WesWorld

Survey Ship Komet, 56 dgs 17 min South, 27 dgs 26 min West, Tuesday, 13 November 1945

Zavadovski Island lay to the west as the Komet began to establish her baseline track for the next phase of her survey of the South Atlantic. A sharp-eyed observer could see the plume from Mount Asphyxia in the clear morning light. Today the sea was calm, as befits late spring in these latitudes – and her crew hoped that such calms could continue, as they would be spending days in the area surveying the South Sandwich Trench. The only compensation would be the occasional visit to Bahia Blanca for refuelling. Survey work was a lonely duty, but an important one.


Eisenbahn Kurier, Wednesday, 14 November 1945



Truppenübungsplatz Grafenwöhr, Thursday, 15 November 1945

Stabsfeldwebel Joachim Hufgard lifted the small Focke-Achgelis Fa300 helicopter into the air with a bit of difficulty; despite being alone in the cockpit the addition of exterior mounts and ordnance pods made the craft sluggish. Nevertheless Hufgard nursed his craft eastward toward the artillery firing range for today’s tests.

Hung on outriggers were two Werfergranate 21 rockets in their launch pods. Occasionally carried by the Luftwaffe’s Hs129 antitank aircraft, someone had had the brilliant idea of arming the Heer’s light helicopters with such ponderous weapons. To the powers-that-be this sounded like a wonderful idea, and had ordered tests to be carried out. The powers-that-be, of course, were safe in their offices in Berlin; Hufgard had the somewhat unenviable task of being the first to try. The French, he had been told, had been experimenting with firing rockets from helicopters for some time; that could be, but Hufgard doubted that whatever weapons they used they were not 21-centimetre antitank rockets with their heavy warheads.

As he reached the firing range he could see the designated targets – a pair of weary Panzerkampfwagen IV parked near the crest of a hill. Hufgard guided the Fa300 to within four hundred metres and allowed it to hover while he assessed the situation below – noting he was still over the forest, he chose to move a bit closer so that should the worst happen he might crash in open ground. Somewhere, he knew, there were observers to assess the results – and rescue teams, just in case.

The position he chose was perhaps three hundred and fifty metres from his target. He allowed the helicopter to hover as he acquired the first panzer in his improvised sight and then pushed the firing trigger. The rocket’s smoke trail obscured his vision for a moment as it streaked past his cockpit and Hufgard immediately had to correct for the imbalance of weight – and he quickly launched the second rocket. This evened out his load allowed him to recover. Assessing the results, he found that one rocket had impacted just short of its target, while the second – launched without aiming – had overshot.

As Hufgard guided his helicopter back to the flight line he began to compose his thoughts for the debriefing. Can the helicopter carry the weapon? Yes. Can it launch the weapon? With difficulty. Is the concept worth pursuing? Yes. Is a weapon better suited to helicopter launch required? Indubitably.

Nachrichten für Außenhandel, Friday, 16 November 1945

The AEG concern has acquired an interest in the Czechoslovak firm Tovarna na Kable a.s. of Bratislava to expand its share of the Czech market for electrical cable and accessories.


London, 68 Regent Street, Saturday, 17 November 1945

Walter Schellenburg sat at the bar of the Café Royal waiting for his compatriot, Bosbach, the cultural attaché, to arrive. Schellenburg had enlisted him to serve as a guide to London society; Bosbach had been stationed in London for a number of years and that, combined with his work promoting German culture and interchange with various important Britons, had given him a number of contacts that could prove useful to Schellenburg. At last he saw Bosbach enter with someone in tow; the two approached and Bosbach made introductions. “Herr Schellenburg, allow me to introduce Peter Fleming, the writer; you were telling me you liked his book.”

Schellenburg beamed. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance Mister Fleming!” he said with genuine enthusiasm. “I have just finished reading Travels in Tartary – I found your observations on China quite fascinating.”

Fleming nodded. “Thank you – it has been some while since my visit; but given the latest contretemps it seems the Chinese are sticking to their course.” In his work Fleming had re-acquainted his western readers with the bombastic and self-centred stereotype of the Chinese mandarin in modern guise – the face of China’s current, confrontational leadership.

