Danish News Summary 1935
January
25th - Project Octopus Office, Admiralty Headquarters, Copenhagen.
7 men sat around the table; none in uniform, but none of them were civilians.
They were the same 7 men who had been driving this project forward since its inception 2 years earlier.
The last of the six men along the two sides of the table completed his report and returned to his seat.
The strongly built man at the head of the table had a little smile on his face, the sort of smile that came about from knowing that they had done their job, and done it well.
He leaned forward in his chair, the others falling silent as they turned towards their leader.
"Gentlemen, on behalf of His Majesty, and the people of Denmark, I thank you.
You have completed a task that will help safeguard our nation for many years to come, and although the people will see no outward sign of your work, due to the secrecy that make this whole undertaking viable, you can take great pride in your achievements."
February
7th Army Headquarters.
During a quarterly briefing with the heads of procurement, it is reported by representatives of Hydrema that their attempts the up-gun the "Bille" have not gone well, and that they believe that a larger vehicle will be required. They have offered a possible stop-gap vehicle; based on the support tank which mounts a 75mm howitzer; that is currently under testing.
While not having a turret, the gun being mounted in the front of the hull of the tank, they believe that there will be sufficient space to mount the proposed 57mm gun derived from the Iberian anti-aircraft weapon that Madsen recently developed into a semi-automatic version.
March
11th The Seven Seas - The journal of the K.D.M. Naval Academy.
The K.D.M. Bellona will pull away from the dockside at Aarhus tomorrow, setting off on the last training sortie of the Academy year with cadets from both Command and Engineering branches of the Academy aboard. The sortie is due to last 6 days, following the coast around to Ebsjerg and returning by way of the Limfjorden to Aarhus.
19th Jylands Posten
The K.D.M. Bellona has been posted as missing as she is now 24 hours overdue, and there are no reports of her transiting the Limfjorden since she left Ensjerg on the morning of March 16th. Searches are being conducted along the West coast and Limfjorden.
20th Jyllands Posten
The S.S. Anna Maersk has signalled that they have picked up a sailor in the water 15nm off the coast of Jylland near Thyboron. The sailor is apparently in a serious condition, and the ship is making best speed to Ebsjerg, the closest port facilities to deal with decompression sickness. The Ship's Master has left one of his boats on station to await Navy vessels heading to the scene.
21st Jyllands Posten
The body of another sailor has been recovered by a trawler from the sea near where Able Seaman Andersen was rescued yesterday. Among his possessions was a note explaining the circumstances of the accident.
The following is an account of what happened, based on that note&&..
The K.D.M. Bellona suffered a small fire in her engine room which was brought under control quickly. However, the Captain decided to surface to ventilate the submarines, to remove the fumes and smoke. The Captain brought the submarine to periscope depth and searched the surface, but a heavy mist reduced visibility to about 100 metres. The Captain ordered that the submarine be surfaced.
The submarine broke surface and the hatches in the engine room, torpedo room, and conning tower were opened to circulate fresh air through the boat. As the radio mast was being raised to allow a signal to be sent to the Admiralty about the accident, a merchant vessel, name and nationality unknown, came out of the mist on a collision course with the submarine, making approximately 12 knots. The submarine was struck abaft the conning tower, at an angle of 25/30 degrees on the starboard side, slewing the submarine around.
The merchant vessel did not heave to, and continued into the mist beyond the submarine. The collision holed the starboard ballast tank and the engine room, causing the submarine to take on water very quickly, and sink by the stern. Despite the best attempts of the crew, the flooding could not be stopped and the submarine slipped below the waves.
The submarine continued to sink stern first until it bottomed out at a depth of 50 metres. As a situation report was compiled, it was discovered that 2 crew were missing, Able Seamen Erik Andersen and Jan Christiansen, believed to have been knocked overboard by the collision. They had been assigned the task of raising the radio mast on deck. With the 7 men lost in the flooded engine room, this brought the number of survivors to 31.
With only battery lighting left, following the loss of electrical power, the survivors huddled in the 3 forward sections of the hull; torpedo room, berths/galley, and control room. A signal had to get to the surface so the captain asked for 2 volunteers to attempt to swim to the surface using the emergency breathing gear, as used during the fire less than 15 minutes previously. Cadet Johann Hansen and Able Seaman Kurt Schweppe were selected from 7 volunteers, due to their physical condition and swimming ability. They were to exit the submarine through the escape trunk in the torpedo room.
22nd Jyllands Posten
Able Seaman Erik Andersen, the sailor picked up by the S.S. Anna Maersk, has died, having succumbed to complications arising from his decompression sickness. He was incoherent during his transfer to Ebsjerg aboard the S.S. Anna Maersk, and lost consciousness shortly after reaching the hospital.
