WesWorld

Kieler Nachrichten, Sunday, 1 January 1950

The keels were laid today in the naval dockyard here for the Kriegmarine’s latest warships – the fleet escort cruisers Von der Tann and Friedrich Carl. They represent a new generation of fast, extremely capable surface escorts for the fleet’s aircraft carrier striking forces. They are due to be launched in late summer.


Münchener Post, Monday, 2 January 1950

Entrepreneurs Marianne and Franz Götz, of Rodental, have established a factory for the manufacture of children’s dolls - Götz Puppenmanufaktur. It presently employs twenty-five craftsmen but the owners expect further expansion during the course of the next year.


Berlin, The Wilhelmstraße, Tuesday, 3 January 1950

Foreign minister Dehler was finishing up some minor matters before departing for the first cabinet meeting of the year. Among them was the report concerning a conference of West African leaders in Lagos scheduled to begin in a week’s time. Apparently it was not being sponsored by London – a most unusual development. It might offer the opportunities for establishing contact with some of the more independence-minded leaders in the British colonies in West Africa – contacts that might be useful in the years ahead. He jotted a note for his staff to draft orders for the consul general in Lagos - Georg Hornstein – to attend and report.

Berlin, The British Embassy, Wednesday, 4 January 1950

The door to Alfred Burcough’s office open unexpectedly to admit Bill Tanner – ostensibly the Passport Control officer but in reality the SIS station chief.

“They’re at it again!” Tanner exclaimed, tossing a sheaf of papers onto Burcough’s desk.

“Who?”

“The bloody Germans, who else? Just look at those reports from my stringers.”

Burcough took up the reports and began to scan them. Bits and pieces of information on the latest round of naval construction. Two new fleet escort cruisers had been laid down in Kiel, and two supposed ‘ice patrol ships’ in Cuxhaven.

“Eight more frigates?” Burcough was incredulous. They’ve just launched eight of them, with the first flight still working up in the Baltic. This will make two dozen of them.” Looked at the other reports. “More amphibious ships at Memel, Vienna, and Wilhelmshaven.”

“Perhaps someone needs to make Their Lordships at Admiralty wake up.”

Burcough shook his head. “You think I haven’t tried to do so?


Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Thursday, 5 January 1950

The Focke-Wulf Fw190D interceptor was retired from Luftwaffe service today with the completion of conversion of the Jagdgeschwader 27 and Jagdgeschwader 28 to the Bf329 jet fighter, significantly increasing the air defences of southern Germany.


Militär-Wochenblatt, Friday, 6 January 1950

The newly completed Flughafen Gütersloh received its first tenant unit today with the arrival of an advanced detachment of Kampfgeschwader 77, which will operate its Junkers Ju322 bombers from the air base as part of the Strategischer Luftkommando.

Cruiser Novara, The Red Sea, Saturday, 7 January 1950

There was not a man of the East Asia Squadron that regretted their departure from Massawa – even Djibouti, their next port of call, was more inviting. They had made their point in reminding the Negus Haile Selassie that there were other nations that could be considered friends other than the overweening Italians. They would, however, remain in the region a bit longer – those were the orders from the Admiralstab in Berlin.


Berliner Börsen-Courier, Sunday, 8 January 1950

It is reported that Commerzbank AG has made an offer to acquire shares of the Danish Copenhagen Handelsbank A/S at a price of fifty Reichsmarks per share, approximately 10% above Friday’s close on the Copenhagen bourse.


Elbinger Volksstimme, Monday, 9 January 1950

The crane ship Erzegebirge has completed its operational workup with the Lehrdivision and will depart for the North Sea Marine Station later this week.

Tanner doesn't need to worry, the Admiralty is awake.
Actually I don't think the building plans between the two navies are all that different at the moment, with perhaps less emphasis on amphibious warfare for the RN at the moment.

Berlin, The Wilhelmstraße, Tuesday, 10 January 1950

Thomas Dehler read the minute from his ministerial colleague von Hapsburg with a modicum of disdain. The prince was inquiring whether there was any word from Hornstein regarding the Lagos conference. He looked at the clock on his desk and calculated the time differential. The conference would have only gotten underway that morning, and it was unlikely that there would be any result to be reported before evening. He jotted a reminder to wire the consul in Lagos the following morning to inquire.


