Beobachtungs-Abteilungen, or Observation Artillery Battalions, were the ears and eyes of the German artillery branch. They served largely as sound and light ranging units but also as general range finding and long range tactical observation units for artillery spotting. These units even used medium sized ballons in the role of artillery observation.
After Decemeber of 1939, all of these units served as Heerestruppen. Most of these units were renamed as leicht Beobachtungs-Abteilung (mot.) at some point during the latter part of WWII. The arm of service color used by these units, like all other artillery units, was bright red.
The 4.Ballon-Batterie was removed from the organization of most all Beobachtungs-Abteilungenafter 1942, during the conversion into leicht Beobachtungs-Abteilungen (mot.). Their Flak-Zug waslikewise removed.
Knights Cross Holders
No KC holders for this unit
German Bibliography
Aufklärende Artillerie, by Hans Joachim Froben
Die deutschen Infanterie-Divisonen, Band 1-3, by Werner Haupt
Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945, Band 1-3, by Nobert Kannapin
Die Pflege der Tradition der alten Armee in Reichsheer und im der Wehrmacht, by Schirmer/Wiener
Die Truppenkennzeichen… der deutchen Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Band 1-4, by Schmitz/Thies
Der Zweite Weltkrieg im Kartenbild, Band 1-3, by Klaus-Jurgen Thies
Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939, by George Tessin
Verbände und Truppen der deutchen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS…, Band 1-14, by Georg Tessin
Formationsgeschichte und Stellenbesetzung 1815-1939, Teil 1, der deutschen Heer, Band 1-3, by Günter Wegner
Die Deutsche Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Ihre Kommando. u. Grossverbände… im Zweiten Weltkrieg, author unknown
Das Reichsheer und Seine Tradition, author unknown
Deutsche Rote Kreuz Suchdienst, Divisionsschicksale, author unknown
