Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung 1939 and 1940

[tigre]

Does anyone in the forum has info about the engagements and assignments of this Unit in Poland and France. As far as I remember, Generaloberst Heinz Guderian, stated that he took the lehr Units with him at the start of Fall Weiß; but what about the west campaign?
Detailed info would be appreciate. Thanks in advance.Regards.

[tigre]

Hello to all I'll try to be a little more specific this time.

Around 06.09.1939 the unit was transferred towards Lyck and placed under command of XIX. AK (Gen. Guderian)/left wing of 3º AOK (von Küchler) as a KorpsAufklärungsAbt. After that the ALA crossed the border at Prosken and later on fought a hard engagement at Grajewo, suffering high casualties: Rittm v. Häublien, OIC of the 3. Lehrschwadron (Kradschützen) and 9 men KIA. Cuold be possible to get some detailed account about this action and/or as least a map/skecht. Thanks in advance and regards. Tigre.

[Jan-Hendrik]

Anything about the latter Major Wolfgang Herrmann von Rom , later Kdr. of the KradschützenLehrBtl. ??

Jan-Hendrik

[Bernd R]

tigre,
in case you still need info on ALA
and for all, who are interested in this unit.

First you could try to get a very hard to find booklet :

Hans Cramer, Gen. d. PzTr a.D.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"
Albrecht Philler Verlag, Minden/Westfalen, no year (appr. 1960)
DIN A5, 70 pages

Have had a copy, but sold it some years ago.
It contains OOB, commanders, combat history and a few pictures.

Your question:
ALA was engaged in Poland and in France.
The Lehrtruppe shouldn't be without combat experience.
Therefore 1939 the 1.Schwadron (Reiter) was put out and the Kavallerielehr- und Versuchs-
abteilung was reorganized and renamed Aufklärungsabteilung (mot) = ALA.
So it was with
2.(Panzerspäh) Lehrschwadron
3.(Kradschützen) Lehrschwadron
4.(schwere) Lehrschwadron
To get more firepower the Panzerspähschießlehrzug was incorporated into 2nd Schwadron.

Poland :
put directly under command III. AK, from 06.09.1939 under XIX. AK/Guderian.
Personal order of Guderian for a reconnaissance charge of 100 km air line.

Because it's late and I don't want to make a bad translation, here is the so-called
Gefechtskalender in german:
1939 Polenfeldzug: Ansatz zur Aufklärung aus Hinterpommern Richtung Weichsel / schneller Vorstoß bis Nakel, danach Aufklärung gegen den Brahe-Abschnitt / Verlegung in den Raum um Lyck, Unterstellung unter das XIX. Armeekorps / Aufklärungsvorstoß über 100 km Luftlinie nach Süden zum Bug auf die Brücke bei Tonkiele in der Dunkelheit, Nehmen der unzerstörten Bugbrücke / Sprengung der Brücke und Rücknahme der ALA, da deren Abschneiden drohte.

End of october 1939 transfer to the west, area Koblenz.

1940 Frankreichfeldzug: under command of XIX. AK / Vorstoß durch Luxemburg / Maaß-Übergang in Richtung Cambrai - Unterlauf der Somme - Beeville bis zur Küste des Ärmelkanals / Sicherung am rechten Flügel der deutschen Heeresverbände zur Kanalküste
über Rouen, Caen, Cherbourg.

End of august 1940 march backwards to Krampnitz.

Source: "...und die Aufklärer sind immer dabei..." Zur Geschichte der deutschen Panzer-aufklärungstruppe, Freundeskreis Panzeraufklärer, Cord Schwiers (Hrsg.) Munster 2001
and own memos.

luchs

[tigre]

Hi, PzAALuchs, sure all piece of info is wanted. Thank you very much. Cheers. Tigre.

[Jan-Hendrik]

Good hint , comrade from bavaristan !

Will try to get it ...

Jan-Hendrik

[Bernd R]

Thanks , tigre and Jan-Hendrik

The Cramer booklet would be a lucky find. Did get it for 70,00 DM in the early 1990s.
Think, will cost 100,00 Euro and more today (was stupid to give it away by the way...)

Concerning Major von Rom all I have is :
1941 - autumn 1942 : Kdr ALA / KradSchtz-Lehr-Btl

Summer 1941 ALA under command of 1. Kav.Div.

Beginning of 1942 reorganisation of ALA to KradSchtz-Lehr-Btl. May 1942 transfer again
to eastern front. Under command of 11. Pz.Div (timely 9. Pz.Div). Action in Frontbogen
Ssuchinitschi area. October 1942 back to Krampnitz.

Major von Rom KIA autumn 1942. Must have been in the Don region.

regards from bavaria
luchs

[Jan-Hendrik]

Thank you , I think I know at least a "source" where I could get it as photocopy

Jan-Hendrik

[Jan-Hendrik]

You got mail , dear Raul !

Jan-Hendrik

[tigre]

Hello Jan-Hendrik, I've got it. Thank you very much, what a surprise, a very nice ones indeed. Cheers. Tigre.

[Gerst]

My uncle Ernst was with the ALA until his death in Russia (now Belarus) in August, 1942. Thank all of you, especially you, Jan-Hendrik, for the helpful information. My father was home on leave (XXX Armeekorps) when he learned of Onkel Ernst's death. With the help of all of you, I now know a little more about his life. He never married so I am the only one left who remembers him. He died two years before I was born, but I have his photos and I have his memory!

Many thanks!

Arnim Gerstenmeier

[Jan-Hendrik]

Gern geschehen , dear Friend ! My pleasure !

Jan-Hendrik

[sturmvogel]

Do you have more exact dates for its service on the Russian Front in 1942? And what was the structure of the Abt. during its service in 1941 and 1942?

Jason

[tigre]

Hello to all ; here goes something I've got sometime ago and some pictures I've recently found....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

In early August 1939 the ALA moved with a night march through Berlin towards Stettin, with final destination in Deutsch-Krone. There it was subordinate to the III AK, within the framework of the 4 AOK, and joined the so-called Netze Security Command (cover name).

At dawn on September 1, 1939 at 04:45 hours the detachment crossed the border of the Reich by Preußenfeld in order to fulfill the assigned task: reconnaissance towards the Vistula. The first goal set by the commander was Nakel / Naklo town which was reached at dusk. The actions of the first day were: crossing the border in Preußenfeld; attack on Dembowo and conquest of Nakel. The resistance on the border was quickly overpowered by the motorcyclists, in the customs shed was the first casualty, a seriously injured motorcyclist.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The ALA (Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung) in Poland - September 1939.

In Dembowo, 40 kilometers inside Poland, the ALA found resistance again. The motorcyclists, supported by heavy weapons from the 4. Squadron, entered the town while the armored vehicles opened fire on a machine gun nest located in the bell tower of the church. In half an hour the town was in German hands and a Polish cyclist squadron was defeated.

In Nakel, the ALA reached the market place without resistance and there ensued a guerrilla war with civilians and soldiers who had stripped of their uniforms. After shot against the buildings with all the available weapons the detachment assembled in the northern exit of the town while the sappers cleared the barricades made ​​of logs. The ALA was not able to rake and clear Nakel.

Sources: Album-Seiten Polen Dirschau Graudenz Weichsel Brücken Gefangene zurück in Berlin. eBay auction.
"Die Panzer-Aufklärungs-Lehrabteilung (Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchsabteilung) 1937-1940"

Cheers. Raúl M .