Bicycle infantry

Prior to the start of trench warfare the level terrain in Belgium was well used by military cyclists. Each of the four Belgian carabinier battalions included a company of cyclists, equipped with a brand of folding bicycle named the Belgica. A regimental cyclist school gave training in map reading, reconnaissance, reporting and the carrying of verbal messages. Attention was paid to the maintenance and repair of the machine itself.^[9]

In its 1937

During the Invasion of Poland of 1939, most Polish infantry divisions included a company of bicycle-riding scouts. The equipment of each bicycle company included 196 bicycles, one motorcycle with sidecar, and nine horse-drawn supply carts, plus three to six anti-tank rifles and standard infantry equipment such as machine guns, rifles, pistols, and hand grenades.^{[10][circular reference]}

The Finnish Army utilized bicycles extensively during the Continuation War and Lapland War. Bicycles were used as a means of transportation in Jaeger Battalions, divisional Light Detachments and regimental organic Jaeger Companies. Bicycle units spearheaded the advances of 1941 against the Soviet Union. Especially successful was the 1st Jaeger Brigade which was reinforced with a tank battalion and an anti-tank battalion, providing rapid movement through limited road network. During winter time these units, like the rest of the infantry, switched to skis. Within 1942–1944 bicycles were also added to regimental equipment pools. During the Summer 1944 battles against the Soviet Union, bicycles provided quick mobility for reserves and counter-attacks. In Autumn 1944 bicycle troops of the Jaeger Brigade spearheaded the Finnish advance through Lapland against the Germans; tanks had to be left behind due to the German destruction of the Finnish road network.

The hastily assembled German Volksgrenadier divisions each had a battalion of bicycle infantry, to provide a mobile reserve.

Allied use of the bicycle in World War II was limited, but included supplying folding bicycles to paratroopers and to messengers behind friendly lines. The term "bomber bikes" came into use during this period, as US forces dropped bicycles out of planes to reach troops behind enemy lines.

By 1939, the

• 
  Italian Bersaglieri before World War I with folding bicycles strapped to their backs
• 
  German bicycle infantry during World War I
• 
  Most common bicycle used by Polish scout companies assigned to infantry divisions during the

  German invasion of Poland
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  Danish soldiers cycling to the front to fight the Germans during the German invasion of Denmark in 1940
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  Wehrmacht troops advancing on bicycles in 1944

Later uses

Although much used in World War I, bicycles were largely superseded by motorized transport in more modern armies. In the past few decades, however, they have taken on a new life as a "weapon of the people" in

The use of the cycle as an infantry transport tool continued into the 21st century with the Swiss Army's Bicycle Regiment, which maintained drills for infantry movement and attack until 2001, when the decision was made to phase the unit out.^[11]

Although the impact of bicycles is limited in modern warfare, the Finnish Defence Forces still trains all conscripts to use bicycles and skis.^[12] American Paratroopers have jumped folding mountain bikes in several Airborne operations ^[13]

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam made use of bicycle mobility during the Sri Lankan Civil War.^{[citation needed]}

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, electric bicycles were used for anti tank purposes. ^[14]

See also

• April 9th (film)—a 2015 Danish film about a group of Danish bicycle infantry during the German invasion of Denmark (1940).
• Army Cyclist Corps
• Australian Cycling Corps
• Reich Labour Service
• Swiss army bicycle

Citations