Cycling units (All) – findings

Cyclists were a somewhat specific part of the First Republic Czechoslovak Army. Some units were organizationally integrated into the infantry - the cycling companies of the Border Guards and the Instructional Battalion, some fell under the cavalry (separate cycling squadrons), and there were even cycling companies of the engineer troops. During the reorganisation in 1933, the cycling units were concentrated into 5 cycling battalions and in the late 1930s, in addition, the two aforementioned cycling engineer companies were active.
The mission of the bicycle units was primarily reconnaissance or standard combat in which the cyclists were more mobile in movement than infantry and less dependent on the rear than cavalry.
Bicycles of various makes were used as the main means of transport. In 1931, the VTU unified the requirements for army bicycles and their production was contracted to the companies Česká zbrojovka a.s. in Prague - Strakonice plant, Stadion a.s. in Rakovník and Československá zbrojovka in Brno. In September 1938, the armed forces had more than 12,000 bicycles of all makes at their disposal. Bicycle battalions were also gradually motorised and by the end of the 1930s a gradual replacement of bicycles with motorcycles was planned.

Soldiers in bicycle units wore yellow collar tabs with red piping, and from September 1933 red tabs with a bicycle badge with handlebars. Cyclists operating out of bicycle units wore a special patch on their left sleeve.

Dislocation of bicycle units:
Bicycle Battalion 1: Jaroměř, later Josefov, later Slany
Bicycle Battalion 2: Olomouc, later Frýdek
Cycle Battalion 3: Levice
Cycle Battalion 4: Sabinov, later Louny and Rakovník
Bicycle Battalion 5: Brno
Bicycle Engineer Company 1: Terezín
Cycle Engineer Company 2: Komárno