Bosbach suggested that they find a table at which to continue their discussions; he was aware that Fleming, sometimes correspondent for The Times, had links to the City and to Whitehall. If Schellenburg was hoping to extend his circle of contacts, Fleming would be a good place to start.


Göttinger Tageblatt, Sunday, 18 November 1945

The National Institute for Space Research launched the final A-4 rocket of this year’s programme yesterday from the Peenemünde test station. The launch was successful and returned much data on cosmic radiation in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. It is expected that next year will see the first launch of the A-9 high altitude research rocket and continued development of the R-1 solid-fuel sounding rocket.

I wonder what Peter Fleming's younger brother is doing in Wesworld. Did he become a Commander in Naval Intelligence like he did here?

Quoted from "Scapa"

I wonder what Peter Fleming's younger brother is doing in Wesworld. Did he become a Commander in Naval Intelligence like he did here?

I suppose Hood will have to answer that one. ;)

Münchener Post, Monday, 19 November 1945

The Commercial Registrar has confirmed the formation of the Scheibe Flugzeugbau AG of Heubach to undertake the construction of light sports aircraft and gliders. The chief engineer of the firm is Egon Scheibe, formerly a senior designer for the National Research Institute for Aviation at Rechlin. Herr Scheibe, in response to questions put by your reporter, indicated that the firm’s first product will be a small aircraft suitable for private ownership and aimed at the growing market for glider tow-planes.


Lübecker Nachrichten, Tuesday, 20 November 1945

The frigates Gromitz, Rangersdorf, Großpetersdorf, and Sulzbach joined the Second Escort Group at Cuxhaven following completion of their operational training period. They are the last of the Klagenfurt class general purpose frigates to join the Scouting Force, and are expected to be followed by the specialised Manching class air defence frigates.


Hamburger Abendblatt, Wednesday, 21 November 1945

Work was completed today on the new submarines Store and Tarpune at the Deschimag yards here, with the boats departing soon for the trials and operational training. Sister craft were launched in yards in Wilhelmshaven and Kiel.

Handelsblatt, Thursday, 22 November 1945

In a delivered to the Reichstag yesterday Minister of Transport Gottfried Treviranus advised that during the course of the last year the ocean-going component of the Handelsmarine has grown to 927 vessels totalling more than 5,257,000 BRT and more than 7,664,000 tons deadweight, an advance of thirty vessels and approximately 300,000 BRT. The bulk of the growth can be found in the acquisition of large tankers and ore carriers. Herr Treviranus further indicated that the order books of German shipyards bore twenty vessels amounting to more than 140,000 BRT for domestic account along; this over and above vessels now under construction or destined for foreign delivery.


Berliner Abendpost, Friday, 23 November 1945

The Ministry of Defence announced today that the present Danube flotilla will be laid up preparatory to its eventual disposal. In remarks to the press Minister of Defence Theodor Blank indicated that the flotilla had outlived its usefulness and that given the present state of peace reigning in south-eastern Europe its continued maintenance could only looked upon as a symbol of potential aggression. It is probable that the craft of the flotilla will be scrapped at some point in the next year.


The Straits Times, Shipping News, Saturday, 24 November 1945

Our correspondent in Batavia reports that the heavy cruisers Graf Spee and Admiral Scheer of the German East Asia Squadron have departed, presumably to return to their base in Indochina. Under the leadership of Vice Admiral Langsdorff the vessels have been making a good-will cruise in the region; it is not thought here that they will be extending their visit to Australia.

London, The German Hospital, Hackney (*), Sunday, 25 November 1945

Walter Schellenburg had taken advantage of the occasion of the dedication of a new wing of the German Hospital to accompany Prince Bismarck, the ambassador. Funded in part by German philanthropists the new wing was dedicated to the memory of the great Anglo-German banker Bruno, Freiherr von Schroder. The institution, founded in the Victorian era and surviving the Great War, was a true monument to cooperation between Germany and Britain, despite the vicissitudes of politics.

For Schellenburg it was an opportunity to meet Britons who shared that sense of cooperation, and make new contacts. Thus far his strategy had won few successes, but with the limitations placed upon by both the Abwehr and the Wilhelmstraße, making friends and influencing people was his most viable card; that and reading technical journals and the newspapers for the occasional clue.

