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The National Socialist
Motor Corps (Nationalsozialistischen Kraftfahrkorps-NSKK) was
officially organized on 1 May 1931. The majority of the organization
was composed of members formerly associated with the National
Socialist Automobile Corps (Nationalsozialistischen Automobile
Korps-NSKK) which was formed on 1 April 1930. The National Socialist
Automobile Corps (NSAK) was organized for the purpose of gathering
automobile owners and drivers into Storm Trooper (Sturmabteilung-SA)
units that enabled National Socialist Party members to travel for
political events and rallies. At this point in time, automobiles were
still a luxury in Germany and relatively few people could afford
them. Hence, requisitioning their use through volunteers avoided the
need to acquire funds for their direct purchase. A smaller
organization known as the Motor-SA (MSA) was also integrated into the
NSKK on 23 August 1934. This unit was composed of motorbikes, cars,
and trucks that has previously been used by the National Socialist
Party. By 1938 the NSKK had more than 500,000 members divided into
five districts where membership was strictly voluntary.
Prior to the outbreak of war, the role of the NSKK was to promote a
general understanding of vehicle use and mechanics that provided the
foundation for military application of this knowledge. Many NSKK
members were employed with duties that supported the local Order
Police (Ordnungs Polizei) in cities where traffic control was needed.
As an organization, the NSKK also encompassed two smaller branches
within its structure which included the Motor-Hitler Youth
(Motor-Hitler Jungend) and the Naval NSKK (Marine-NSKK). The Hitler
Youth branch served to train young men in the disciplines of vehicle
use and maintenance as a precursor to military service, while the
Naval branch assisted the German Army with training related to small
boat operations including that of landing and assault craft.
During wartime, the
NSKK was organized into transport companies that moved German troops
to various locations. Members of the NSKK operated throughout Germany
to include areas within occupied territories. Many NSKK members
functioned as transportation personnel bringing ammunition and
supplies directly to the front lines. The NSKK was active during the
invasion of Poland and the Low Countries, and later following the
Allied invasion of Normandy. In September 1944 units of the NSKK
participated in battles around the city of Arnhem (Netherlands) during
the Allied operation known as “Market Garden”. As troops employed in
hazardous front line duties, many NSKK members were issued combat
helmets which were drawn from a number of sources. These included
surplus helmets from the Luftwaffe and well as those from the German
Army (Heer). |
