Today in WW II: 6 Jul 1939 All remaining Jewish enterprises in Germany are closed by the Nazis.  More ↓
6 Jul 1942 Anne Frank's Jewish family goes into hiding in an attic above her father's office in an Amsterdam warehouse.
6 Jul 1942 Flying Tigers in Burma and China integrated into the US Army Air Forces as the China Air Task Force with Gen. Claire Chennault commanding the new unit.
6 Jul 1943 US and Japanese naval forces fight the Battle of Kula Gulf off Kolombangara, in the New Georgia Islands group of the Solomon Islands.
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German Army WW II Kettenkrad Small Tracked Military Motorcycle


Kettenkrad (SdKfz 2)

The Kleines Kettenkraftrad HK 101, usually called the Kettenkrad for short, was designated the SdKfz 2 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 2) by the German Army. It was developed in 1939 and first fielded in 1941. The name Kettenkrad comes from the German words ketten (tracks) and krad (abbreviation of kraftrad, a motorcycle).

The Kettenkrad was originally manufactured by NSU Werke AG, Neckarsulm, Germany and later, under license, by Stoewer in Stettin, Germany. More than 8,000 vehicles were produced during World War II and afterward until circa 1948.

The Kettenkrad was conceived as a light tractor for airborne and mountain troops but eventually was widely used for small scale infantry transport and as aircraft tugs. It could tow a specially designed trailer (Sd.Anh.1) or light artillery across almost any terrain.

Kettenkrad was powered by an Opel 4-cyl 36hp engine, located behind the driver. Its front wheel was controlled by the driver like a motorcycle while the rear body was supported on tracks. Cargo or two passengers could be carried in the rear.

Kettenkrad Photo Gallery

Kettenkrad
Kettenkrad Photo: Courtesy of Andreas Mehlhorn.

Kettenkrad
Kettenkrad Photo: Courtesy of Andreas Mehlhorn.

Kettenkrad
Kettenkrad Photo: Courtesy of Dennis P. Nolan.