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