WesWorld

Oberösterreichische Rundschau, Wednesday, 4 April 1945

The authorities of the province of Burgenland, the Burgenländische Elektrizitätswirtschafts Aktiengesellschaft and the AEG concern have announced a joint agreement on a proposal to erect an experimental wind farm on the Parndorf Plain. An initial quantity of six turbines each expected to generate two megawatts of power are to be erected in the course of this year; if successful, their number will be increased. This follows the successful experimental installation of a wind turbine on the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog in the Dithmarschen and the AEG concern’s continued research into harnessing the wind for industrial and domestic power.


Heavy Cruiser Graf Spee, 21 dgs 20 min North, 121 dgs 21 min East, Thursday, 5 April 1945

Night cloaked the German cruiser task force as it began its transit of the Luzon Strait; though occasionally covered by cloud the moon still shone brightly on the waters of the South China Sea. That they were being observed Langsdorff knew for certain – the Seetakt watch reported nearly continuous aircraft contacts – the only question was whose aircraft were they?

Pacing the bridge he considered the matter for a moment. Not long before this was a war zone, with Chinese and Korean submarines stalking any and all shipping. Moreover, the Philippines and China faced each other in an uneasy peace; so it was quite possible that some of the contacts were with Chinese aircraft, and others Philippine.

With the transit of the strait complete Langsdorff ordered a course change to the southwest, keeping well away from the territorial waters of either nation. He suspected dawn would bring a surface contact from one or the other. Sharing his expectations with the Graf Spee’s captain he retired for the evening; the morrow would bring its own problems.


Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Berlin, Friday, 6 April 1945

The German Embassy, Santiago, Chile, Saturday, 7 April 1945

Ulrich von der Osten, Commercial Attaché, pondered the despatch that had arrived the day before. The Ministry of Economics, via the Foreign Office, was soliciting interested Chileans to take up several internships made available through the National Space Research Office. He was uncertain whether any potential candidates existed – while some Chilean engineers could be persuaded to intern with German aeronautical firms, whether any wished to make rockets was a mystery to him. On Monday he would make appointments with his contacts inside the Chilean Government – they might be able to help him with his quest.


Abwehr Outstation Breslau, Sunday, 8 April 1945

Weekends made little difference to Walter Schellenburg – the ambitious officer preferred the quiet in which to plan future moves in his game of chess with “The Spider”, his Polish counterpart. Day-by-day his knowledge of the Polish espionage apparatus grew – Schellenburg had more than a dozen Abwehr operatives watching the movements of four suspected spies – and the letterboxes of the Spider’s network had become well known.

Thus far his superiors had approved the flow of suitable material the tame agents – Lonkowski, Griebel and Manninger – were supplying; but Schellenburg wondered how far he might be able to go in enticing the Spider… something that would tempt him to cross the frontier…


Frankfurter Zeitung, Monday, 9 April 1945

The Hirth aero-engine concern of Stuttgart unveiled today an engineering prototype of a new design – a turbine-propeller engine – that it has developed under the designation 007. This new powerplant will undergo testing at the firm’s Zuffenhausen facility over the next several months. The company promises that the new engine – expected to develop at least one thousand horsepower – will be ready for production by 1947.

Heavy Cruiser Graf Spee, 11 dgs 48 min North, 110 dgs 17 min East, Tuesday, 10 April 1945

Admiral Langsdorff gave an inward sigh of relief when his lookouts identified the latest patrolling aircraft overhead as a Consolidated Privateer of the Aeronavale. His task force’s transit of the South China Sea had been without serious incident though not without concerns – not only were there the normal hazards of the sea but the possibility of Chinese and Philippine ‘snoopers’ running into each other was not impossible. But the sight of the four-engine patrol aircraft announced that his ships were nearing a friendly port where they might take on supplies and rest from their long voyage.


Berliner Abendpost, Wednesday, 11 April 1945

The Government surprised the delegates of the Reichstag today by introducing a novella to amend the current Fleet Estimates and fund the construction of a new class of large air defence destroyers. Funds are sought for a total of eight such vessels, of which two would be laid down this fiscal year and the remainder in the next year.


Göttinger Tageblatt, Thursday, 12 April 1945

Today’s successful launch of an A-4 atmospheric research rocket from the testing station at Peenemünde marks the start of this year’s programme by the National Institute for Space Research.

Krakow (Poland), Friday, 13 April 1945

The correspondence from Lonkowski gave Jan Pajak pause. Griebel, Lonkowski’s sub-agent, had introduced him to a functionary in the Chancellor’s office – who was known to Lonkowski only as ‘Wolfgang’ – who was offering to provide copies of cabinet documents for a price. ‘Wolfgang’, as a gesture of good faith – or sales sample – had given Lonkowski such a document which Pajak now examined. While not earth-shattering in itself the document did give a summary of a recent meeting between the Chancellor and his ministers in which German policy was touched upon. For a price, Lonkowski said, ‘Wolfgang’ could provide more on a regular basis.

“The Spider” weighed the question of the value of the intelligence against its potential costs – not so much in cash as in what might happen politically should the operation be blown. In any event he would have to get approval from his masters in Warsaw before making financial commitments on the scale ‘Wolfgang’ was asking. He decided to take the next train and make his proposal in person.


Bremer Nachrichten, Saturday, 14 April 1945

Today was a great day for the Kriegsmarine. In the shipyards at Bremerhaven the aircraft carrier Großer Kurfürst was completed, while in Cuxhaven her sister, Friedrich der Große similarly finished her construction and both have embarked upon their trials. Their completion is another step in the growth and reach of the Kriegsmarine. Two more aircraft carriers, Karl der Große and Friedrich Barbarossa, continue to take their form in the Deschimag yards, and will complete next year.


Heavy Cruiser Graf Spee, Cam Rahn Bay, Sunday, 15 April 1945

His flagship, like the rest of his task force, rode easily at anchor. For Hans Langsdorff and the ships under his command their cruise around the world was but a prelude to their mission, which they could now begin. While the armistice between China and her opponents appeared to be holding, and a final settlement might still be obtained, the four German cruisers were meant to be a reminder that Germany would support its allies if a renewed conflict erupted. His task force would remain in eastern waters for an indeterminate time; how long would depend on the good offices of diplomats.

For the time being his crews enjoyed liberty; his ships made minor repairs and took on supplies; the Etappendienst had arranged for the Donau to take on fuel and other stores to support their future movement. Tonight Langsdorff would host a dinner for the captains of the French and Russian warships on the Indochina station; he paused, and made a note to amend the dinner menu…

Militär-Wochenblatt, Monday, 16 April 1945

The Chief of the Air Staff reported today the Luftwaffe’s intention of withdrawing from service its remaining inventory of Focke Wulf Fw58 training and communications aircraft. The aircraft presently in service are to be turned in to storage units by October of this year, having been succeeded in their training role by the Siebel Si204. It is probable that those low-time, serviceable aircraft may be made available for foreign sale, defence assistance or demilitarisation for civil use.


The Cabinet Briefing Room, Berlin, Tuesday, 17 April 1945

It was only a matter of time before the Government would have to come to grips with the somewhat muddled political situation on Germany’s western border – the open question of the proposed Confederation plan for Belgium and the Netherlands. Today proved to be the day.

“Gentlemen,” said Chancellor Adenauer, “it is most unusual that I find myself in agreement with Das Andere Deutschland – I do not wish to see the resurrection of the Kingdom of Burgundy.” The Chancellor’s comment elicited a brief chuckle. “Nevertheless, we need to establish a position, if only to address the concerns voiced in the Reichstag and in the press.”

Foreign Minister Thomas Dehler was the first to respond. “Quite frankly, I doubt that the different factions in either nation will see it through. The reports from our ambassadors, and the public pronouncements in Brussels and The Hague suggest that this is a project close to the Queen’s heart, and not one particularly favoured by her ministers.”

Adenauer nodded. Queen Wilhelmina was an astute and strong-willed woman, who had seen the Netherlands through forty years of crises. He could see behind the Confederation plan the careful controls that would keep real control over the united kingdoms in the hands of her heirs. “Main chance suggests that the plan will not go forward; what are the implications if it should?”

“The PETA Agreement,” answered Franz Blücher, Minister of Economics, “would require re-negotiation. Effectively the Confederation plan would place three votes in one hand, allowing the Benelux to dominate the association. Any significant renegotiation of the agreement could bring chaos to our economy if not handled correctly.”

The Defence Minister, Otto Gessler, frowned. “Militarily is would not make much difference to us; both nations have a defensive stance and that is not likely to change whether they join together or not. However, there are strategic implications that merit consideration.”

“Go on,” said the Chancellor.

“The proposal has driven a wedge between the Walloon and Flemish populations in Belgium; if the politicians in both countries mismanage things, it could break Belgium into two halves – and that would be dangerous. While the present French Government would not take advantage of the situation, it is not impossible that a future French government might.”

“A point well taken,” said the Vice-Chancellor, Ludwig Erhard.

“Moreover, should the plan go through, it is not impossible that agitation might arise to separate Alsace-Lorraine from France and perhaps the Saar, bringing about the Kingdom of Burgundy of which you joked.” Gessler appeared quite serious in his suggestion.

“Possible though not probable,” Adenauer pronounced.

“Yes Herr Chancellor,” Gessler conceded, “possible though not probable.”

“Then our position should be that while the decision rests with the representatives of the Dutch and Belgian people, Germany is concerned about how this proposed union will impact the several diplomatic and economic agreements between Germany and its neighbours; moreover, we would oppose any suggestion that threatens the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Belgium.” The Chancellor’s summation brought nods from around the table.

“Good, then what is next?”


Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, 18 April 1945

Korvettenkapitän Rudolf Eberling, commanding the support tanker Spessart, read the message from the Admiralstab with joy. His ship was being ordered home. The implication was that a change in operational requirements no longer necessitated the Spessart’s presence in Dakar.

Berliner Börsen-Courier, Thursday, 19 April 1945

Investors reacted coolly to the announcement yesterday of the intended merger of the aircraft activities of Blohm und Voss of Hamburg-Steinwärder and those of the Weser Flugzeugbau of Bremen-Lemwerder, the new company to be known as the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke. Both firms have suffered from a lack of military or civil orders and the merger is seen as a defensive move to cut costs and perhaps attract investment for new design initiatives. If the latter, investors will need much convincing as shares in both partners trended lower on the exchange.


Nürnberger Nachrichten, Friday, 20 April 1945

The dream of linking the North Sea with the Black Sea moved one step closer today with the formal dedication of the Bamberg-Nürnberg section of the Rhein-Main-Donau canal. While completion of the canal is not projected until sometime in 1947 the extension of low-cost river transport will be a boon to the many manufacturing plants in the city. Minister of Transport Gottfried Treviranus cut the ceremonial ribbon at noon and the first motor-barge docked at the river landing stage at two in the afternoon. The nation can take pride in this latest feat of engineering that is but a part of what will be a wonder of the world.


Erprobungsstätte Lipetsk, Saturday, 21 April 1945

“Eisenach is due to deliver the first set of pre-production engines next week,” said Hans Multhopp. “How long until the prototype will be ready?”

Semyon Lavochkin frowned, “Not until the middle of June at the earliest. The need to redesign the empennage requires adjustments in the configuration of the after fuselage; and the new fuel distribution system is still being worked on.”

The comparative wind-tunnel testing of the high-tail and conventional-tail empennage configurations had confirmed that while the former offered many potential advantages it had dangerous tendencies to induce deep stall conditions at high angles of attack; it also was problematic in low-speed conditions such as landing. The stresses the high-tail configuration produced had been pin-pointed as the cause of the loss of the first prototype.

“Better that we are careful in our approach,” Multhopp acknowledged. “Another crash might bring about the cancellation of the programme.”

“Perhaps,” replied Lavochkin, “but such things happen in developing the state of the art. My government has affirmed its confidence in the project many times.”

Militärwissenschaftliche Mitteilungen is a publication of the Harrassowitz Verlag of Wiesbaden, and covers military topics of interest to the general public.



Background

The Kommando Spezialkräfte dates its existence from December 1939 with the decision of the Defence Ministry to create a body of professional troops capable for instant employment in any part of the globe where German national interests were threatened. The first elements of the command, then known as Lehr Abteilung zbV 800, were activated at Baden bei Wien in the spring of 1940, under the command of Oberst Theodor von Hippel.

Spezialkräfte soldiers are trained to work closely together and rely on one another for long periods of time, both during deployments and in garrison. Oberst von Hippel described his ideal requirements for the Spezialkräfte volunteer thusly: "Agility and fast responsiveness, the ability to maintain a high degree of personal initiative, combined with team spirit case; tact in dealing with foreign nations and of course physical stamina.”

From the outset the force sought to recruit personnel with experience abroad, either through emigration (Auslandsdeutsche) or foreign birth (Volksdeutsche), or with service in expeditionary forces. Despite the persistent rumours to the contrary, the Spezialkräfte has made no special effort to recruit Germans who have served in the French Foreign Legion. Spezialkräfte personnel qualify both in advanced military skills and the regional languages and cultures of defined parts of the world. All personnel are trained parachutists and are cross-trained in a variety of military skill sets. Units have direct action capability, though their primary missions are to carry out covert direct actions, intelligence gathering, long range reconnaissance, and strategic advisory activities.

Structure

The basic element of the Spezialkräfte is the gruppe of twelve officers and non-commissioned officers. The gruppe is commanded by a hauptmann, seconded by an oberleutnant as assistant gruppe commander. The gruppe also comprises: an oberfeldwebel who acts as operations NCO; a feldwebel who acts as assistant operations NCO and is a trained intelligence specialist; two NCOs skilled in the use of all manner of infantry weapons, two trained in pionier skills, two trained in use of wireless communications equipment and two with advanced first aid and medical training. All such NCOs are of unteroffiziere, unterfeldwebel or feldwebel rank. This organization facilitates 6-man halb-gruppe operations, redundancy, and mentoring between a senior NCO and his junior assistant.

The organizational element of the Spezialkräfte is the abteilung, which consists of six operational gruppen and one stabsgruppe of eighteen officers and NCOs. The abteilung provides support for its subordinate gruppen in the field and in garrison. The stabsgruppe is normally commanded by a majore assisted by an executive officer, normally of the rank of hauptmann. Subordinate to the executive officer is a stabsfeldwebel, who assists in the direction of the organization, training, intelligence, counter-intelligence, and operations for the abteilung and its subordinate gruppen. The detachment commander is assisted by an oberfeldwebel and feldwebel who together assist the detachment commander in carrying out its operational duties. The remainder of the non-commissioned personnel are specialists in communications, intelligence, engineering and medicine; one oberfeldwebel is authorised as the detachment’s logistics specialist in charge of supply.

Selection and Training

Heer personnel seeking to join the Kommando Spezialkräfte are subjected to an intensive selection process and undergo rigorous training before receiving a posting to one of the operational abteilungen. All volunteers, officers and non-commissioned officers, attend a three-week assessment course to determine their suitability for service in the Spezialkräfte – this tests the volunteer’s individual stamina and aptitude as well as their ability to work as part of a team. Some potential candidates voluntarily withdraw during the course of the assessment; a few are found medically unfit for the arduous tasks the are expected to perform; many are deemed good soldiers but not good enough for the high standards of the Spezialkräfte – all such are returned to their former units without official prejudice on their records. It is said that less than five percent of the volunteers will survive the initial assessment process, and many of those will not complete the next phase of training.

The training of the Spezialkräfte soldier is intense. In the first seven weeks of training all volunteers receive instruction in the operational and strategic context under which they will train for the remainder of the their qualification course; the history, organization and attributes of the Spezialkräfte and the core tasks that relate to their mission; parachute refresher training – all Spezialkräfte personnel must be so qualified; and an introduction to the planning process standardised for all Spezialkräfte operations.

There follows a twenty-five week course is foreign language and culture; if a volunteer is already proficient in a foreign language, he will receive training in another. All Spezialkräfte soldiers are expected to be able to speak at least one foreign language and be familiar with the history and culture of those who speak it. The next phase of training is a thirteen-week course of small unit tactics with emphasis on survival, escape and evasion; Spezialkräfte soldiers are expected to carry out their missions behind enemy lines with little or no outside support.

The fourth phase of training lasts fourteen weeks for non-commissioned officers and up to twenty-five weeks for officers, and is focused on specific roles each fulfils within the operational gruppe. Officers receive advanced instruction on mission analysis and planning, adaptive thinking, doctrine associated with special reconnaissance and the duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of the individual members of an operational gruppe. During this phase of training non-commissioned officers will receive training in the use of foreign weapons and improvised equipment, advanced techniques in their military specialty, and cross-training in other military specialty.

The Spezialkräfte Today

To date Heer has not acknowledged the participation of any units of the Spezialkräfte in missions abroad. There exist a total of eight abteilungen, each with specific military and geographic orientation. In command of the Spezialkräfte is Oberst Otto Skorzeny, and its headquarters remains in Baden bei Wien.

Krakow (Poland), Sunday, 22 April 1945

It had taken some arguing with the hacks in Warsaw but at last Jan Pajak had been given the green light, and the money, to meet the demands of his developing source, “Wolfgang”. The promise of a pipeline into the private thoughts of the German cabinet had proven too tempting to overlook. “Wolfgang”, his agents had advised him, wanted a thousand marks a month; and, Pajak suspected, would up his demands if the Poles really liked his product. The chief of military intelligence had authorised five thousand marks from his slim budget to get the operation off the ground.

“The Spider” now had the problem of finding a trusted courier who could smuggle the first instalment across the German frontier for eventual delivery to “Wolfgang”. Thankfully Pajak had a good organization and knew just who to tap.


Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Monday, 23 April 1945

Vice-Chancellor Ludwig Erhard led a delegation of officials in the dedication of the newly completed synthetic oil plant of the Hoesch Eisen und Stahlwerk at Dortmund. In his remarks the Vice-Chancellor extoled the virtues of the Fischer-Tropsch conversion process that permits Germany to make use of its coal reserves and not rely too much upon imports of oil from abroad. The Dortmund plant is the last of the planned Fischer-Tropsch synthesis plants that had been authorised in 1938; only the Bergius hydrogenation plants at Schwartzheide, Blechhammer and Ludwigshafen-Oppau remain under construction, and they are expected to complete by 1946.


Rheinische Post, Tuesday, 24 April 1945

In a surprise move the Vereinigte Stahlwerke has contracted with the Belgian concern Charbonnage de Frameries for the supply of 600,000 tonnes of metallurgical-grade coal over the next three years. Heretofore the VESTAG had relied upon its own coalfields but industry observers believe that the move takes advantage of the low prices prevailing for Belgian coal now that demand for it from the Belgian navy has evaporated. Given the increasing output of steel and other products from its plants, the VESTAG’s decision to purchase coal in Belgium is not seen as hurting German coal interests in the least, and may stave off distress for that of Belgium.

Lübecker Nachrichten, Wednesday, 25 April 1945

The conversion of the fleet tanker Oderland was completed today, with the vessel departing on sea trials immediately. She is the latest supply vessel of her class, and is expected to be followed by at least one further conversion, scheduled to commence next month.


Berliner Abendpost, Thursday, 26 April 1945

Foreign Minister Thomas Dehler departed this morning for Paris, a move believed to be prompted by the recent developments in the Netherlands where the Dutch lower house of parliament voted to move forward with the controversial plan for confederation of the several kingdoms ruled by the House of Orange. The Government has previously expressed its concerns as to how such a move by Belgium and the Netherlands might impact the current trade and diplomatic ties between those nations and the rest of Europe. When asked, a Foreign Ministry spokesman refused to comment on the purpose of the Foreign Minister’s journey.


Handelsblatt, Friday, 27 April 1945

The commercial registrar in Lauffen am Neckar reports the formation of a new mechanical engineering enterprise in that city. Engineer Friedrich Schunk has established a new venture, Feinmechanik Schunk AG, which will undertake the manufacture of precision automotive components.

Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, 28 April 1945

The support tanker Spessart slipped her moorings and slowly gathered way as she began her homeward journey. For Korvettenkapitän Rudolf Eberling and his crew it marked the end of a long and relaxing sojourn in the tropical port though one filled with few surprises and much boredom. When they had first arrived the crew speculated that their presence heralded some glorious enterprise; now, it seemed, that whatever had been planned for them had been changed without explanation.

But they were going home – away from the hot, humid and dusty haven that had been their station for months. Salutes were exchanged with the French warships anchored in the harbour and the Spessart took on a pilot to guide her down the channel to the sea.


Braunschweiger Zeitung, Sunday, 29 April 1945




Berlin, Abwehr Headquarters, Monday, 30 April 1945

Walter Schellenburg had come to Berlin to brief his superior on the progress of Operation Küster. “We have made excellent progress sir,” he explained. “Our latest controlled source has truly piqued the interest of the Poles,” and with that he passed an envelope across the desk. “For Accounting”.

Ferdinand von Schlabrendorff picked up the envelope. “I see,” he replied, writing out a receipt for the money contained in it. “What is your plan if the Poles should ever want to meet this Wolfgang face-to-face?”

Schellenburg gave a wry smile. “I shall play his role myself, and I hope that if I play my cards correctly the Poles will want to do exactly that at some point. Has the Admiral cleared the next packet of information for transmission to Krakow?”

“He approved half of what we proposed,” von Schlabrendorff answered, “but he convinced the Wilhelmstrasse to provide copies of some older cables from our ambassador in Warsaw.”

“Would that not furnish the Poles with a crib for decipherment?” asked Schellenburg in amazement.

“Not really. The Foreign Office assures us that there has been – what was the term they used – “strategic redaction” to make the cables unusable even if the Poles should try deciphering them; that and the code keys are out of date.”

Schellenburg nodded. “Still, they will make the Poles desirous of more.”

Emder Zeitung, Tuesday, 1 May 1945

The fleet tender Curt von François has completed her conversion and embarked on her builder’s trials. She is expected to soon take up her duties with the fleet.


Sächsische Zeitung, Wednesday, 2 May 1945




Berliner Abendpost, Thursday, 3 May 1945

Today saw the launch in Memel of the corvettes Albatros and Mowe, the first of a new class of anti-submarine escorts under construction for the Kriegsmarine. In Hamburg the tenders Dänholm and Mährens also slid down the ways and were towed elsewhere in the Deschimag yard to complete their construction. All four are expected to complete before the close of the year.

Militärwissenschaftliche Mitteilungen is a publication of the Harrassowitz Verlag of Wiesbaden, and covers military topics of interest to the general public.



The proverb “An army marches on its stomach” is sometimes attributed to Friedrich der Große and sometimes to Napoleon Bonaparte; what is unquestioned is that the soldier must be fed in order to march and fight. The Deutsches Heer is quite cognizant of this need, and has gone to great lengths to provide its personnel with a balanced and nutritional diet whether in garrison or in the field. The Provisions Office of the Army Services Centre (Proviantamt der Dienstleistungszentrum des Heeres) assures that the soldier is properly fed under all conditions.

Background

The provision of rations to the soldier in the field has always been in the forefront of the minds of intelligent commanders. Following the travails of the Thirty Years War, when armies were turned into ravaging bands of foragers each of the armies of Europe worked out systems for maintaining magazines in strategic locations and were chained to these or constrained by the services of their provision contractors. The great English commander, the Duke of Marlborough, on his march from Flanders to the Donau in 1704 was only able to execute this feat due to his careful preparations for the feeding of his troops and the efforts of his commissary, Sir Solomon Medina.

In the latter portion of the Eighteenth Century the question of feeding large numbers of soldiers efficiently and in a cost effective manner was studied by Benjamin Thompson, Reichsgraf von Rumford, in Bavaria. There, in 1795, he introduced what has since become known as Rumford Soup (Rumfordsuppe), a thick soup of peas, barley and potatoes often cooked in stale beer – supplemented with bread rations and meat such as bacon, or salted herring, it gave, for the time, a near optimum mix of protein and carbohydrates in the diet.

Progress through Science

Scientific progress in the matter of feeding troops progressed during the Nineteenth Century. The prize won by Nicolas Appert for his development of the process of canning is well known, as is the invention in England of the so-called “tin-can”. Study by Prussian officers of the logistics efforts of the Union Army during the American Civil War highlighted such developments as the issue of desiccated vegetables and the invention of condensed milk by Gail Borden. These prompted Johann Heinrich Grüneberg to develop the famous Erbswurst concentrated soup, an item which today remains in the ration of the German soldier.

Advances in Equipment

The invention of the mobile field bakery (backofenwagen) in 1890 gave flexibility to the divisional trains supporting units of the Imperial Army, and the design has remained relatively unchanged until today. The field bakery comprises a wagon or, today, a trailer, upon which are mounted baking ovens, bins for ingredients, surfaces for preparation and the all-important loaf pans for baking Kommißbrot, the standard ration loaf of rye and wheat flours. A single field bakery is capable of producing up to 9,600 loaves of bread per day.

While field kitchens of various sorts had been improvised before the modern field kitchen (feldkochherd) was invented in 1892 by Karl Rudolf Fissler of Idar-Oberstein, which was rapidly adopted by the Imperial Army and known affectionately by soldiers as the Gulaschkanone. The important advance introduced by the Fissler field kitchen was its ability to cook of keep food warm while on the march. It greatly reduced the time required to feed troops at the end of a day’s movement. The addition of a pressure cooking boiler (dampfkochtopf) also facilitated the rapid preparation of soups and stews.

Legacy of the Great War

The preparations of the Imperial Army served it well during the initial advances at the outbreak of the conflict. The advent of trench warfare, combined with the shortages imposed by England’s naval blockade, created progressive problems at the front, which contributed to the eventual defeat of the Imperial Army. While all possible efforts were made to cook rations in the immediate rear of fighting positions all too often the frontline troops were reduced to a monotonous diet of iron rations if fortunate, or whatever food they might find by forage. Shortages reduced the flour content of the ration loaf and even potatoes for soup or stew became rare. Ration parties bringing food to forward positions often fell casualty to shell fire or poison gas.

As it reorganised in the years following the Great War the Heer has placed great emphasis on assuring that the situation that arose in the war years would not be repeated. The need for adequate rations to sustain the morale of the troops at the front, and to assure their good health and fighting ability was recognised at all levels.

The Heer Today

The feeding of troops today is organised on three levels – In Garrison; In Field; and on Active Duty.

Troops at their home stations are fed in permanent mess halls fully equipped to provide three meals per day. These are based upon the standard ration plan and include 750 grams of bread, 400 grams of meat or 200 grams of bacon, 800 grams of potatoes, 600 grams of vegetables, 100 grams of fruit and 100 grams of butter or margarine. Insofar as possible all food provided is fresh, or in the case of meat, frozen.

Field kitchen and field bakery troops are organic to all formations of the Heer, and great efforts are made to maintain the standard ration while in the field. Some substitutions, of course, must be made. Instead of fresh meat, resort is made to canned or dried meats – sausages being particularly popular in the latter category. Canned vegetables are also used, though to a lesser degree.

The greatest change in a soldier’s ration in the last ten years are those intended for use when on active duty, where access to field kitchens is not possible. For these circumstances several sets of rations have been developed, including the Individual Ration (Einmannpackung) and the Squad Ration (Gruppepackung). These have completely replaced the older Iron Ration and are far better balanced nutritionally.

The Individual Ration includes a 300-gram tin of meat, a 150-gram unit of hard bread (hartkeks or hartzweiback) and a 150-gram tin of processed cheese designed for a long shelf life. It also includes such amenities as coffee, sugar, salt, hard candy, cigarettes and matches. This is intended to provide one meal for one soldier, but is not intended for use in an extended period. Should this prove to be necessary due to the exigencies of service, a Supplemental Ration (Zusätzlichepackung) is issued to the soldier, which includes such additional items as coffee, Erbstwurst, crackers and chocolate.

The Squad Ration, issued whenever possible, offers greater variety for the soldier. It is intended to feed up to ten men for a single day, and does not require any particularly high level of culinary skill on the part of the soldier to prepare the contents. The squad ration includes coffee, tinned meat and vegetable stew, tinned beef stew, dehydrated eggs, Maggi-cubes, Früchtebrot, oatmeal, hartzweiback, condensed milk, condensed soup, margarine, cooking oil, chocolate and much else. Originally intended for use by motorised troops, it has now seen more general issue in many of the Heer’s field exercises.

The Future

The Provisions Office has begun experimentation with pre-packaged “Ready Meals” or Fertiggerichte. These are envisioned as a sealed, compartmented tray – each compartment holding one item of the meal - a cut of meat, usually beef or pork; with a vegetable, such as peas, carrots, corn, or potatoes; and sometimes a dessert. The contents would be pre-cooked in a factory setting and would only require heating prior to serving. Limited trials of these units were carried out during winter exercises late last year with some success, and the Provisions Office has indicated that it will continue investigation of such to potentially replace the venerable Gulaschkanone.

Handelsblatt, Friday, 4 May 1945

The commercial registrar in the city of Heilbronn has reported that formation of Agria-Werke AG. Located in the town of Ruchsen, near Möckmühl, the venture is owned by Erwin Mächtel and Otto Göhler. Their intent is to engage in the manufacture of agricultural implements and equipment.


Rostocker Zeitung, Saturday, 5 May 1945

A spokesman for the Heinkelwerke has confirmed previous press reports that it has submitted to the Defence Ministry a proposal for a heavy bomber aircraft to be powered by reaction jet engines. The company acknowledges that there is no current Luftwaffe requirement for such an aircraft but believes that their proposal, pursued under the designation P.1068, will find favour upon its own merits.


Konstanz, Sunday, 6 May 1945

Rudolf Augstein sat expectantly on the park bench. His journey here from Duderstadt had taken most of his remaining money – though at least he had a return ticket, so his trip was assured. What else awaited him was a mystery. Augstein was one who believed in the cause. Many of his fellows had already left Das Andere Deutschland for jobs that paid something of a salary; he had stayed because he believed in the people’s right to know the truth. To him had fallen the mantle of editorship of Germany’s strident Socialist newspaper – one that was not shy of criticising even the leadership of Germany’s Social Democratic Party. That burning desire to tell the truth had seen the newspaper booted from Berlin through the “influence” of some well-heeled capitalist. The future of the paper in provincial Duderstadt hung by a slender thread; and that thread had brought him to Konstanz.

So lost in thought was he that he did not hear the other man approach.

“May I sit down,” he asked. Augstein noticed that while his German was faultless, his accent betrayed the fact that he was a foreigner, an Englishman perhaps. Augstein nodded.

John Challenor was not entirely certain why his masters had sent him on this mission; but that mattered little. Through intermediaries they had contacted someone to whom Challenor was to deliver what he was carrying. He did not want to know; all he wished to do was hand it off and return to the ferry that would take him back across the Bodensee to Switzerland.

“John has a long moustache,” said Challenor in a conversational tone.

Augstein nodded. “So he does,” he replied as calmly as he could. “So this is my contact?” he thought.

Challenor reached into inner pocket of his overcoat and drew out an envelope. “I think you dropped this sir,” he said, and handed it over. And with that he stood up and walked away.

Augstein said nothing but watched the man walk away towards the promenade. He sat a few moments more until deciding to return to hostel in which he was staying for the night. It was there that he found the courage to examine the envelope. He found therein some twenty thousand marks in currency.

That night he did not sleep well. In accepting the money he felt he was betraying The Cause, The People, and The Truth. But in accepting it he also had the means to keep the newspaper running for months. In that time he could make the people see the errors of their ways and fight back against the greedy capitalists who oppressed them. Who cared why some benefactor had ferreted him out? What mattered was The Truth.

The following morning Augstein would board a train that would take him back to Duderstadt, back to the presses of Das Andere Deutschland; presses that could now proclaim The Truth for all the world to see.

Nice post on the feeding of troops. I'd be interested to see what the German sailor eats too. I found an interesting selection of RN food, but never though to write up this kind of info.

What can go wrong with an envelope of money given by some strange guy with a strange accent who mumbles about people with long moustaches...

Thanks! Brock had suggested the topic of field kitchens so I am happy to oblige. Militärwissenschaftliche Mitteilungen is intended for the general public, so if anyone has subjects they would like to have considered, fire away. I can use the inspiration.

Good article, Bruce. I'll be interested to hear more about the Fertiggerichte in the future.

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

Good article, Bruce. I'll be interested to hear more about the Fertiggerichte in the future.

Glad you enjoyed it. The Fertiggerichte will continue to be experimented with.

Nachrichten für Außenhandel, Monday, 7 May 1945



Rheinische Post, Tuesday, 8 May 1945

Travellers arriving from Brussels and Liege have reported the appearance in the towns of Malmedy and Eupen of numerous placards bearing the slogan, “Belgien Ja, Konföderation Nein”. These reports suggest that the recently proposed confederation plan for Belgium and the Netherlands is not favoured by the German-speaking minority in eastern Belgium.


Oberösterreichische Rundschau, Wednesday, 9 May 1945

Mineralöl Südost AG has announced the discovery of commercially viable petroleum wells near Matzen in the Vienna Basis. The test wells drilled thus far have yielded a flow in excess of one thousand barrels of petroleum per day. Shares of Kontinentale Öl AG rose sharply upon receipt of the news.