(*) A historical institution, please see here.


Magyar Nemzet (Budapest), Monday, 26 November 1945

The German concern Berlin-Karlsruher Industrie Werke has acquired a majority share interest in the metalworking firm Magyar Fegyver i Loszergyar Reszvenytarsasag of Csepel. The injection of capital is expected to permit Fegyver to re-equip its production facilities with modern machinery.


London, The German Embassy, Tuesday, 27 November 1945

On a personal, if not professional level, Schellenburg’s strategy of making friends to influence people had paid off. The evening before he had attended the premier of the new David Lean film Brief Encounter in the company of several other members of the embassy staff as guests of Peter Fleming, the husband of the female star of the film, Celia Johnson. Thus it was that he somewhat late in arriving at the embassy that morning, having enjoyed a part of celebrations that followed upon the movie’s opening night.

His habit of changing his route saw him entering the embassy at the rear, through the service entrance. As he rounded the building he could see the porter, Aston, engaged in conversation with a non-descript man in a trench-coat near the alley. Aston was handing the man a small bag or parcel. Schellenburg stopped short to observe the transaction, which ended with the unknown man handing the porter something – Schellenburg was too far away to tell.

So he waited until Aston had re-entered the embassy, and even then a few moments more, before entering the building. His mind was deep in thought now; the counter-intelligence officer emerging from that of the resident. To Schellenburg it was obvious that the porter was up to no good – the question was whether to act upon his suspicions now or give Aston more rope.

Ah, there are thousands of men wearing trench coats in London.
Might be Aston paying off a loan shark, or a bookies runner putting on a few quid on a bet for him, or a copper, or perhaps a fellow trainspotter swapping notes!

Re Ian Fleming: may be in Naval Intelligence, he was recruited by Rear-Admiral Godfrey to be his assistant in mid-1939 (I.e. not a wartime draftee) in the real world. In WW Godfrey is now a Vice-Admiral and currently Commander in Chief Africa. I can't recall if he held the position of Director of Naval Intelligence in WW during 1939, possibly so (his career broadly following historical lines) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Godfrey. I've no reason to deny this historical move and deny WW the Bond books...

Quoted

Heavy Cruiser Graf Spee, Singapore Harbour, Wednesday, 24 October 1945

Admiral Langsdorff read the morning report with a certain sense of satisfaction. The visit of his flagship and her consort, Admiral Scheer, to Singapore had thus far gone well. Exchange visits between his ships and those of the resident British squadron had been quite friendly, and his men had been behaving themselves during their liberty ashore. The only fly in the ointment thus far had been the pointedly hostile and stand-offish behaviour of the Australian flotilla. Given the strength of British forces in the Far East, and the general lack of external threats, Langsdorff wondered why the Australians felt it necessary to station such a heavy force – three cruisers and an aviation ship – so far from their home waters. Their presence at least gave his junior officers something to do – many spent their free time photographing them from hired boats and dreaming of articles appearing in Wehrgedanken des Auslands.

Gotta say i found the above line quite funny. Singapore is waaaaaaaaay closer to Australia than Indochina is from Germany...

Quoted from "Desertfox"

Quoted

Heavy Cruiser Graf Spee, Singapore Harbour, Wednesday, 24 October 1945

Admiral Langsdorff read the morning report with a certain sense of satisfaction. The visit of his flagship and her consort, Admiral Scheer, to Singapore had thus far gone well. Exchange visits between his ships and those of the resident British squadron had been quite friendly, and his men had been behaving themselves during their liberty ashore. The only fly in the ointment thus far had been the pointedly hostile and stand-offish behaviour of the Australian flotilla. Given the strength of British forces in the Far East, and the general lack of external threats, Langsdorff wondered why the Australians felt it necessary to station such a heavy force – three cruisers and an aviation ship – so far from their home waters. Their presence at least gave his junior officers something to do – many spent their free time photographing them from hired boats and dreaming of articles appearing in Wehrgedanken des Auslands.

Gotta say i found the above line quite funny. Singapore is waaaaaaaaay closer to Australia than Indochina is from Germany...

Ah - mission accomplished. :whistling:

Quoted

Singapore is waaaaaaaaay closer to Australia than Indochina is from Germany...

