorized reconnaissance battalion in every panzer division.
New
Formation of Kradschuetzen in Infanterie-Division (mot) before Russian
Campaign. There were four motorized infantry divisions during
French Campaign. Tow of them were converted to panzer divisions after
French Campaign and another eight infantry divisions were converted to
motorized infantry divisions. The organization of these motorized infantry
divisions was gradually standardized during late 1940 to early 1941. Thus
there were 10 motorized infantry divisions at that time. The motorcycle
rifle battalion also became an organic formation in every motorized infantry
division and ten motorcycle rifle battalions were raised for motorized
infantry divisions at that time. Besides the motorcycle rifle battalion,
there was one motorcycle reconnaissance company under motorized reconnaissance
battalion in every motorized infantry division.
The
Kradschuetzen in other motorized infantry units before Russian Campaign.
The 11. Schuetzen-Brigade (mot) became the cadre of the newly formed 11.
Panzer-Division after French Campaign. The motorcycle rifle company in
each regiment was extracted to form the motorcycle rifle battalion under
the brigade command. The Lehr-Regiment 900 (mot) became the cadre of the
new Lehr-Brigade 900 (mot) in 1941. The brigade had one motorized infantry
regiment, one motorized artillery battalion and one motorized antitank
battalion. There was one motorcycle rifle company under the motorized
rifle battalion in the Lehr-Regiment 900 (mot). The famous Infanterie-Regiment
"GD" (mot) had five motorized infantry battalions and one motorized
artillery battalion at that time. There was one motorcycle rifle company
in the fourth battalion at that time.
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