WesWorld

Berliner Abendpost, Tuesday, 1 April 1941

The reconstruction of the Deutsches Kriegsmarine entered a new phase today, with shipyards around the nation commencing construction of eight vessels of various types, most notably four new destroyers of the Typ 1940 “Paderborn” class. Two vessels of this type were laid down in Cuxhaven and two in Bremerhaven, marking an increase in the construction tempo for this class of warship. Sources speculate that the acceleration was prompted by the ongoing hostilities in East Asia.


Kieler Nachrichten, Wednesday, 2 April 1941

Construction has begun of the experimental wind turbine at Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog in the Dithmarschen. Officials have indicated that they expect work to be completed before the onset of winter.


Sächsische Zeitung, Thursday, 3 April 1941

After many disappointments there is joy in Dessau as Lufthansa has announced that it has placed orders with the Junkers concern for an initial quantity of twelve Ju390 four-engine airliners for use on its international services. The first of these aircraft is expected to be delivered in the late summer or early autumn, depending upon the progress of the current test programme.


Wehrgedanken des Auslands – April 1941

Oberstleutnant Hans Spiedel, Heer, has recently concluded an assignment as military attaché in Great Britain. During his time in that nation he has studied the development of its armoured forces and shares some of his observations. This is the first of a three-part series.

The British Army boasts no fewer than nine armoured divisions – of these, six are stationed at home, one in Egypt, one in Palestine and one in Iraq. This represents a formidable force, yet there are a number of shortcomings that remain that adversely impact the fighting worth of these units.

The current force structure of a British armoured division comprises three tank regiments forming an armoured brigade; a light armoured reconnaissance brigade, fielding two armoured car regiments, and a support group that incorporates a single regiment of field artillery, a specialist regiment of anti-tank artillery, two battalions of motorised infantry and one squadron of engineers. The British armoured division is thus poorly balanced, and is weak in supporting arms.

Current British doctrine sees armoured formations in the role of exploitation, following the theories of Sir Giffard Martel and John Fuller, with the actual rupture of the opponent’s front to be carried out by other arms. While the flanks of the advancing armoured division are screened by the light armoured reconnaissance brigade the striking force of tank regiments is expected to proceed into the rear areas of an opponent to capture key locations, disrupt communications and above all to engage and defeat counterattacking tank units. The large concentration of so-called ‘cruiser’ tanks represents a formidable threat once past an opponent’s forward defences. The highly mobile armoured car regiments give the British armoured division great screening ability either in attack or defence. The specialist antitank regiment plays an important role in defending the flanks of a British armoured force – as it is meant to set up a defensive stop line upon which the opponent may expend its strength while the tank regiments marshal for a riposte. As such the division’s organic infantry and artillery are present only to support such a stop line.

However, if confronted by fixed defences in depth, or by mobile defences based on combined arms combat groups, the British armoured division lacks the organic strength to overcome them. If forced onto the defensive it is vulnerable to combined arms combat groups since it is woefully deficient in staying power.

These weaknesses are less apparent in the deserts of Egypt, Iraq and Arabia, where the British Army seems to expect to deploy it strength in the future. In the deserts the ability of the support group to form a mobile ‘oasis’ from which the tank and armoured car regiments can deploy is a great benefit – as the wide open spaces of that region preclude any sort of continuous battle front taking shape. The Palestine Campaign of Viscount Allenby proved the value of highly mobile forces and their ability to penetrate deep into the enemy’s rear – and these victories were achieved with horse cavalry and mounted infantry. In a similar situation the British armoured division would be far more effective than in a European setting – where terrain would hamper mobility and give an upper hand to an opponent’s defensive lines.

Militärwissenschaftliche Rundschau, Friday, 4 April 1941

The selection by the Army Ordnance Office of the Auto Union entrant in its design competition for a new light field car (Mehrzweck Universal Geländewagen mit Allradantrieb) represents a significant coup for the concern, as it does a setback for the firm of Adler. The outstanding qualities shown by the Auto Union Type 82 coupled with the failure of the Adler prototype to survive the battery of cross-country road tests cut short the test programme and confirmed Auto Union as the victor. Orders have been placed for an initial quantity of three thousand vehicles, the first of which should appear in the late autumn.


Militär-Wochenblatt, Monday, 7 April 1941

The Army Ordnance Office has issued a requirement to the automotive industry for development of a lightweight, all terrain support vehicle, or Trosskarren, for use by the mountain troops.