Yes, ~1300 km vs ~7300 km... The German force is heavier than the Australian one as well...

Quoted from "Desertfox"

Quoted

Heavy Cruiser Graf Spee, Singapore Harbour, Wednesday, 24 October 1945

Admiral Langsdorff read the morning report with a certain sense of satisfaction. The visit of his flagship and her consort, Admiral Scheer, to Singapore had thus far gone well. Exchange visits between his ships and those of the resident British squadron had been quite friendly, and his men had been behaving themselves during their liberty ashore. The only fly in the ointment thus far had been the pointedly hostile and stand-offish behaviour of the Australian flotilla. Given the strength of British forces in the Far East, and the general lack of external threats, Langsdorff wondered why the Australians felt it necessary to station such a heavy force – three cruisers and an aviation ship – so far from their home waters. Their presence at least gave his junior officers something to do – many spent their free time photographing them from hired boats and dreaming of articles appearing in Wehrgedanken des Auslands.

Gotta say i found the above line quite funny. Singapore is waaaaaaaaay closer to Australia than Indochina is from Germany...

......but not so far from allied bases and fleets, some of which are quite close to Australia actually.

Heavy Cruiser Admiral Hipper, Cam Rahn Bay, Wednesday, 28 November 1945

Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann, senior German officer afloat, was still puzzled by the orders received from Admiral Langsdorff, but that had not slowed the response from the ships of the East Asia Squadron. Across the vast harbour ships of the squadron were making preparation for sea – taking on stores and bunkers at a prodigious rate – including the replenishment ship Donau – which now sat deep in the water due to her load of fuel.

On the evening tide the ships made their way down the channel to the open sea – a pair of corvettes screening in the lead, followed by Hipper and Prinz Eugen, then Donau, and finally a second pair of corvettes to take up the rear of the formation. Overhead a patrol aircraft of the Aeronavale noted that the column of ships was shaping a south-easterly course into the South China Sea; where the Germans were going was, to the aircrew, unclear.


Der Tagesspiegel, Thursday, 29 November 1945

Late yesterday evening Foreign Minister Thomas Dehler called upon the Bharati ambassador to express the nation’s concern following receipt of news of the devastating Balochistan earthquake. Herr Dehler pledged all possible assistance to the Bharati people in this hour. There are reports that air transport elements of the Strategischer Luftkommando and certain medical units of the Heer have been placed on alert in the event that an air bridge should be required to speed relief supplies and workers to the stricken area.


Bremer Nachrichten, Friday, 30 November 1945

The destroyers Allenstein, Hirschberg, Gumbinnen, and Schweidnitz were completed today in the Deschimag yards at Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven. They will spend the next six months on trials and training their new crews before joining the fleet in the spring. These are the first of the Allenstein class destroyers to be completed, and are followed by four others recently launched; eight further vessels have been ordered under the 1946 fleet law, and will commence construction next year. They are a testament to the growing strength of the Kriegsmarine in the international arena.

If those ships are headed to New Calendonia Australia will not be happy at all...

Quoted from "Desertfox"

If those ships are headed to New Calendonia Australia will not be happy at all...

Then prepare to be unhappy.

Mission accomplished :thumbsup:

Balikpapan Roads, Saturday, 1 December 1945

The heavy cruisers Graf Spee and Admiral Scheer had arrived in the Dutch oil port several days previously, as part of their goodwill cruise of the East Indies; however, the careful observed would have noted that they had been met by several German merchantmen, who had transferred supplies to the cruisers, and one of which, the HAPAG cargoliner Wuppertal, had itself taken on a considerable amount of cargo. In the late afternoon the two cruisers stood out to sea, heading north-west, with the Wuppertal following in their wake.


Breguet-Nord Noratlas “J for Josef”, 27 dgs 7 min North, 66 dgs 43 min East, Sunday, 2 December 1945

Oberst Theodor Beckmann, commander of Transportgeschwader 5, had received the warning order from Berlin late in the evening of the previous Wednesday. An earthquake in western India; an unknown toll of destruction. It had taken some time to sort out all the details but Unternehmen Merkur had been launched anyway – and his aircraft was the spearhead of the German relief effort. Behind him were five more aircraft from his unit – a trio of French-built Noratlases carrying supplies and equipment and two Junkers Ju390s carrying a mix of support equipment, spares and personnel.