London, The German Embassy, Wednesday, 11 January 1950

Schelllenburg chuckled aloud when he read the newspaper headlines announcing the forthcoming British elections. Berlin would certainly be interested in the outcome, and he considered which of his sources was likeliest to have accurate predictions of the outcome. Personally he anticipated that the Conservatives would win back a majority in Parliament – though he doubted that the loudest voice among them – Mister Churchill – might be asked to form a government. Time would tell.


Zossen, Thursday, 12 January 1950

Zossen was not far from Berlin, easily accessible, yet far enough to be beyond the day-to-day bustle of the Oberkommando des Heeres. This suited Alexander Mach, who, when developing a plan, preferred to live the life of a hermit. The snowfall outside merely reinforced his isolation.

The office was filled with stacks of reports, the walls covered with maps of the British Isles. He picked up a precis that summarized the latest round of naval shipbuilding. He did sums on a scrap of paper and cursed under his breath, “It is not enough”.

In the morning he would call the office of Kapitän Bramesfeld, the Kriegsmarine’s Director of Plans, to ascertain if and when an audience might be obtained from von Friedeburg, the Director of Naval Construction, to discuss the need for even more amphibious shipping.

Berlin, The Wilhelmstraße, Friday, 13 January 1950

Dehler read the cables from Lagos; Hornstein had kept up a running commentary on developments regarding the Lagos conference. The keynote speaker, Julius Limbani, had never arrived; there were rumours that his airplane had disappeared; another prominent guest, Baron Owija of the Congo, had been the subject of an assassination attempt. The conference was in an uproar. Bulletins from the Dutch Government were contradictory. Von Bismarck in London, Von Thurn and Taxis, and Von Zech-Burkersroda in The Hague all had cast doubt on the legitimacy of the conference itself.

Dehler picked up the telephone. “Please get me General Gehlen, immediately.” This matter seemed to be leaving the realm of diplomacy for that of political warfare.


Berlin, The Admiralstab, Saturday, 14 January 1950

Seated in his office Heinrich Gerlach reviewed the latest estimates of British naval construction produced by the Abwehr and his own department of naval intelligence. Try as he might he could not divine any particular intentions from them. A number of new aircraft carriers were on the ways, but their appearance on the water were years away. Much the same might be said of the six heavy cruisers then under construction. He noted the number of light escort craft of the Bay and Loch classes the featured prominently in the reports. With nearly ninety antisubmarine vessels in service were the British so concerned with Germany’s U-boat force? Or were they fearful of the French and Russians? Did they expect a combined Grand Alliance submarine offensive? He could not be certain.


Berlin, The Admiralstab, Sunday, 15 January 1950

Kapitän Bramesfeld had met the day before with Mach to consider the amphibious shipping needs for Seelöwe. The planner had made forceful representations for increases in the number of smaller landing craft to be constructed in the coming months, though Bramesfeld had made no promises. Seelöwe was only one of the contingency plans the Kriegsmarine had to support, and while Admiral Becker was a powerful patron he was not all-powerful. An assessment would be made of what was possible with the available resources, and the decision would be left to the Chief of Naval Operations.

Djibouti, Monday, 16 January 1950

Rogge was about to order the East Asia Squadron weigh anchor when the warning message arrived from Berlin. The African political scene had been roiled again, and it was unclear how the pieces might land. Limbani had been kidnapped while flying to a conference in Lagos; another attendee was the victim of an assassination attempt; closer to hand unrest in Yemen seemed to be spilling over to the Sudan and Danish Somaliland. The Italians were making unfriendly noises about the rapprochement between Germany and the East African State. They were now ordered to remain in the waters of the Red Sea until the situation clarified. From Rogge’s perspective, their very presence might exacerbate the situation; but he had his orders. He called for his gig, to visit his French counterpart and consult regarding the extension of their ‘visit’.


Der Tagesspiegel, Tuesday, 17 January 1950

Telefunken unveiled the prototype of its TR-1 personal wireless receiver. Designed around a transistron the TR-1 can be carried in the palm of the hand and taken anywhere. Spokesmen for the company indicated that it should be available for purchase by this November – just in time for Christmas.


Flughafen Frankfurt am Main, Wednesday, 18 January 1950

Felix Wankel stepped through the door of the Junkers 390 transport into a frozen world – for someone who had spent the last year in the jungles of Peru the realities of a German winter struck with bone-chilling speed. He hastened down the stairs and followed the guidance of the Lufthansa staff to make his way to the customs shed. What was important was that he was home.

