Cycling troops
Bicycle infantry are a branch of service of an army that with military bicycles are equipped. Military cyclists have a high marching speed on roads and paths , a greater range and they can move almost silently and carry more luggage than a foot soldier . In addition, moving out of the barracks is faster compared to motorized forces. The bike can also be used as a means of transporting loads over short distances or when moving slowly. Disadvantageous compared to the cavalry was initially that the first bicycles used were not suitable for off-road use and the use of weapons was hardly possible while driving.
The first attempts at a military use of the bicycle began after 1885. In Germany from 1892 cyclists were initially only used as individual detectors assigned to the troop units, which were attached to the hunter battalions in closed cycling companies .
The first cycling departments were established around 1894. In the First World War , cycling troops achieved their widest distribution due to the lack of motorization and the increased need for movement speed. 36 cyclist companies, 1 cavalry cyclist detachment, 10 reserve companies and 17 replacement troops were set up in the German army .
In 1936 the Wehrmacht formed a test department at the I. Army Corps in Königsberg . During the war, cyclists were used in the reconnaissance departments of the army's infantry divisions. With the increasing motorization of the troops, the majority of the cycling units were dissolved and reclassified. Only when there was a lack of fuel towards the end of the war from around 1944/45 were some units and units, especially the Volkssturm , made mobile with bicycles, on which two bazookas were often attached to holders for transport.
In the Italian army it was the elite units of the Bersaglieri who were equipped with bicycles. A first experimental cycling company was set up in March 1898 within the 12th Bersaglieri Battalion. The good experiences that were made with this experimental unit led in 1905 to the establishment of a cycling company in each Bersaglieri battalion. In 1907 the first Bersaglieri cycling battalion was established, consisting of four companies. In 1910 it was decided to set up a cycling battalion in each of the 12 Bersaglieri regiments. In 1912, the cycling troops were equipped with a military bike model Carriola (wheelbarrow) specially designed by Bianchi . When the Kingdom of Italy entered World War I in May 1915, there were 12 independent Bersaglieri cycling battalions. Around mid-1917, a machine gun cycling company was set up in each cycling battalion, and a machine gun cycling company was set up in 1918. After the war, all cycling units were disbanded in March 1919. Between 1923 and 1924, the 12 Bersaglieri regiments were converted into cycling troops. During the Second World War, the Italian cycling units were gradually motorized.
Japanese troops successfully operated in the jungle battle during the invasion of Southeast Asia during World War II, using bicycles that they requisitioned locally. This was possible because, due to their high quality, bicycles from Japan were widespread throughout Southeast Asia at the time, which was also advantageous for the procurement of spare parts and repairs.
The mobility of British paratroopers was increased after airborne operations by carrying folding bikes . On the German side, barrows were used technically similar to today's bicycle trailers .
In the Korean War , the Indochina War and the Vietnam War (in the latter case by the Viet Cong ), essential parts of the military transport services were carried out by bike.
Airborne troops of the US Army are currently again being equipped with bicycles for combat operations.
The infantry reconnaissance group, which existed until a few years ago, also had one bicycle per soldier for reconnaissance missions.
The Swiss Army put three to 2,003 cyclists regiments one (Rdf Regiment). Due to the progressive motorization of the combat units and in particular because of the lack of fragmentation protection during troop relocation, these cyclist regiments were dissolved. Due to the good reputation, the great physical performance and their corps spirit, the cycling units were considered elite troops .
In the founding phase of the Bundeswehr , a few companies were also equipped with bicycles; However, this was intended as a makeshift until the troops were fully motorized and not a permanent solution.
See also
- Cycling company in the Hanoverian Jäger Battalion No. 10
- Military-related member associations in the Association for the Protection of the Interests of Bavarian Cyclists , 1897
- Cycling Reconnaissance Brigade Norway
Individual evidence
- ↑ Piumetti e biciclette nella seconda Guerra Mondiale di Pietro Valpiani (Italian) accessed on March 1, 2019
- ^ I Bersaglieri (Italian), accessed March 1, 2019
- ^ I Bersaglieri Ciclisti (Italian) accessed on March 1, 2019
- ↑ 120 years of bicycle hits - classic, creative and curious bikes. ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Burgdorf 2004, p. 13.
literature
- OKW : regulation H.Dv. 293 - The troop bicycle - 1935
- Article in the SZ magazine on the subject of Swiss military cyclists, undated
Web links
- Literature about cycling troops in the catalog of the German National Library
- radfahrer.ch - unofficial website of the Swiss military cyclists
- Historical cyclist company in Switzerland