Kraftfahr-Abteilungen in Reichswehr-Divisionen

[CNE503]

Hello,

I don't know exactly what were the mission, organization and strength of these units which were divisional assets between 1921 and 1934. I assume that a Kraftfahr-Abteilung is a motorized battalion, but were its missions transportation tasks only ?
It seems that the Reichswehr-Divisionen had also a Fahr-Abteilung, but what were their purposes, organization and so on ? I can't even translate correctly the term Fahr !

Thanks for your help,

CNE503

[HFK]

Hello CNE, the word fahr, all by itself, is not listed in my Military Dictionary. You are right that Kraftfahrabteilung (one word) is a motor transport Battalion. I would think the vehicles were used to transport whatever was needed by the division. Harry

[VJK]

Hi,

The Fahr-Abteilungen were subordinated to the division's Artillerieführer and Artillerie-Regiment, presumably as support. E.g., here is what http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Weh ... hr1932.htm has for the
1. (Preußische) Fahrabteilung: Königsberg, 3. Kp in Gumbinnen. 1 Königsberger Kp = Kraftwagenversuchsbatterie als Stamm für schwere Artillerie. Abteilung bildet bis Ende 1932:
- eine Beobachtungsabteilung (mot) mit Stab, Vermessungsbatterie, Schallmessbatterie
- Stabsbatterie (mot) für 1. ArtRgt
- eine Bttr schwere Artillerie (mot)

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can provide more precise detail.

Best regards,

VJK

[hawkeye 1]

Hi,
my Grandfather was from 1928 on in the 2. Kraftfahr-Abteilung, until the unit was renamed into 12. Panzerabwehr-Abteilung on Oct. 15.1935.This kind of unit became in 1940 Panzerjagd-Abteilungen. Here a few pics from his album.

Cheers

Falk

Somehow the attachments don't work

[Marcus Wendel]

Somehow the attachments don't work

See the instructions for posting attachments at viewtopic.php?p=1264863#p1264863

/Marcus

[hawkeye 1]

Hi Marcus,
it looks like it will work now. Thank you very much for your help.
cheers
Falk

Alfred4.jpg

Alfred14.jpg

Alfred3.jpg

[Marcus Wendel]

Thanks for sharing those photos.

/Marcus

[CNE503]

Hello,

I dig up this message because I still don't understand well what were the differences between a Fahr Abteilung and a Kraftfahr Abteilung.

If the latter seems to have been a motor transport battalion, what was the former? Something like a general combat services support battalion?

Thanks for your help!
Truly yours,

CNE503

[Mad Zeppelin]

Fahrabteilungen were hippomobile, the companies were called squadrons, and in most cases had one of the pre-war Train-Abteilungen for tradition unit.
Kraftfahrabteilungen were motor transport units.

[CNE503]

This is what it looks to me, hippomobile transportation battalions, but I suspect that it was a covername. All the seven Fahr Abteilungen were under divisional Artillerieführer command, not under division direct command such as the Kraftfahr Abteilungen. And according to lexikonderwehrmacht, late 1932:
- 1. (Preussisches) Fahr Abteilung was made up of a Beobachtungs Abteilung, a Stabsbatterie for an additional artillery regiment and a heavy artillery battery.
- 2. (Preussisches) Fahr Abteilung was made up of a "Fliegerstammabteilung" of two companies, a Stabsbatterie and a antiaircraft battery.
- 3. (Preussiches) Fahr Abteilung was made up of a Stab for a Flak Abteilung, a Flak Batterie, a Schweinwerfer Batterie, a Stabsbatterie and a Kradschützen Kompanie.
- 4. Fahr Abteilung was made up of a Stabsbatterie, a Schallmessbatterie, a Kampfwagen-Abwehr Kompanie and a Nebel Batterie. Its first company seemed to be a "Gas und Nebelversuchsbatterie".

The other three battalions were made up of approximately the same kind of units (mainly Beobachtung, antitank, antiaircraft, heavy artillery, and so on).

It looks like it was a cover unit for an upgrade of divisional artillery, especially concerning heavy artillery and antiaircraft artillery (and chemical?) which were forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles.
Or do you think I'm totally wrong here?

Truly yours,

CNE503

[Mad Zeppelin]

Depends in what timeframe you look at them. Approximately since 1928, the restrictions of the Versailles Dictate were increasingly disregarded, and a secret re-armament was started. The Fahrabteilungen, worthless in a modern army with their original equipment, easily provided the personnel (one still was bound with the restirction to have only 100,000 men in the army) for new test formations. So, your examples for 1932 perfectly fit to this tendency.

[CNE503]

Mad Zeppelin,
Must I understand that before 1928, the Fahr Abteilungen were still hippomobile transportation battalions, and that progressively after 1928, they became new test formations, especially for artillery purposes?

It makes sense, anyway.

Thanks for you help !
Cheers,

CNE503