“We should be coming up on Karachi now Herr Oberst,” reported the navigator.

Ahead Beckman could see the haze of smoke over the industrial centre; it was good to know that their navigation was up to the job. They had left München on Thursday, and refuelled at Beirut. Despite carrying relief crews it had been a long flight. The wireless operator relayed instructions from the ground control at Karachi Airport, and Beckmann adjusted their flight path to conform to their approach directions.

Half-an-hour later, having followed directions to an apron on the far side of the airport, Beckmann was finally able to shut the engines down. As quickly as possible the aircraft’s loadmaster lowered the big cargo door at the rear to permit the Noratlas to disgorge its cargo – a pair of dis-assembled Fa300 helicopters intended to ferry Bharati rescue teams swiftly into the stricken areas. The flight engineer checked the engines and began preparations for their return flight. Beckman, and the other pilots of the first serial, met with their Bharati counterparts to go over details of the airlift. They all had much to discuss.


London, The German Embassy, Monday, 3 December 1945

Von Richter, the Head of Chancery, was not in a good mood; he turned to Schellenburg demandingly. “What evidence do you have against the porter, Aston? I will tell you – none! You save you have seen him working on what might be considered a day off – have you ever considered that he just might be more dutiful than most of the hired staff? You say you have seen him exchanging words and packets with some unknown person in a trench-coat in the alley behind the Embassy – could it be that they were mere friends or acquaintances – perhaps fellow train-spotters? No you immediately jump to the conclusion that he is a spy and demand that he be sacked.”

Again Schellenburg gave thanks that he was not under Von Richter’s direct control. “That is my recommendation as the senior representative of the Abwehr attached to the Embassy. Whether you accept that recommendation is up to you. I shall report my concern to Berlin for the record.” With that he stood and departed von Richter’s office.

Von Richter did not like the Abwehr; but it had influence in certain quarters. Schellenburg’s report would be read – perhaps by Canaris himself – and if Aston was ever found to be an English spy… Von Richter knew that would be the end of his career; so he decided to temporize – he would wait a few days to fabricate an excuse and then let Aston go as an economy measure. He actually liked the old fellow who puttered around the Embassy with his dustbin.

Berlin, The Cabinet Meeting Room, Tuesday, 4 December 1945

Defence Minister Blank was briefing the Chancellor and the cabinet on the progress of Unternehmen Merkur…

“A total of twelve sorties have been completed to the Bharati airport in Karachi – the bulk carrying supplies but also the minimum support staff necessary to prepare the aircraft for turn-around. These have been carried out by our heavy transport aircraft flying from München with only an intermediate stop at Beirut. It has limited out ability to carry cargo due to the distance.”

Dehler, the Foreign Minister, spoke up. “Herr Voretzsch, our minister in Belgrade, has advised that the Yugoslav Government is willing to permit us to refuel aircraft en route to Bharat, if required.”

Blank nodded. “That would be very beneficial.” He turned to Generaloberst Otto Dessloch, his senior air advisor. “Would an intermediate fuelling point enable us to supplement the aircraft currently in use?”

“Yes Herr Minister,” replied Dessloch. “We could employ our Arado transport aircraft to forward supplies to Beirut where they could be trans-shipped to our heavy transport aircraft. It would effectively double the flow of supplies to Karachi.”

Chancellor Adenauer cleared his throat. “Herr Dehler, please confirm that the Yugoslav Government would permit us to operate in the manner General Dessloch suggests – and ascertain from Paris whether there are any objections.”


Tanker Eberhart Essberger, 4 dgs 22 min North, 123 dgs 27 min East, Wednesday, 5 December 1945

Kapitän Wolff stood at the taffrail of his ship, his eyes fixed on the huge bulk of the replenishment ship Donau that trundled in the wake of his own ship; the other vessels of the East Asia Squadron he ignored for the moment. Refuelling with lines astern was not an exercise with which he was that familiar, but for the moment to fuel hose allowed the Eberhart Essberger to transfer her liquid cargo to the naval vessel. Two days ago he had received orders from the Etappendienst to take his cargo of bunker oil to a point in the Celebes Sea – at his fastest speed; now he had to keep his ship at a steady ten knots directly ahead of a vessel capable of running him down with ease. Thus far all had gone well, and he muttered a seaman’s prayer that they would continue so.


