Show us your motorcycle photos

[Todd Gylsen]

Another view of the same bike.

[Tim DC]

Hello guys,

For a friend of mine who is publishing a book on the subject I am on the lookout for photos showing the Indian Model 340. This is a version of the Indian Chief motorcycle, with sidecar, delivered to the French Army and used in the 1940 campaign. After the fall of France it was also used by the Vichy and German forces, even on the Eastern Front.

This motorcycle could be recognised by the typical indian shaped horn, and the typical form of the sidecar. Below are some photos.

Your photos would be used in a specialised book about this motor, which will be published in English, French and Dutch at the end of this year. Of course, all sources will be granted. Please contact me if you can help, or if you wish more information.

Thanks!

[ss-werewolf]

here one photo of my collection

[ss-werewolf]

another

[ss-werewolf]

[ss-werewolf]

[ss-werewolf]

[SvenWittnebel]

... then I could identify the Truppenkennzeichen on the side car!

...

I know that's not the full answer, but the crossed hammer and pick (Schlägel und Eisen) is a typical sign of miners , mostly coalminers from the Ruhr area and today still in use by the miners pension authority f.e.

[Larrister]

How about this sleeping Kradfahrer.

[SvenWittnebel]

...
While I know that some soldiered on for the whole war period, I have sort of formed the opinion that the high maintenance and incredibly bad road conditions, especially in Russia, led to their being phased out of service or just abandoned when they failed.
...
Bill

Hi Bill!

Your opinion is more or less right. A very good source (only in German) is the Book: Kradsch******252;tzen - die schnellste Truppe des Heeres, by Major (Bundeswehr) Hasso von Erb, Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart.

He described the history of the Kradsch******252;tzen batalions (and not so detailed the Kradmelder / messengers) in Poland and France as an important part of the "Blitzkrieg" strategy and why they failed in Russia. Mud, cold weather and the lack of parts for unnumbered different types of motorcycles as most of them were commandeered.
The most motorcycles shown in this great thread shows them in frontline service as messenger motorcycles, (or by the Feldgendarmerie), but the majority of them were used at the homefront as messenger motorcycles by the firebrigades (Feuerl******246;sch-/Feuerschutzpolizei) or the Reichsluftschutz Bund. (My grandfather told me that his early '30s Triumph was commandeered to the RLB.)

An other excellent book in German with more pictures than text: Kr******228;der der Wehrmacht 1935 - 1945, Horst Hinrichsen, Podzun-Pallas-Verlag GmbH and licenzed to Edition D******246;rfler, Nebel Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-89555-862-1.

[R MICHAEL]

Here is the latest from me. Not sure what make this bike is but I think it is of US manufacture by the way the brake and cluth handles attach to the bars.

[Todd Gylsen]

Mike,

I think what you have there is this bike, a DWK SB500. What do you think?

[Todd Gylsen]

Or perhaps this one. DWW SB250. It's tough to tell.

[Todd Gylsen]

Here is a recent dig-up from the archives.

[Santiago]

I can only contribute with one photo.

Early French Campaing.




Best Regards,