Berlin, The Cabinet Meeting Room, Thursday, 19 January 1950

The special session of the Cabinet had been called to discuss the situation in the Dutch colony of Congo, and, by extension, in Oubangui. General Gehlen had provided a summary of what little information was available; the implications were worrying.

Chancellor Adenauer nodded. “Thank you Herr General. Please redouble your efforts to get to the bottom of this issue.” Gehlen realized he had been dismissed and rose to excuse himself.

“Our consular offices in Congo are cut off from communication; insofar as we know they have not been in any way threatened.” Dehler, the Foreign Minister, was not in a position to report any additional news. Rumours circulating elsewhere are running wild.

“Any response from the Dutch Government to our offer of assistance?” Adenauer had made that move as soon as the first news of the coup broke.

Dehler shook he head. “Not yet; I suspect that they are still trying to make up their minds what to do. They are between a rock and a hard place – if they move to crush the coup the European population of Congo become hostages.”

“Worse,” added Blank, “they only managed to hang onto Oubangui with the help of the Congo Army – and this coup implies that the move to oust the Dutch from both colonies has been coordinated. On their own the Dutch haven’t the means to move against the rebels.”

One of the speculations lurking in the background was possible intentions of Pretoria. “Do you believe the Dutch might call in the South Africans?”

“They might Herr Chancellor, but it is unclear whether the South Africans will respond. We’ve heard nothing from von Weizsäcker to suggest any interest in the matter.”

“What might we do while we await for the situation to clarify?”

Von Hapsburg was the first to reply. “Freeze any Congolese assets within our reach to prevent them being used to fuel the rebellion. Sanction any individual identified with this coup.”

Adenauer nodded – he saw the look on Blank’s face. “Yes, put the Intervention Division on alert – and the Strategischer Luftkommando – should the Dutch ask for help they will do so at the last minute, so we must be ready.”

Dehler admitted “I have already asked our ambassadors in Paris, London, and St. Petersburg to sound out the views of the governments there. I would oppose any unilateral action on our part.


Training Frigate Roon, Wilhelmshaven, Friday, 20 January 1950

The ship had been floated out of the dock that had seen her overhaul and she was now taking on stores for her next cruise. Rumour had it that she would be sailing to the Far East, though here cadets would not be coming on board for days. The winter weather gear that was arriving at the quayside did not suggest a voyage in tropical waters.


Nachrichten für Außenhandel, Saturday, 21 January 1950

The food company August Oetker, maker of the Oetker Ready Meal, has reached a license agreement with the Carl A. Swanson & Sons company of Omaha, to market the Ready Meal in the United States. It is believed that Swanson “TV Dinners” may be on store shelves across America by summer’s end.

Berlin, The Cabinet Meeting Room, Sunday, 22 January 1950

The crisis in Kongo continued to occupy the minds of the German ministers as they sought a basis on which to build a policy. The Chancellor had just asked Dehler, the Foreign Minister, for his current assessment of the situation.

“The Dutch had finally replied to our offer of assistance – which they politely declined. Paris has made air airlift assets and overflight rights available to the Dutch military but there is, at present, no indication what – if any – actions they will take. News from Kongo itself is still spotty at best – we still have no communications with our consulates there, but there appear to be no overt moves against the European population.”

“So, what then should our policy be?” He turned to von Hapsburg. “At our last meeting you suggested potential sanctions. Have you specifics at this time?”

The Minister of Economics reported that Kongolese assets within German reach had been identified but not yet frozen. “In view to the lack of Dutch response and their rejection of our assistance, moves against the new regime in Kongo might be premature.”

Adenauer nodded. “What was the name of that politician?”

Von Hapsburg responded, “Tshombe … Moïse Tshombe”.


London, The German Embassy, Monday, 23 January 1950

Schellenburg finished reading the last of the morning paper and set them aside; his assistants would so go through them to file their contents and add to the embassy’s archives. To Schellenburg’s mind, there was little evidence to settle the matter of who might win the parliamentary elections scheduled for the following month. Most of the country seemed happy enough with the Labour Government’s “Welfare State” but his own sources suggested that perhaps Labour’s very heavy-handedness might work against them. Perhaps the outcome might be a re-run of the last general election, with the margin of support for one party might be quite slim.


Djibouti, Tuesday, 24 January 1950

The ships of the East Asia Squadron had swung their anchors in Djibouti Harbour for days, waiting for further orders. Rogge received the signal from the Admiralstab in Berlin with relief. “Recall all liberty parties and prepare the squadron for departure. Ready my gig – I must take my leave of the captain of the port.”

