The German Kradmantel, or motorcyclist's protective coat, was a distinctive and highly functional piece of Wehrmacht equipment that played a vital role during World War II. Introduced on November 12, 1934, as the Schutzmantel für Kraftradfahrer, it was specifically designed for motorcycle troops—known as Kradschützen or Kradmelder—including dispatch riders, reconnaissance units, and field police who operated high-mobility BMW R75 and Zündapp KS 750 sidecar motorcycles across Europe's varied terrains. Constructed primarily from rubberized grey-green fabric for waterproofing and wind resistance, the three-quarter-length, double-breasted coat featured a large cut to wear comfortably over standard field uniforms, equipment, and even steel helmets. Early versions had matching rubberized collars, while later M1940 models incorporated a contrasting dark green or field-grey wool collar for added warmth and style. It included pebbled buttons, an inner chest pocket, and versatile fastening options—such as buttoning the hem to form leg coverings or turning up the collar—that allowed troops to adapt it for riding in rain, mud, dust, or cold. Variants included tropical olive linen versions for the Afrika Korps. Popular among soldiers for its rugged durability, protective qualities, and somewhat stylish appearance that evoked a dashing image of mechanized warfare, the Kradmantel saw service from the Blitzkrieg campaigns in Poland and France through the harsh Eastern Front winters and North African deserts. Though production and material quality declined later in the war, originals and reproductions remain prized collector items today, symbolizing the German emphasis on mobile infantry tactics in the early years of the conflict.
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HEER
General der Panzertruppe Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg (1886-1974), born on 2 March 1886 in Potsdam into a Prussian military aristocratic family with a legacy of producing Field Marshals, was a highly regarded German officer who rose to the rank of General der Panzertruppe and became one of the Wehrmacht's foremost experts in armoured warfare. Joining the German Army in 1904, he served with distinction in World War I on multiple fronts as a Rittmeister, remained in the Reichswehr during the interwar period, advanced to Oberst in 1932 and Generalmajor in 1935, and served as military attaché to the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands from 1933 to 1937 while based in London. Promoted to Generalleutnant, he assumed command of the 3. Panzer-Division in 1937, leading it effectively during the 1939 invasion of Poland as its most powerful armoured formation with 391 tanks, earning battlefield praise from Hitler for actions at Kulm. In February 1940 he took command of the XXIV. Armeekorps (motorisiert), directing it through the 1940 Battle of France before spearheading advances in Operation Barbarossa as part of Generaloberst Heinz Guderian's 2. Panzerarmee in Army Group Centre. On 9 July 1941, as General der Panzertruppe and Kommandierender General of the XXIV. Armeekorps (motorisiert), Geyr von Schweppenburg was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for his masterful leadership during the initial phases of the invasion of the Soviet Union: he skillfully planned his Panzerkorps' crossing of the Bug river, then drove energetically through the challenging terrain of Polesia to Kobryn, directing an unstoppable five-day advance to Bereza Kartuska and Sluck that resulted in the capture or destruction of approximately 150 enemy tanks and a similar number of artillery pieces, while personally exemplifying devotion to duty in the foremost combat zones and contributing decisively to the broader objectives of the Panzergruppe. Later commands included the XXXX. Panzerkorps in the Caucasus, Panzergruppe West (formalised as 5. Panzerarmee) in France where he prepared armoured reserves and attempted counteractions during the 1944 Normandy invasion until wounded in an Allied air attack on his headquarters at La Caine, followed by service as Inspector General of Armoured Troops until 1945. Postwar, after American captivity, he contributed to historical studies and the formation of the Bundeswehr before his death on 27 January 1974 in Irschenhausen.
Generalmajor
Walter Gorn (1898-1968) was born on 24 September 1898 in Bieganin near
Posen in the Kingdom of Prussia and enlisted as a Kriegsfreiwilliger in
the West Prussian Grenadier-Regiment „König Wilhelm I.“ Nr. 7 during the
First World War, seeing action on the Western Front before serving with
machine-gun units and later joining Freikorps formations in the Baltic;
after demobilization he entered the Schutzpolizei in 1920, rising
through the ranks to Hauptmann by 1934 and transferring into the
Wehrmacht in 1935 as commander of a company in the 3.
Kradschützen-Bataillon of the 3. Panzer-Division. In the Second World
War he served on the staff of the XIX. Armeekorps during the Polish
campaign, then as Major took command of the I. Bataillon of
Schützen-Regiment 10 (later redesignated Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10) of
the 9. Panzer-Division; on 8–20 April 1941 during the invasion of
Yugoslavia he led a mixed Abteilung in a bold advance from Gostivar
toward Debar in Macedonia, overrunning strong Yugoslav resistance,
capturing seven enemy batteries together with nine further batteries,
twelve anti-tank guns and large quantities of matériel, liberating some
800 Italian prisoners whom he promptly rearmed and incorporated into his
force, thereby establishing contact with Italian troops and earning the
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 April 1941. Promoted
Oberstleutnant and given command of Kradschützen-Bataillon 59, he fought
in the fierce defensive battles around Voronezh in the summer of 1942,
where his greatly depleted unit of only about fifty-five
combat-effective men repeatedly repulsed heavy Soviet assaults, for
which he received the Eichenlaub (113th award) on 17 August 1942. Taking
over Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10, he distinguished himself in the
winter battles of Rzhev, particularly near Sychyovka along the Vazuza
and south of Loshki, where his regiment helped free the encircled 129.
