In the late 1920s, when Germany was still under the strict restrictions of the Versailles Treaty, which prohibited it from having a large army and heavy equipment, as well as combat aviation, the main efforts of the military leadership of the Reichswehr were directed to the improvement of the army’s motor vehicle fleet. This applied to both military trucks and passenger cars, the main task of which, as always, was the transportation of officers. The main goal was the simplification of the design and its maximum unification with already available serial civilian models.
The Horch automobile company was founded back in 1909 by the engineer August Horch, who had previously worked for the founder of the industry Karl Benz. In 1932, together with three other manufacturers, it joined the AutoUnion concern, which quickly became one of the leaders of the automotive industry. Sensing the change in the policy of the new government of the country, Horch began to pay more attention to the development of the military direction. In 1933, after the appearance of the new civilian car Horch 830, work began on its military modification, Horch 830R (military index, Kfz.11). The developers, based on the requirements of the military, did not limit themselves to simply replacing the civilian body with a simplified military one.
The chassis was significantly strengthened, the track became wider, profiled rubber was installed on the slightly enlarged wheels to improve patency. It ended up being a typical simplified design with canvas scrolls instead of doors, rifle mounts and greatly simplified seating for four. A hook for towing 37 mm light guns was mounted in the rear part of the frame. In 1934, they managed to produce 6 units of this car, but the main orders were ahead.
After the departure of the authorities from compliance with the Versailles agreements, the newly created Wehrmacht needed all kinds of weapons in an insane amount, and at that moment Horch was the only one who could offer a light army vehicle in significant quantities. From 1935 to 1937, another 3,972 units of the Horch 830R were produced, until more modern models appeared.
Immediately after the beginning of the Second World War, the Horch 830R, together with other types of light army vehicles, were widely used during the occupation of European countries, but in 1941, after the invasion of the boundless spaces of the Soviet Union, where there was no road infrastructure at all, for them, as well as hard times have begun for many other types of machines. Drive only on the rear axle significantly limited their capabilities, which immediately affected the number of losses. Already in 1943, their number at the front was insignificant, and in the units on the front lines they had long since been absent at all.
The Horch 830R is rightfully considered the first of the Kubelwagen type machines – the most simplified civilian models for the needs of the army. Each of the countries had cars of a similar purpose, and each country was looking for its own way to create the most convenient army car. And in this sense, the Horch 830R can be considered a classic of military automobile construction.
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