Berlin, The Wilhelmstraße, Wednesday, 25 January 1950

Dehler recalled the Chancellor’s witticism from the previous day’s cabinet meeting as he read the cable from St. Petersburg. “If we have the ‘dominance’ over the Russian Government that Mister Churchill credits us with, perhaps someone can explain why our investment proposals are continually rebuffed?”

Graf von der Schulenburg had cabled that morning his assessment of Russian reactions to Churchill’s baseless harangue.

“Officially the Russian Government is keeping silent and ignoring the matter. Privately, most officials here are insulted by the insinuation that their Government kowtows to anyone, and some have suggested to me that Churchill is slowly losing his mental faculties. The popular press here has denounced his remarks, pointing out the many provocations made by China, and that the majority of Russian defence preparations are being made in the Far East. Should Churchill be asked to form a new government in the wake of the forthcoming elections, it seems quite possible that relations between Russia and Britain may cool.”

The weeks to come would reveal the answer to that question.


Berliner Morgenpost, Thursday, 26 January 1950

Junkers Luftverkehr AG, the aircraft operating subsidiary of the Junkers Flugzeugwerk und Motorenbau AG has reached an agreement with the recently formed Transportes Aéreos de El Salvador to provide three Junkers Ju352C airliners to the latter under wet-lease terms. The aircraft will be employed on regional services operating from San Salvador and San Miguel. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in March of this year.


Light Cruiser Novara, the Arabian Sea, Friday, 27 January 1950

The island of Socotra lay off to starboard as the ships of the East Asia Squadron left the waters of the Red Sea behind them. For seemed to have been a lifetime to their crews the ships had been a visible reminder to the nations of the region that the Kriegmarine was able to reach them if required. Rogge had feared that his ships might somehow be sucked into the deepening crisis in central Africa, but they were under orders to return to the Far East. For this he was thankful.

Babenberger-Kaserne, Wöllersdorf, Saturday, 28 January 1950

Generalleutnant Rudolf Freiherr von Gersdorff received the order to stand down the Eingreifdivision from alert status with a deep sense of relief. He had little enthusiasm for committing his troops to pull Dutch irons out of the fire, though he had no doubt that they could deal handily with the indigenous troops that staged the anti-government coup. He picked up the telephone and put a call through to his assistant division commander. “Skorzeny! Good news – it seems unlikely that we will be going to Africa after all. Berlin has called off the alert.”

Generalmajor Otto Skorzeny took the news calmly. He had begun to draft a contingency plan that would now be unnecessary – though he would file away his notes – one never knew when things might change again. “Excellent news sir. I will notify the rest of the staff. Will you want to reschedule the kriegsspiel for the latest variation of Alpenveilchen?”

“Yes. Have all participants report Monday morning. Let’s see if more helicopters will increase our probability of success.”


Frankfurter Zeitung. Sunday, 29 January 1950

There are reports from Rome that the Guardia di Finanza has made a series of arrests in connection with the matter of counterfeit currency that has plagued the Italian economy for many months. No details have been released at this time.

Training Frigate Roon, Wilhelmshaven, Monday, 30 January 1950

Provisioned and equipped for her voyage, the cadet contingent settled aboard, the Roon made her way slowly to sea. Mohr set their course to the west-southwest, headed toward the mouth of the Channel. He anticipated that the Roon would soon pick up an ‘escort’ from with the Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht or the Royal Air Force; for the moment a pair of Marineflieger Dorniers kept watch. Not that any problems were anticipated, but one never knew.


Berlin, The Cabinet Meeting Room, Tuesday, 31 January 1950

The meeting had opened with the review of the situation in the Kongo, as had the last several meetings. It was still confused and the Dutch Government still unsure of what to do. Contact with the consular authorities was spotty at best, but for the moment, they were relatively safe. Having disposed of Kongo, the cabinet reviewed the probabilities of the outcome of the British parliamentary elections. The betting was on a narrow victory for the Conservatives, though von Hapsburg voiced the opinion that Churchill’s intemperate outburst might nudge enough of the electorate to save Major Atlee’s government. Dehler reported that there were certain rumblings in East Africa that could fall in Germany’s favour, but for the moment, at least, the French and Danes had stabilised the situation in Somaliland.

