Feldgrau.net

Hello to all, greetings from Argentina. I've the following Officers roll list for that Aufklarungsabteilung:

CO: Obertslt. Oswin Grolig.
Adj: Lt Bernd Mitzlaff

and then Rittmeister d.R. Welck, Rittmeister d.R. Prinz Schaumburg-Lavendel, Oberlt. Richter and finally Bunau, Hammerstein-Equord, Hohenhoff, Studnitz.

Does anyone here has the stellenbesetzung for AA 8 in France 1940 or at least could kindly help me to fit properly those names with his assignments and ranks?

The excerpts were taken from the book Spahtrupp by Kunrat von Hammerstein-Equord. TIA. All the best. Tigre.

You have mail



Jan-Hendrik

Thank you very much, Jan-Hendrik.

Hello pals; something dealing with the first stages in this unit's life.........

Organization.

It was raised in the fall of 1934 from the 3. Squadron of 4. (Preussischen) Reiterregiment (Cavalry regiment), parts of the 3. (Preussischen) Kraftfahrabteilung and parts of others reiterregiments as the Kraftfahrabteilung “Potsdam” with:

Staff.
Narichtenzug (Signal Pl).
Panzerspähkompanie (Mechanized coy).
Kradschützenkompanie (Motorcyclist coy).
Schwerekompanie (Heavy coy – support and weapons).

The newly reaised unit was billeted in Potsdam in the Gardes du Korps – Kaserne. In 1935 its name was changed for Aufklärungs Abteilung 8 and on April 1936 it was under the 1. Kavallerie Division within the framework of the Aufklärungs Brigade “Berlín”.

On October 1937, the abteilung was renamed II./ Aufklärungsregiment 6. That very year were outlined tha plans for raising the so-called Leichte divisions (fast units with mechanized elements) comprising one aufklärungsregiment. The Aufklärungsregiment 6 was formed with the A.A. 6 - Münster (Staff and I. Abteilung) and the A.A. 8 – Potsdam (II. Abteilung); this aufklärungsregiment was disbanded on November 1938. So the I. Abteilung as A.A. 6 became part of the 1. Leichte Division and the II. Abteilung as A.A. 8 became part of the 5. Panzer Division.

Its Commanding Officers were:

1934 – 1938 Major / Oberstleutnant Neumann-Silkow.
1938 – 1940 Major Grölig.

The colours of the AA 8 on parade.


Source: the mail sent to me by Jan-Hendrik (thank you very much).

Cheers. Tigre.

Hello to all ; a little query about this unit...................................

The A.A. 8 - Poland 1939.

Before the beginning of the Polish campaign the 5th Panzer Division assembled west and north-west of Ratibor. On September 1, it crossed the Polish border, broke through the Polish border fortifications near Rybnik and Pless. The 5 Pz crossed the Polish border at 04:45 hours with three groups of march; Marschgruppe A (Oberst Haarde), Marschgruppe B (Oberst Streich) and Marschgruppe AA 8 (Oberstleutnant Grolig).

The AA 8 and the Marschgruppe A advanced without inconveniences but the Marschgruppe B collided in Rybnik against strong resistance. Nevertheless.....................

Before Loslau 1.9.1939.

Our Spähwagen, that had ventured forward a little, at exactly half an hour after the border crossing got a Polish anti-tank gun hit. It burned out 2 out of 4 came alive. The 1st Pl freed the two from the fatal situation. Immediately afterwards, we received our baptism of fire.

Source: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... derung.htm
http://odkrywca.pl/panzer39-wraki-czesc ... 59785.html

AFAIK there was defending the Polish 6 DP, but exactly which Polish unit met the AA 8's vanguard? Cheers. Raúl M .