|
|
One of the abiding images of the Second World War is of German troops in motorcycles and side cars, often seen in film of the German invasions of the Low Countries and France in 1940. These Kradschutzen, or motorcycle troops, were part of the German reconnaissance forces, normally allocated to Panzer Divisions, which needed reconnaissance troops capable of moving significantly faster than the tanks they were supporting.
This entry in the Vs series picks out one of many different clashes involving those motorcycle troops – those with New Zealand infantry during the campaigns in Greece and Crete. These were campaigns in which the motorbikes featured heavily, probing defensive positions in Greece and chasing the retreating allies in Crete.
An unusual feature of this entry in the ‘vs’ series is that it covers pretty much the entire history of the clash involved. New Zealanders and Germans clashed many times later in the war, but in the later campaigns the motorcycle wasn’t such a significant part of the Germany reconnaissance force. Light armoured cars replaced them when possible, and as firepower on both sides rise the motorbike became increasingly vulnerable. However even here the two units being examined weren’t fighting alone – both were supported by artillery and tanks in most of these clashes. That element of the fight is dealt with well here – the two troop types of the title aren’t dealt with in isolate, but as part of a larger battle.
The result is an interesting look at one part of the fighting in Greece and Crete - generally the first part of each clash, as the German reconnaissance forces ran into the defending Allies, but sometimes these fights went on for longer than one would expect with reconnaissance forces, as it took longer than ideal to get heavier troops up to the front.
Chapters
The Opposing Sides
Servia
Platamon
Stilos to Sfakia
Analysis
Aftermath
Unit Organizations
Author: David Greentree
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 80
Publisher: Osprey
Year: 2017