“The Greeks are making unofficial overtures in Vlore. They seem to be having success.” Dehler’s tone suggested a certain scepticism.

Adenauer’s comment was quite blunt. “I wish them success, but what the Italian puts his hand on he never lets go of.”

Berlin, The Admiralstab, Wednesday, 1 February 1950

Bramesfeld did his best to defend his recommendations in the face of Vize-admiral Becker’s questioning; the latter was pressing for an unprecedented increase in the Kriegsmarine’s amphibious shipping.

“We need more landing craft if Seelöwe is to have any chance of success!”

“Herr Admiral, Seelöwe is only a contingency plan – our building programme cannot be unbalanced in favour of one threat without limiting our options. Any revisions for the second quarter are conditioned by the existing construction programme. We are committed to completing Oldenburg and Mecklenburg, Heidelberg, and Braunschweig, as well as the second flight of Ronneburgs. We haven’t the resources to add what you ask for.”

Becker nodded. “Your memo indicated that additional Marinefahrprahm could be included in the second quarter.”

“Yes, we can construct four at Kiel in the spring. In the third quarter…”

Becker’s ears perked up as Bramesfeld continued.

“we expect to construct an additional thirty-two Marinefahrprahm besides smaller craft.”

“And this will not impact the other parts of our amphibious forces?”

“No Herr Admiral – construction work on Spaun and Yorck will be deferred.”


Der Tagesspiegel, Thursday, 2 February 1950

Erprobungskommando 417 has been established at Flugplatz Cottbus-Nord, receiving its first Dornier Do417 bombers for training.


Aero Kurier, Friday, 3 February 1950

Four Henschel Hs132 multi-purpose aircraft are to be supplied to the Royal Thai Border Police; deliveries are expected to commence this summer.

Kurier Warszawski, Saturday, 4 February 1950

Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych of Lublin has entered into a joint venture agreement with the German lorry manufacturer Steyr-Daimler-Puch to manufacture and market a light commercial van to be known as the “Żuk”. The present FSC factory at Lublin is to be expanded and re-equipped and within a year it is expected that new vehicles will be produced at a rate of fifteen units per day.


Elbinger Volksstimme, Sunday, 5 February 1950

The infantry landing ships Schweinesand and Lühesand have completed their operational training and have been released from the Lehrdivision. They are expected to depart for Marinestation Nordzee next week.


Light Cruiser Novara, Phuket Harbour, Thailand, Monday, 6 February 1950

The East Asia Squadron had reached their destination as the sun was setting behind them; the lights ashore burned brightly. Rogge would pay an informal visit to the captain of the port, leaving formal calls on the authorities for the morning. Here his ships would resupply and reprovision, and make assessments of their potential need for spares and repairs to be forwarded to the Gustav Nachtigal in Cam Rahn Bay. His ships needed docking to have the extensive growth of vegetation scraped from their hulls.

Kronen Zeitung, Tuesday, 7 February 1950

The infantry landing ships Hahnöfersand and Hanskalbsand were completed today by the Österreichische Schiffswerften AG. Following their builders’ trials the vessels will traverse the Rhein-Main-Danube Canal to the Baltic, where they will undergo operational training. The yard is presently constructing a further pair of such ships, due to be launched next month, and holds contracts for an additional four units.


Kieler Nachrichten, Wednesday, 8 February 1950

The assault landing ships Pagenwerder and Ziegelwerder have completed their operational training. They are scheduled to depart for the Marinestation Nordzee by the end of the week.


Light Cruiser Novara, The Strait of Malacca, Thursday, 9 February 1950

Following their brief stay in Thailand Rogge led the ships on a southerly course into the crowded waters of the Strait of Malacca. Lookouts had been doubled on all the ships of the squadron and at night their navigation lights proclaimed their presence to all and sundry. Rogge was more concerned with the possibility of a collision with a merchantman or a local sailing craft than avoiding the prying eyes of the Royal Air Force.

Elbinger Volksstimme. Friday, 10 February 1950

The assault landing ships Buhnenwerder and Tanzwerder were completed today that the Schichau works here. They will now undergo builders’ trials before embarking on their operational training with the Kriegsmarine’s Lehrdivision.


Kieler Nachrichten, Saturday, 11 February 1950

The coastal escorts Auster and Chamsin, having completed their operational training, departed today for the Marinestation Nordzee.