The seaman, whose body was recovered yesterday by a trawler, has been identified as Able Seaman Kurt Schweppe.
The first rescue vessels, 2 salvage tugs from SvitzerWijsmuller with diving bells have started searching for the Bellona.
23rd- Jyllands Posten
Cadet Johann Hansen has been discovered alive on the coast near Agger, approximately 6 km north of the Western end of Limfjorden. He has been taken to hospital, and is said to be in a guarder condition as a result of exposure. He is being kept sedated to aid in his treatment. He was carrying an identical note to that found on the body of Able Seaman Kurt Schweppe.
24th Jyllands Posten
The submarine Bellona has been located by divers. Attempts to make contact with the crew have met with limited, garbled replies. Although unintelligible, the responses do at least confirm that there are survivors aboard.
Guide wires have been attached to the submarine to allow a diving bell to be lowered to a position as close to the hatch in the torpedo room as possible.
25th - Jyllands Posten
At first light, rescue operations on the Bellona started in earnest. The diving bell with 3 Navy salvage men aboard descended along the guide wires. The bell stopped approximately 1 metre above the sub, and one of the salvage men swam to the hatch, and entered the escape trunk. On entering the submarine, the torpedo room was found to be flooded up to the base of the escape trunk, approximately 1 metre deep.
3 men were on the higher bunks, staying above the water. The 3 were alive but unconscious, apparently suffering from hypothermia. After calling a second salvage man down from the diving bell, they started to transfer these men to the diving bell using emergency breathing gear. After they got all 3 men aboard, the hatches were closed and the bell rose to the surface, leaving 2 salvage men aboard the submarine.
The 2 salvage men started tapping on the hatch to the galley area, hoping to get a reply. After a few minutes, a series of taps were heard from the far side of the hatch.
Using 2 crow-bars and lots of brute force, the salvage men managed to get the hatch open against the pressure of water, and after the water level stabilised, were able to enter the galley/berth area. The men here were all alive, but were all suffering in some way from the foul air. The temperature in this section was not as cold, which probably contributed to the better condition of the men. After about 30 minutes, the second diving bell arrived in position, and the first batch of 10 men were transferred to it for the 10 minute trip to the surface.
The remaining 2 trips went well, and the rescue operation was concluded by mid- afternoon. The men were transferred to a destroyer, which made best speed to get them to port and hospital. The recovery of the submarine itself will take approximately 2 weeks, and will be conducted solely to allow the bodies of the deceased crew to be recovered.
April
7th Jyllands Posten
The K.D.M. Bellona was successfully raised to the surface today.
It is to be brought to Aalborg after the hull has been temporarily patched, and the bodies of the 7 crew that were in the engine room have been removed.
21st Jyllands Posten
The Court Martial of the Captain of the K.D.M. Bellona, Capt. Hans A. Schroder, has cleared him of any guilt in the loss of the Bellona. The Court found that Captain Schroder's actions helped to protect his crew, given the circumstances following the collision.
The court has asked that the Naval authorities of the neighbouring nations be asked to aid in the identification of the unknown vessel, and the capture of the master and crew of the unknown vessel that sank the Bellona and failed to stop and render aid.
25th Admiralty Headquarters
At a meeting in Submarine Command in Admiralty Headquarters, a report is being worked on, into the feasibility of submarine rescue vessels, and how quickly they could be brought into service. The Bellona was the second submarine to be lost in local waters, and it was only by luck that the rescue operation was able to get started quickly.
May
14th Denmark has one less island today.
The (former) Island of Funen has been joined to the Jylland peninsula
by the new Gamle Lillebæltsbro (Little Belt Bridge). Construction was started 1929, and now, after 7 years, it is finally open to road and rail traffic.
June
21st Heavenly Pursuits - The Aeronautical Gazette
D.A.F. have unveiled their latest offering from Dipl.Ing. Simon. The DAF(s) 4, called the "Falcon", has a single engine in pusher configuration.
Early flight testing has shown the aircraft to be very fast and agile.
"Unfortunately we are much later presenting the Falcon than we first hoped. The delay was due mainly to finding a suitable means of egress for the pilot in case of emergency. We believe that we have now found the best method for this type of aircraft, having tested the equipment in a converted Roterra" said Dipl.Ing. Simon, at the unveiling of the new fighter.
July
15th Rome.
