In the years immediately preceding the Second World War, the German Army stood on the cusp of a revolution in warfare. Between the horse-mounted traditions of the Reichswehr and the fully developed Panzer divisions of 1940 lay an often overlooked but crucial transitional force: the German Light Divisions (leichte Divisionen).
Formed in 1938, these mobile formations embodied the Wehrmacht's search for speed, flexibility, and operational reach. Drawing on cavalry traditions while embracing motorization, the light divisions combined motorized infantry, reconnaissance units, artillery, engineers, and a single battalion of light tanks, many of them carried forward on transporters to maximize operational tempo. They were conceived not as breakthrough forces, but as fast-moving reconnaissance and exploitation formations--an experimental solution to the evolving demands of modern war.
This first volume of German Light Divisions 1938-39 offers the most detailed and comprehensive study yet of these formations during their formative years. Covering their origins, organization, armament, doctrine, and early operational employment, the book traces the evolution of Germany's motorized cavalry from the Reichswehr era through the 'Flower Campaigns' of 1938-39 and into the opening phase of the war in Poland.
Drawing on a wide range of German-language sources, archival photographs, and private collections, the author reconstructs the structure and capabilities of all four light divisions, examining their tank battalions, reconnaissance units, motorized infantry, artillery, anti-tank forces, and supporting arms in detail. Particular attention is paid to vehicles, weapons, camouflage and markings, as well as to the distinctive role played by Czech-built tanks following the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia.
Lavishly illustrated throughout, the volume features a wealth of rare photographs, detailed organizational charts, and high-quality color artwork by David Bocquelet, depicting vehicles, tactical markings, and equipment with exceptional clarity. These visuals make the book not only an authoritative operational history, but also an invaluable reference for historians, researchers, and modelers alike.
Often overshadowed by the later successes of the Panzer divisions, the German light divisions played a vital role in shaping the Wehrmacht's approach to mobile warfare. Their strengths--and their limitations--directly influenced the decision to convert them into full Panzer divisions in late 1939. This volume restores them to their rightful place in the story of German armored and motorized forces on the eve of the Second World War.