Berliner Abendpost, Tuesday, 8 April 1941

Officials at the Foreign Office have confirmed rumors that an official German Naval Mission will be sent to Turkey to aid that nation in assessing its future requirements and to develop training programmes for Turkish naval personnel. No details were forthcoming from the Defence Ministry at this time.


Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Thursday, 10 April 1941

Officials of the Defence Ministry and officers of the Luftwaffe were present yesterday at the Heinkel works at Rostock for a demonstration of the He280 prototype. This aircraft had made an initial powered flight on Saturday in anticipation of the official visit. Before a bevy of observers the aircraft took off under the power of its reaction-jet engines and completed three circuits of the airfield before returning for a safe and successful landing. The viability of the airframe and engine combination was confirmed, and it is expected that funding for further prototypes will be forthcoming from the Defence Ministry.

Frankfurter Zeitung, Friday, 11 April 1941

Our correspondent in Berlin reports that the Army Armaments Office has placed a contract with the Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft of Neuhausen for five hundred examples of that firm’s SK-42 self-loading infantry carbine, chambered for the standard 8mm Mauser IS cartridge. According to sources in the Defence Ministry the Swiss rifle is under consideration to address the needs of the mountain troops of the Heer for a service rifle with greater long-range accuracy than the current K37. The order does come as a surprise, given the fact that trials for new rifles and machineguns have already begun. When asked directly regarding the meaning of the purchase, a spokesman for the Defence Minister replied with a curt, “No comment.”


Altmark-Zeitung, Saturday, 12 April 1941

The newly organised Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke broke ground yesterday on the construction of new works for the overhaul and repair of aircraft under contract to the Defence Ministry. The works is to be located on the outskirts of the city of Halberstadt and, when complete, is expected to employ some 1,500 workers, bringing great benefit to this region of the nation.


Kronen Zeitung, Sunday, 13 April 1941

Among the cargo recently received at the Wien river port is the first shipment of 1,570 copper cathodes from the Medodobiven Kombinat Pirdop in Bulgaria. This firm has recently completed the ore-processing portion of its metallurgical plant and will ship semi-refined copper cathodes until completion of its own copper refinery at the close of the year. The receipt of the first shipment of cathodes marks a long step forward in the development of the Bulgarian economy and is a milestone in cooperation between Germany and Bulgaria.

Its not the historical He-280 right? Seems to be single tailed unlike the OTL H tail.

You are correct. The prototype has a conventional empennage, as compared with the historical design.

Hannoverscher Anzeiger, Wednesday, 16 April 1941

The Auto-Union concern revealed today the prototype of its new commercial vehicle, the Type 200 Transporter. Aimed at the light commercial market the design shares many characteristics and components with the firm’s Type 60 passenger car and Type 82 light van. It features a rear mounted engine and the driver sits over the front wheels, allowing for a large center section which can be adapted for carriage of passengers, equipment or cargo. The Type 200 will be built in Auto Union’s new Hannover works.




Kieler Nachrichten, Thursday, 17 April 1941

The latest of the Kriegsmarine’s light cruisers, the Magdeburg, was completed today at the Kiel shipyard. Attending were many dignitaries of the Kriegsmarine and a delegation from the city of Magdeburg. The ship will now undergo trials and a period of working up, and is expected to enter full service with the fleet in the autumn of this year.


Berliner Börsen-Courier, Friday, 18 April 1941

The price of shares and bonds of the major Argentine railways slumped today on the major European exchanges in reaction to the latest developments in the continuing process of nationalisation. While the Argentine Senate has yet to complete its actions it is clear that the Argentine Government will press forward with its plans to acquire the companies in question. While the greatest impact was felt on the London Stock Market, the ripples of concern have reached all major financial centres. While the fall in share prices of the Argentine railway companies has caused some loss to German investors, leading financial commentators suggest that the process will, in the long run, benefit Germany, as the nationalised Argentine railways will not be obliged to buy their locomotives and other railway equipment solely from British firms. This would open the door to a large potential market for Germany.

Microbus, ack!

... and what's wrong with the Microbus?

Hmmm... if there would ever be another war between France and Germany, I would think that the German spearhead will be led by lots of those vans in order to send the French soldiers fleeing in sheer terror.

Because it's competition for the Citroen TUC.

