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In 1938, and around this period, heavy draught horses were conscripted into the German army, which was over 90% horsedrawn throughout world war 2.
A design by Heinrich Kniepkamp was developed for a small cross country vehicle capable of operating in hilly, and narrow terrain for recovering felled timber in the dense German forests. The Kettenkrad was indeed a radical new design. The first vehicles were produced in 1938, but were not a great success due a weakness in having a spoked front wheel proving too weak for the task. Further production models ensued, having a solid front wheel, and in 1940 orders were placed by both the German army,(Heers) and airforce,(Luftwaffe)It is at this point in time that the Kettenkrad earns it's place in history as one of the first vehicles to be used in airborne operations as an air-portable tractor/prime mover for the newly formed parachute troops(fallschirmjager) of the German airforce. Subsequently the very robust, and reliable vehicle was used by all arms of the German forces throughout the remainder of world war 2, and continuing in production as a civilian tractor and forestry vehicle untill 1948. I have owned the model shown for four years.