Infanterie-Division and destroy cut-off Soviet forces, resulting in the
award of the Schwerter (30th award) on 8 June 1943 while he was Oberst.
Later promoted Generalmajor, he commanded the 561. Grenadier-Division
(subsequently Volksgrenadier-Division) in East Prussia and Lithuania
against Operation Bagration and the subsequent Soviet offensives, then
briefly the 710. Infanterie-Division in Austria before surrendering to
American forces at Steyr on 8 May 1945; released from captivity in 1947,
he died in Rosenheim on 10 July 1968.
Generalmajor Heinrich Voigtsberger (1903-1959) was born on 10 February 1903 in Untermhaus near Gera and entered the Reichswehr on 1 October 1922 as Fahnenjunker in the II. Bataillon of Infanterie-Regiment 15, receiving promotion to Leutnant on 1 December 1926, Oberleutnant in 1930 and Hauptmann in 1935 when he became Kompaniechef of the 1. Kompanie in MG-Bataillon 2; he assumed command of MG-Bataillon 2 on 20 December 1939, led it through the Westfeldzug and was promoted to Major on 1 August 1940 before the unit’s transfer to North Africa in early 1941. During the first siege of Tobruk in April 1941, as Kommandeur of MG-Bataillon 2 under the Deutsches Afrikakorps, he directed the successful penetration of the outer fortifications, capturing the vital height of Ras el Madauuar (Hill 209) and establishing a deep salient in the Allied defensive ring that remained a persistent threat to the garrison, actions for which he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 July 1941 while also receiving the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse in April of that year; he was severely wounded in the Cyrenaica later that summer. After recovery he took command of Grenadier-Regiment 60 (mot.) on 14 May 1942, was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 October 1942 and to Oberst on 1 August 1943, and led the regiment with distinction on the Eastern Front through the fighting around Orel, Gomel and the Dnepr, particularly during the heavy engagements of late 1943 in which his unit destroyed 147 Soviet tanks on 24 August, executed a decisive flank counterattack that annihilated a breakthrough armoured force, and on 14 October held the central sector of the Saporoshje bridgehead covering the asphalt road from the steelworks to the dam, enabling the orderly withdrawal of German forces across the Dnepr before the bridges were demolished, achievements that earned him the 351st Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz on 9 December 1943. Redesignated Panzergrenadier-Regiment 60, the unit served with the 116. Panzer-Division in the Normandy campaign from June 1944; Voigtsberger briefly commanded the division in mid-September before returning to the Führerreserve, attended divisional command courses and on 1 February 1945 assumed leadership of the newly formed 309. Infanterie-Division (also known as Infanterie-Division Berlin), receiving promotion to Generalmajor on 1 April 1945 and commanding it in the Oder and Halbe pocket battles until the formation was destroyed; he surrendered to British forces in May 1945 and was released in 1947, dying on 17 March 1959 in Wittlich.
Generalmajor Heinrich Voigtsberger (1903-1959) was born on 10 February 1903 in Untermhaus near Gera and entered the Reichswehr on 1 October 1922 as Fahnenjunker in the II. Bataillon of Infanterie-Regiment 15, receiving promotion to Leutnant on 1 December 1926, Oberleutnant in 1930 and Hauptmann in 1935 when he became Kompaniechef of the 1. Kompanie in MG-Bataillon 2; he assumed command of MG-Bataillon 2 on 20 December 1939, led it through the Westfeldzug and was promoted to Major on 1 August 1940 before the unit’s transfer to North Africa in early 1941. During the first siege of Tobruk in April 1941, as Kommandeur of MG-Bataillon 2 under the Deutsches Afrikakorps, he directed the successful penetration of the outer fortifications, capturing the vital height of Ras el Madauuar (Hill 209) and establishing a deep salient in the Allied defensive ring that remained a persistent threat to the garrison, actions for which he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 July 1941 while also receiving the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse in April of that year; he was severely wounded in the Cyrenaica later that summer. After recovery he took command of Grenadier-Regiment 60 (mot.) on 14 May 1942, was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 October 1942 and to Oberst on 1 August 1943, and led the regiment with distinction on the Eastern Front through the fighting around Orel, Gomel and the Dnepr, particularly during the heavy engagements of late 1943 in which his unit destroyed 147 Soviet tanks on 24 August, executed a decisive flank counterattack that annihilated a breakthrough armoured force, and on 14 October held the central sector of the Saporoshje bridgehead covering the asphalt road from the steelworks to the dam, enabling the orderly withdrawal of German forces across the Dnepr before the bridges were demolished, achievements that earned him the 351st Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz on 9 December 1943. Redesignated Panzergrenadier-Regiment 60, the unit served with the 116. Panzer-Division in the Normandy campaign from June 1944; Voigtsberger briefly commanded the division in mid-September before returning to the Führerreserve, attended divisional command courses and on 1 February 1945 assumed leadership of the newly formed 309. Infanterie-Division (also known as Infanterie-Division Berlin), receiving promotion to Generalmajor on 1 April 1945 and commanding it in the Oder and Halbe pocket battles until the formation was destroyed; he surrendered to British forces in May 1945 and was released in 1947, dying on 17 March 1959 in Wittlich.
Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30100753
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