Quoted

Originally posted by Rooijen10
Hmmm... if there would ever be another war between France and Germany, I would think that the German spearhead will be led by lots of those vans in order to send the French soldiers fleeing in sheer terror.

Why? The Microbus is not a vehicle of terror.

Quoted

Hmmm... if there would ever be another war between France and Germany, I would think that the German spearhead will be led by lots of those vans in order to send the French soldiers fleeing in sheer terror. großes Grinsen

Assumably then the French would lead their counter attack with Citroen 2 CVs

I believe that could be part of the issue. I understand that there are production bottlenecks on the 2CV and the TUC.

The 2CV doesn't come out until next year - and there's already a two year waiting list. The Citroen vans reached production two years ago, though.

Quoted

Why? The Microbus is not a vehicle of terror.

I thought it was a matter of "Microbus, ack!" = dislike rather than "Microbus, ack!" = competitor. My mistake.

Yeah. Competitor.

The VW looks more modern than the TUB and the offspring TUC, but the French vehicles have a few things still going for them...

It's only 'cos the Jerries need a bigger vehicle for their surfboards and deck-chairs at the weekends...

Not only that. They want to take the whole family along and each has his/her own surfboard and/or deck-chair.

Nachrichten für Außenhandel, Monday, 21 April 1941

Shipping News –

Arrived Hamburg Saturday, HAPAG freighter Kulmerland, inbound from Singapore, Calcutta and Port Said – 4,260 bales of jute, 7,000 bags of rice, 4,190 bags of soybeans, 1,060 slabs of tin and 2,150 packages of tobacco and other cargo.

Departed Hamburg Saturday, Neptun Line freighter Mars, outbound for Pernambuco, Recife and Rio de Janeiro – 165 bundles of steel wire, 184 bundles of steel pipe, 93 bales of automobile tyres, 150 motor trucks, 5 tractors, 880 cases of spirits, 731 bundles of steel skelp, 21 aircraft engines, 26 crates of aircraft parts, 56 cases of wireless equipment and other cargo.

Arrived Bremerhaven Sunday, Offen Line freighter Hein Hoyer, inbound from the River Plate – 24,260 centner of wheat, 4,400 bags of milled flour, 2,500 cases of canned meat, 530 drums of cottonseed oil, 830 bales of leather and other cargo


Münchener Post, Tuesday, 22 April 1941

The Strategische Material Reserve-Verwaltung has announced the acquisition of property near Mühldorf am Inn for the construction of a new storage depot for strategic materials.


Transradio Press Service, Berlin, Wednesday, 23 April 1941

The German Foreign Ministry has announced a limited resumption of trade with Mexico; while German firms remain barred from trading oil or in aircraft and defence materials, other commercial transactions may be undertaken.


Die Rheinpfalz, Thursday, 24 April 1941

The Defence Ministry announced that it has placed orders with the firm of Friedrich Krupp, Essen, for the supply of four hundred examples its new “Fuchs” infantry fighting vehicle. The contract calls for the first vehicles to be delivered in November of this year.

Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Saturday, 26 April 1941

The First Scouting Group – comprising the light cruiser Leipzig and the heavy destroyers Georg Thiele, Leberecht Maas, Max Schultz, Paul Jacobi, Richard Beitzen, Theodor Riedel, Bruno Heinemann, Hermann Schoemann and Wolfgang Zenker – departed Wilhelmshaven yesterday on extended exercises.


Militär-Wochenblatt, Monday, 28 April 1941

The Army Armaments Office has completed its evaluation of designs submitted by industry in response to its call for new tank designs. The proposal submitted by the firm of Daimler Benz has been selected for continued development as the Standardpanzer “Panther”. The new vehicle is expected to have a battle weight of forty-four tonnes, will be powered by a diesel engine developing 800 horsepower, and will be armed with an 8.8 centimeter main gun. Delivery of a prototype vehicle for testing is expected sometime early in 1942.




Hamburger Abendblatt, Wednesday, 30 April 1941

The first of the Kriegsmarine new destroyers, the Paderborn and the Gottingen, were completed today in the city’s naval shipyards. They will now undergo builders’ trials and then will work up for an extended period before entering regular service with the fleet. Thus far ten vessels of this class, of which a total of sixteen is projected, have been laid down in shipyards around the nation.

Nice-looking tank. Seems like Germany and France are thinking along similar lines for the next generation.