Aufklärungsabteilung
An Aufklärungsabteilung ("reconnaissance detachment") was an "Abteilung" (battalion)-sized reconnaissance unit attached to a German division during the Second World War. The "Aufklärungsabteilung" was the eyes and ears of the parent division. During the first campaigns of the Second World War they included horse-mounted and bicycle troops in the infantry divisions; in the more mobile motorized infantry and "Panzer" divisions they were equipped with motorcycle combinations (e.g., BMW R75, Zündapp KS 750), Volkswagen Kübelwagens, and Sd.Kfz. 221/222/223 light armored cars. Units in the mobile divisions were also equipped with six- and eight-wheeled heavy armored cars such as  the Sd.Kfz. 231/232 and the Sd.Kfz. 234. Later in the war they were issued with Volkswagen Schwimmwagens, light half-tracks such as the Sd.Kfz. 250, as well as "Panzer II Ausf. L "Luchs"" and "Aufklärungspanzer 38" light tanks. These rarely operated as whole companies, and instead worked in mixed teams gathered from various companies that included the motorcycles and the Schwimmwagens. As with all German combat formations, the composition of the "Aufklärungsabteilung" varied from division to division, and from one period of the war to another. "Panzer Aufklärungsabteilungen" were attached to "Panzer" divisions, and were generally equipped  with armoured vehicles, with all troops transported in half-tracks. The "Abteilung" had to be able to move quickly, and as its mission was reconnaissance, it was not intended to engage enemy medium or heavy tanks, although these engagements did happen quite frequently. The addition of an anti-tank gun (PaK) company later in the war was an attempt to deal with these opponents; however, the unit's armoured vehicles were no match for T-34s or M4 Shermans. The composition of two example "Aufklärungsabteilungen" were as follows: Example orders of battle. "SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1" (Attached to Infanterie-Regiment (mot .) "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"), Mid-1941 "Panzer Aufklärungsabteilung-2" (Attached to 2. Panzer-Division) Late 1944