WW2 Motorcycles Only

Some German Examples to get the ball rolling.

1.

Description: Krim, May 1942 In the fight around the peninsula Kertsch Specially information: Russia. - Kradmelder in foxhole sleeping, besides BMW R75 with sidecar on free field.

2.

Italy, fuel transport with motorcycle Specially information: Italy. - Two soldiers on Krad (tricycle) with supporter in the case of the transport of cans (with fuel?) on a highway. 1943. Possibly a Moto Guzzi Trialce.

3.

Yugoslavia, Split. - motorized troops, soldier on motorcycle DKW, probably a 350 two-stroke twin. In the background Volkswagen jeep. Sept '43.

4.

Russia, Kradschütze, Beiwagenkrad Specially information: Soviet Union north. - " motorized unit of the weapon NSS division; Totenkopf" , Soldier on motorcycle with sidecar, 1941.

5.

Possibly a K500 Zundapp. Poland 3rd Sept 1939.

 

German Motorcyle unit and Russian T-26. Poland 22nd Sept 1939. German and Russian Victory Parade in Litewski (Brest in Belarus today)

 

Russia. Sleeping soldier on motorcycle BMW R75 with sidecar (24. Armored division)



Italy. - Paratroopers with motorcycle BMW R75 with sidecar and machine gun 42 in locality.


Nordarfrika. - Sleeping soldiers on BMW motorcycle with sidecar (Seitenwagenkrad) of the Air Force, March May 1941.


France. - Soldier, cigar smoking, also motorcycle with sidecar during trip by ruins of a destroyed locality, sidecar driver with rifle in the attack. May 1940

 

No. 2 looks like a Moto Guzzi Trialce and No. 5 is certainly not a big Zundapp. It's a DKW, probably a 350 two-stroke twin. The German forces used large numbers of stinkwheels for DR services.

Rich

 

Cheers Rich I'll edit accordingly. Description are in German and I've used their info via a web translation site.

Regards
Andy

 

1.

Russia Aug/Sept. '43.

2.

Russia, Mar '44. Kettenkrad and truck on wet highway, destroyed Soviet tank of American origin (M4 Sherman) at the edge of way.

3.

Italy, Sept, '43

4.

Russia Feb/Mar '44. Ski hunters lay Telefonkabel from a Kettenkrad. Soldier equipped with a MP44.

 

Capt. Gordon C. Stenhouse (1st Battalion Surgeon, 505th PIR) rides a 'liberated' German Kettenkrad Motorcycle, now adorned with Allied Symbol (blue flag with white star) and Geneva Convention Markers. The trooper standing at right, Cpl. Lenagham was killed moments following the taking of this photograph.
WW2 US Medical Research Centre :: Homepage

 

At 0830, the 506th attacked southwards, moving forwards on a narrow front with 1st and 3rd Battalion on either side of the main road. Soon, German opposition stiffened, accurate artillery fire began to fall on the troopers and the two battalions were forced to stop and dig in. Captain John Reeder of 506th HQ pictured the moment the advance was stalled. The officer on the Cushman 53 Airborne Scooter is Captain Clarence Hester (Of Band of Brothers Fame), 2nd Battalion S-3 Operations Officer. The picture is looking South on the Uden- St Oedenrode Road.
Pic: Cushman Auto Glide Motor Scooter for Airborne Troops
Info: ATB Op Market Garden

 

Cheers Rich I'll edit accordingly. Description are in German and I've used their info via a web translation site.

Regards
Andy

Andy, I'm a plonker, I meant number 3 (three) is a Deek ! The 2-stroke with the low exhausts and the inspection cover on the transfer ports !

Number five (5) looks like a K500 Zundapp.

Sorry mate

 

Taken from a WW2Talk Thread.

From WLA.
At Pacy-Sur-Eure, France, American and British troops meet on August 27th, 1944. US Army Officers discuss the situation on the pavement while Cpl Gordon C Powell of the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion poses next to British XXX Corps Dispatch Rider Baltins Dogoughs. Dogoughs rides a Norton 16H with missing front fender and has picked up a German MP40 Submachinegun along the way. He wears standard infantry trousers, shoes and helmet instead of the special motorcyclist's gear.
Powell's riding a Type IV or early Type V 42WLA, evidenced by the low Ammo Box and first pattern front fender. A M1903 Springfield rifle is carried in a leather scabbard on the front forks. Ammo for this rifle is held in a M1923 Cartridge Belt. A standard M1 helmet is slung over the headlight. Other equipment, possibly a M-238 Flag Set, is carried on the rifle scabbard. Powell's uniform consists of the 2-piece camouflaged HBT suit worn for a short period in France by units of the 2nd Armored Division and unidentified headgear and goggles.
Markings on the front fender are 2/\-82R HQ83, which would indicate 83rd vehicle of HQ Company, 82nd Reconnaissance Bn of the 2nd Armored Division. A star is painted to the front of the gas tank.

 

From another WW2 Talk thread.
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1147/10203742.jp
Karl Muller was in Mons at the begining of September and he took this shot on the Place de Flanders, a major crossroads in the south east part of the city. It is interesting to see that the rider in the camouflaged smock on the NSU motorcycle is armed with a British Sten which was quite capable of firing German 9mm ammuntion.
[/quote]

 

Interesting images from 1st Aust Ord Vehicle Park Bandiana Victoria in 1946.

Spider

 

img=http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5375/01200france7armeeavant1.jp

img=http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3117/01200france7armeeavant1y.jp

img=http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/595/01200frind.jp

 

Those look very much like Harleys, Andrew. What do you think?

 

I'm no expert but they do indeed, I don't know if the Americans supplied bikes to the French Military pre war or indeed if the French made their own bikes on an American design?

Regards

 

I'm no expert but they do indeed, I don't know if the Americans supplied bikes to the French Military pre war or indeed if the French made their own bikes on an American design?

Regards

Dunno, mate but I expect one of our m/c experts on the forum would know.

H

 

Just had a quick search. They are Indian Motorcycles.

 

Just saw these - yes, definitely Indians. Going by the spring-leaf forks and rear suspension, I think Chiefs. I'm not sure if the smaller-capacity Scouts has plunger rear suspension at that point.

 

The French contracts were for the 340 CAV model. There is a Belgian website devoted to them and a book as well.

Start

Many of the survivors from 1940 went with the Wehrmacht to the eastern front, others were used by the Vichy forces and one shipment arrived in the UK post June 1940 to be issued to Polish forces in training.