The 5th Volta conference had drawn to a close, and the assembled illuminatti of the world of aeronautical engineering were enjoying a closing night banquet hosted by the conference's chairman, General Gaetano Arturo Crocco, head of the school of Aeronautics of the University of Rome.
Kurt Simon was seated at a table together with Adolph Busemann, Geoffrey de Havilland, Kurt Tank, Theodore von Kármán, Eastman Jacobs, and Anthony Fokker. The meal was almost over, and the men were chatting about Adolphs paper earlier that day about swept wing planforms, while sipping their digestifs.
Wolfgang Rohrbach had been seated at the other table, at which there had been some laughing at something that Arturo Crocco had drawn on a piece of paper.
As they group headed off to the lounge after the meal, Wolfgang held Kurt Simon back for a moment.
"Arturo jokingly sketched "Busemann's airplane of the future" on the back of a menu while we dined." Wolfgang said, handing Kurt the menu. "I thought you might like to have a look."
Crocco's sketch showed a fighter design, with swept wings and tail surfaces, although he also sketched a swept propeller powering it.
"Thanks, Wolfgang. Hmm, swept propellers? That would give the guys in the machine shop a few headaches!" he laughed.
Wolfgang headed after the others, Kurt turning to follow him. He paused to leave the menu on a table, thought twice, and neatly folded it and put it in his jacket pocket.
August
29th Well, thats that then! said Rolf, as he signed off on the readiness certificate, relief obvious in his voice.
"Thank God it's all over. By the way, have I told you I HATE working to deadlines!" quipped his colleague Erik, the chief engineer. "You office types just don't understand!"
"Yes, well us "office types" manage to sell the stuff that you "grease monkeys" build, while keeping the "boss" types off your backs while you...you...you..."
"Create? Invent? Breath life into?" posed Erik.
"I was thinking "spread the mess around", but any of those will do!!" he laughed, as he dodged the oily cloth that flew towards him.
"Hey now, who's buying the drinks tonight?" he said, in a mock-insulted aire.
"That's right. You promised to take the whole team out for drinks when we finished!" Erik said as he collected his rag from the floor. "I hope you brought your wallet!
They left the office, descending the stairs to the workshop floor. Rolf looked out across the 6 tanks assembled below. 3 each of what they were calling the "Eghjort" and the "Sandspringer". "Erik", he said, clapping his friend on the shoulder, "You have most definitely earned these drinks, my friend, most definately "
September
11st Jyllands Posten Business Supplement
A consortium of Danish manufacturers have started loading their wares aboard the steamer S.S. EMMA MAERSK, which has been chartered for the Tabriz Arms Exposition in October. An impressive quantity of arms and equipment is being loaded, and if the companies involved are successful in their bids for business, it could be a major boost for the local economy.
October
1st Dagblatet Politiken Business Supplement
The first day of the Tabriz Arms Exposition closes, with reports among the Danish staff of substantial interest from potential buyers.
15th Advertisement in all National and some International Papers
A tender has been issued by the Danish Government Procurement Agency for Wheeled Vehicles, of all classes( 4x2, 4x4, 6x4, 6x6, etc), for personnel and cargo uses. All interested companies, national and foreign, are requested to provide details of their respective designs no later than 25th of January 1936.
November
21st D.A.F. Design Department
"But Herr Simon, using the Director' adage, it looks wrong!" said Jensen, as he looked over the drawings he had just been handed.
"You mean "If it looks right, it will fly right", is that it? Kurt replied, "But how do you know it is wrong if you have never seen it's like before?"
Jensen pondered the designers words for a few moments.
"I see your point, Sir. Will Friday of next week be alright?" he asked
"That would be perfect, Herr Jensen, thank you" replied Kurt.
He turned to leave the workshop, "Feel free to ask me any questions if I have not made the drawings clear enough" as he closed the door behind him.
Jensen turned to the stack of Lime wood in the drying racks in the corner of the room.
He ran his hands over the stack, selecting a piece more by feel than by sight.
He raised the piece his hand had stopped on before his eyes, and looked long and hard at it.
"Yes, you'll do nicely!" he said to the block of wood.
"Now, let's set you free, shall we?, and turn you into the fine model that Herr Simon needs."
December
8th The Seven Seas - The journal of the K.D.M. Naval Academy.
The Royal Yacht "Dannebrog" returned to port in Copenhagen today after 3 days of trials to determine the exact needs of the proposed refit it is scheduled to undergo next year. The final list of works to be conducted has yet to be drawn up, but one thing is certain, the vessel is to lose her paddle wheels.
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To bad the results were not better. The Dutch would have, of course, offered whatever aid they could. Quoted
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Tuesday, June 11th 2024, 8:53pm
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