Rheinische Post, Thursday, 6 December 1945

The new building of the Römisch-Germanisches Museum in Köln opened today. Constructed upon the site of a Third Century Roman villa the museum was built to protect the renowned Dionysus mosaic as well as to house the accumulated collections of Roman artefacts associated with the development of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, the Roman name of the city. In addition to the Dionysus mosaic, which dates from around A.D. 220/230, there is the reconstructed sepulchre of legionary Poblicius (about A.D. 40). There is also an extensive collection of Roman glassware as well as an array of Roman and medieval jewellery.

Lübecker Nachrichten, Friday, 7 December 1945

The fleet oiler Burgenland has finished its post-conversion trials and has joined the fleet at Bremerhaven.


94 Cowcross Street, Smithfield, London, Saturday, 8 December 1945

Thanks to its proximity to the Smithfield meat market “The Hope” public house was able to open early. For Michael Aston it was a useful place to meet his contact – in the press of workmen drifting in and out for their breakfasts or their dinners no one noticed the two men seated in a corner.

Aston looked up from his mug of coffee, “They’ve done left me go,” he said to his contact. “Sacked…”

“How did they get on to you?” asked the other man in a concerned voice. M.I.5 had few eyes and ears inside the German Embassy and losing one would not be well received.

“I don’t think that they did,” Aston replied. “An economy measure, or so that chap Von Richter explained when he let us go – me and two of the girls who worked in reception. ‘Staff cutbacks ordered by Berlin’ he said.”

The man from M.I.5 sighed silently before replying. “The Boches strapped for cash? Who would believe that?”

“True or not, that is what they said,” Aston announced, and downed some more of his coffee. “They gave each of us a severance – a pair of £10 notes – and a letter of recommendation to boot! Von Richter seemed unhappy in what he was doing.”

“That’s too bad,” the agent commiserated.

“I’ve got the last of the papers gleaned from the dustbin,” said with a nod, pulling a greasy envelope from his coat pocket.

“Ah.” The man from M.I.5 would at least have something positive to report. “And I’ve got yours too,” he concluded, exchanging envelopes with Aston.

“So, do ye think I might look round at some of the other embassies to see if any have openings for a porter?” Aston was no fool – having found a willing buyer for small items he was loath to give it up. “I mean I’ve got this good letter of recommendation on Chancery letterhead…”

The agent shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt… and should you be taken on, I’ll stay in touch.”

Aston drained the last of his coffee. “I’ll do that, and I’ll see you here next week, just in case.”


Heavy Cruiser Graf Spee, 1 dgs 46 min South, 147 dgs 16 min East, Sunday, 9 December 1945

Since departing the Celebes Sea Langsdorff had supplemented his constant Seetakt watch with aerial reconnaissance during the daylight hours; it was all the more important since he had reached the point of rendezvous for the remainder of the East Asia Squadron. It appeared that he had chosen his course well; there was little in the way of commercial shipping in the region, and no vessels of the Dutch, Philippine or Australian navies had been seen.

He was reading the report of the latest reconnaissance flight in the vicinity of Seeadler Harbour. It was empty, and by all reports the Australian presence on Manus was tenuous at best. Nevertheless Langsdorff was happy he had specified a point well into international waters for the rendezvous, despite the lure of Manus. A knock at the door broke his train of thought.

“Come!” he ordered.

His aide entered and reported. “One of our scouts has sighted the remainder of the squadron one hundred kilometres to the northwest. At their current course and speed they will join us before nightfall.”

“Excellent,” Langsdorff smiled. They could cross-deck supplies and refuel as necessary before continuing on to their destination.

Overflying foreign military installations are we? Seems like Langsdorff hasn't been keeping up with French news recently... Expect to be spotted by a DH Albatross II in the near future.

Quoted from "Desertfox"

Overflying foreign military installations are we? Seems like Langsdorff hasn't been keeping up with French news recently... Expect to be spotted by a DH Albatross II in the near future.

Find me if you can... :sleeping: