WesWorld

Dithmarscher Landeszeitung, Saturday, 13 December 1947

The small support tanker Krems has completed her operational training, and is expected to arrive at Emden in the next few days to take up her duties in support of the fleet.


Die Welt am Sonntag, Sunday, 14 December 1947

Since the days of Marco Polo the wastes of Central Asia have long exercised a fascination on the Western mind. Scholars of many nations have contributed to the exploration of this remote region, uncovering lost kingdoms and caves filled with expressions of religious art covering a span of centuries. Between 1902 and 1914 no fewer than four expeditions to Turfan were launched by the Ethnological Museum of Berlin under the direction of Albert Grünwedel, Albert von Le Coq, and Theodor Bartus, recovering hundreds of ancient documents, paintings, and other art objects.


Today this region is being explored by others. Intrepid motor sports enthusiasts are participating in the first road rally to follow the course of the ancient Silk Road from Dunhuang to Beijing, China’s modern capital city. It is not known what new discoveries may emerge, but it is certain that the participants will have many stories of adventure to share.


Berliner Börsen-Courier, Monday, 12 December 1947

Financial markets are reacting cautiously to the announcement Sunday of the resignation of Karl Bernard as President of the Reichsbank. Citing personal concerns Herr Bernard tendered his resignation quite unexpectedly, and a replacement has yet to be named.

Berlin, The Cabinet Meeting Room, Tuesday, 13 December 1947

Gottfried Treviranus, Minister of Transport, arrived early for the day’s meeting of the Cabinet; a move driven by concerns with the abrupt resignation of Bernard from the presidency of the Reichsbank. ‘Personal concerns’ were the official explanation, but Treviranus was certain that there was more to it. The divisive question of German economic policy in Eastern Europe was coming to a head – there were rumours that von Hapsburg had come back savaged from a meeting with Fürst Friedrich of Hohenzollern. How he wished he had been a fly on the wall so as to listen in. Like Andreas Hermes, the Minister of Agriculture, he wished to expand German influence – if not outright control – in the regions that were by nature Germany’s to dominate. His pride – the National Motorways – pointed the way to domination of the Continent.

Treviranus’ reverie was broken as the door opened to admit the Chancellor. “Ah, there you are Herr Treviranus,” he said, and closed the door behind him.

“Good morning Herr Chancellor,” Treviranus replied, rising to his feet. He was surprised at Adenauer being here so early, and unaccompanied by any of the other ministers or his staff.

“Please take your seat,” the Chancellor replied. He himself took his chair at the head of the table, placed a portfolio on the desk, and with a deft movement slid it down the table, where it stopped within reach of the Minister of Transport. “I would like you to read this.”

Treviranus did as he was told, while the Chancellor continued. “I am shocked that you, my old friend, would have acted so contrary to the spirit of unity required of a member of the Cabinet. You conspired with Hermes to deprive the Cabinet of information vital to its decision-making processes. You have obstructed the foreign policy of the Government for your own ends. You are not fit to serve the nation in any official capacity.”

The dossier included the memorandum from Bernard directing suppression of the state of Romanian finances; it included a copy of Bernard’s own resignation from the Reichsbank, which hinted at his hand in other matters; and – to Treviranus’ shock – the resignation of the Minister of Agriculture, Hermes.

“Herr Chancellor…” Treviranus tried to find words.

“Today’s meeting is cancelled; I expect your resignation on my desk by this afternoon.” Adenauer rose, took the portfolio from Treviranus’ trembling hands, and stalked out of the room.

Treviranus sat quietly for more than a few moments. He then took a sheet of paper from the rack of Cabinet stationery and wrote out the death sentence for his political career.


Hamburger Abendblatt, Wednesday, 17 December 1947

Financial markets were rocked today by the announcement of the resignation of Minister of Agriculture Andreas Hermes and Minister of Transport Gottfried Treviranus. Coming hard upon the resignation of Karl Bernard as president of the Reichsbank the departure of the two ministers has introduced an element of instability which has yet to be righted.


Bremer Nachrichten, Thursday, 18 December 1947

The Ministry of Defence announced today that it has placed orders with the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke for the supply of an initial quantity of two hundred of the firm’s Vf191 advanced training aircraft, this first of which is due to be delivered next spring.

Militär-Wochenblatt, Friday, 19 December 1947

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the establishment of a new test-and-demonstration formation for the Heer. The First Armoured Cavalry Regiment (Gepanzertes Kavallerieregiment) is to form at Döberitz next month. A combined-armed battle group the new formation is expected to test screening and flank-guard tactics using the next generation of armoured vehicles now entering production for the Heer. Oberst Paul Freiherr von Hauser has been designated to serve as the unit’s first commandant.


Schloss Meseberg, Saturday, 20 December 1947

Chancellor Adenauer had called together his closest advisors to deal with the unexpected departure from the Cabinet of Hermes and Treviranus, as well as the vacancy in the presidency of the Reichsbank occasioned by Bernard’s resignation. The discovery of a cabal within the Cabinet had come as a shock to Adenauer, for the disloyal ministers were among his oldest political acquaintances. Seated in a semi-circle were von Braun, the minister of the interior; Erhard, the vice-chancellor; Dehler, the foreign minister; and Blank, the defence minister; also present was Otto von Hapsburg, whose outspoken advocacy of a more moderate economic policy had precipitated the current crisis.

“Vocke would be a reasonable replacement for the Reichsbank,” opined Erhard. He referred to Wilhelm Vocke, the Reichsbank’s expert on foreign exchange markets. “He is a known quantity in financial circles, has no agenda of his own, and is close enough to the end of his career that he will likely retire within a few years.”

Adenauer raised an eyebrow. “All good points, but it means we would need to groom a replacement to take his place in four to five years’ time.” The participants could come to a consensus on this point rather quickly; a replacement for Hermes caused more contention. Several names were brought forward and dismissed for one reason or another.

“What about Hermann Höcherl,” suggested von Hapsburg. “He is a Bavarian, and has served in the provincial department of agriculture and forests.”

“He is rather young,” von Braun noted with a hint of disdain.

“No younger than I am,” von Hapsburg retorted.

“Age or youth is immaterial,” Adenauer interjected. “What counts is competency. His work is well documented.”

An hour of animated discussion followed before a consensus could be reached on the agriculture post. The transport post was easier to determine. Hermann-Eberhard Wildermuth, Treviranus’ deputy for the National Motorways, was the recommendation of those around Adenauer. Those chosen would be approached quickly, with the hope that each would agree to serve and minimise the embarrassment to the Government.


Cam Rahn Bay, Sunday, 21 December 1947

Konteradmiral Bernhard Rogge, flying his flag from the light cruiser Novara, let the East Asia Squadron to sea for regular exercises, after which the squadron was due to call at Manila. It was good to be at sea; as friendly as their French and Indochinese hosts might be, warships belong on the open ocean.

Frankfurter Zeitung, Monday, 22 December 1947

Financial markets firmed today on the news that Wilhelm Vocke has succeeded Karl Bernard as President of the Reichsbank. There remains considerable speculation regarding the unexpected departure of Gottfried Treviranus and Andreas Hermes from the Cabinet, but the Government’s majority in the Reichstag remains unassailable. The selection of Hermann-Eberhard Wildermuth as Minister of Transport has been greeted with enthusiasm, while the appointment of Hermann Höcherl as Minister of Agriculture has come as a surprise to many.


Manama, Bahrain, Tuesday, 23 December 1947

Hans Bessig and Emil Kunze bounced as their all-wheel-drive vehicle crested another sand dune and came down on the salt flat beyond. Having left the remainder of their expedition to continue their work at the mound fields surrounding the old Portuguese fort they had begun an extended survey of potential archaeological sites across the island. Thus far they had examined the extensive qanat irrigation systems that once brought water to now-abandoned settlements bear the shore; they had found the remains of fishing camps along the two-metre level, suggesting that the land had risen that much in relation to the sea; now they were heading towards the village of Barbar, where aerial photography had indicated the presence of a tel – a raised mound that often hid ancient settlements. They would evaluate its potential.


Handelsblatt, Wednesday, 24 December 1947

Dignitaries gathered today to tour the recently-completed coal loading facility at the port of Stettin. Capable of handling the largest colliers that form the ‘coal bridge’ to Scandinavia it provides an efficient outlet for the Silesian coal fields which provide heating and metallurgical coal to the Nordish economy.

The Villa Austria, Pöcking, Thursday, 25 December 1947

Otto von Hapsburg sat next to the hearth upon which a fire burned to chase away the cold of a Bavarian winter. The brandy on the table beside him was untouched, and he was deep in thought.

The recent tumult within the Cabinet had cleared the obstructions to adoption of a less predatory economic policy for Germany, but the challenges that had engendered that attitude had in no way changed. Despite the PETA protocols, economic integration among the members proceeded at a snail’s pace, with informal restrictions on investment continuing to thwart German economic expansion. It had been years since the last annual meeting of the members’ heads of government; the question of the relationship of the Dutch empire overseas remained muddy as ever.

Progress might be made in the Baltics, and perhaps Poland; Yugoslavia had finally warmed to the idea of economic partnerships though little had been accomplished in concrete terms. The Russian market remained closely guarded despite the excellent diplomatic relations between the two nations. China would be an excellent alternative were it not for the propensity of Beijing to go to war with its neighbours; and strategic considerations mitigated against strengthening the Chinese economy without restraint.

As the New Year approached he saw few radical changes that might be made, and that left him worried.


Light Cruiser Novara, Manila Bay, Friday, 26 December 1947

Saluting guns boomed as the Novara and her consorts steamed past the island fortress of Corregidor. Konteradmiral Bernhard Rogge had brought his ships across the South China Sea on a goodwill visit and they would remain for a few days. He had reports of the low-level sparring between the Philippines and its giant neighbour to the north and wanted to assess for himself the strength of the Philippine navy; the gathering of great ships that filled Manila Bay left him in no doubt that the small Asian power had poured much of its treasure into strengthening its naval forces. In the next days, he hoped, he and his officers might have opportunity to assess the men who manned the ships, which was always the more important factor.


London, The German Embassy, Saturday, 27 December 1947

Walter Schellenburg put the last of the documents into his bag, closed the clasp, and locked it. In the morning he would be off to Berlin for a working leave. He had made an effort to obtain copies of the latest journals which outlined the work of Appleton, Robinson, Powell, Rochester, and Butler. He had read them, but did not fully understand them; that was part of his reason for returning to Berlin – he wish to meet with the Abwehr’s scientific intelligence section to gain a deeper appreciation of their needs and to ask them question of the sort that do not lend themselves to terse diplomatic cables. As he would freely admit – he needed to be schooled.

Der Soldatenfreund, Sunday, 28 December 1947



Göttinger Tageblatt, Monday, 29 December 1947

The inspection ship Goldener Löwe has departed the port of Emden on what has been announced as a ‘special scientific mission’ to the South Atlantic.

Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Tuesday, 30 December 1947

The first production Arado Ar334 aircraft has been taken on charge by the Luftwaffe. Rolled off the assembly line at Arado’s Brandenburg-Havel factory the aircraft will be delivered to a special training unit for testing and development of tactical doctrine.


Kieler Nachrichten, Wednesday, 31 December 1947

The air defence cruiser Heligoland was launched here today; her sister, Höchstädt, was launched at the Deschimag yard at Cuxhaven. It is expected that the ships will complete late next year.