Training Frigate Roon, St. Johann’s Harbour, Vinland, Sunday, 12 February 1950

Mohr was happy that the first leg of the Roon’s voyage was over; the winter weather of the North Atlantic was harsh. Their Nordish hosts has made all possible arrangements for them but the opportunities for liberty for the crew were limited. Tours were laid on for the cadets to at least acquaint them with aspects of Nordish culture.

Dithmarscher Landeszeitung, Monday, 13 February 1950

The coastal escort Kaskasi was completed at the Wilhelmshaven dockyard today. Following her initial trials she will transfer to the Baltic for operational training for some three months.


Berlin, The Cabinet Meeting Room, Tuesday, 14 February 1950

Foreign Minister Dehler read the latest report from von Zech-Burkersroda, the ambassador in The Hague; alas his speculations covered up the most salient facts – a circumstance that displeased the Chancellor.

“So essentially the Dutch are going to do nothing in Kongo, and they hope the South Africans will pull their chestnuts out of the fire?”

Dehler shrugged. “So it would appear.”

Blank, the Defence Minister, picked up a sheaf of notes forwarded from the Abwehr. “The Dutch have begun to airlift reinforcements to their troops in Oubangui. They still hold the airfields at Bangui and Tikapoo Valley, while there are reports of fighting near provincial town of Bambari. It seems that the Dutch are concentrating their efforts on holding Oubangui.”

“What do our consulates report?”

Dehler took up another portfolio of papers. “Kongo appears to be relatively calm, for the moment. No overt threats have been made against the European population – indeed, a few of the Dutchmen in the Kongo support the independents. Our people there have not been threatened and communications are improving. Feelers have been received from the interim authorities, but the situation is much too fluid for us to take action at this time.”

Adenauer nodded. “I agree. But let us redouble our efforts to establish better contacts with the ‘interim authorities’. Allowing Kongo to fall into the orbit of the South Africans must be prevented at all costs.”


Nachrichten für Außenhandel, Wednesday, 15 February 1950

A consortium comprising Krupps, Mannesmann, and the Vereinigte Stahlwerke has reached an agreement with Iberian authorities to invest up to RM 100,000,000 to upgrade port facilities at Pepel in Sierra Leone and expand railway links to the iron ore mines at Marampa and Tonkolili.

Berlin, The Admiralstab, Thursday, 16 February 1950

Gerlach read the Abwehr’s latest intelligence report and chuckled. Schellenburg, their residenz in London, did have the uncanny ability to pick up interesting titbits of gossip but one had to wonder at their validity. A report of a statement attributed to Syfret, commander of Britain’s Home Fleet, sounded more like a bon mot uttered in the bar of a the Naval and Military Club

“the best defence would be to get China to invade Russia and let them siphon off German seapower to the Pacific”

If correct, Gerlach wondered how Schellenburg had managed to get the precis of the alleged conference where the remark had originated.


Berlin, The British Embassy, Friday, 17 February 1950

“Dogsbody” was one of Bill Tanner’s better agents, who reported on the goings-on at the Cuxhaven Dockyards. His latest report indicated that the Germans were doing something odd in the yard’s Number One Dry Dock. Usually reserved for the construction of the largest vessels, “Dogsbody” now reported that gangs of workmen were setting keel blocks as if a number of smaller vessels were to be constructed within its walls. And they kept rearranging them. He would pass the information on to Burcough in the hopes that the naval attaché could make sense of the activity.


Training Frigate Roon, Off St. Johann’s Harbour, Vinland, Saturday, 18 February 1950

Escorted by a Nordish harbour tug to make certain the Roon negotiated the channel, Mohr took his ship back to sea and shaped a south-easterly course. In two days, allowing for the weather, they should make the American port of Norfolk, where their real mission would begin.

Hamburger Abendblatt, Sunday, 19 February 1950

Conversion of the naval store carriers August von Thomsen and Eduard von Knorr was completed in the Deschimag yard here today. After trials, the ships will undergo training in the Baltic before joining the fleet.


Cam Rahn Bay, Indochina, Monday, 20 February 1950

The ships of the East Asia Squadron had arrived a week ago, concluding their lengthy deployment to Arabian waters. Ships and men needed maintenance, and while their French allies made available facilities to tackle some of the needs, the crew of the tender Gustav Nachtigal did what was necessary to deal with the other material needs of the ships. Respite for the crews was of greater concern for Rogge. For all but the specialists required to deal with the ships’ overhauls, liberty parties were arranged on a rota basis, assuring each man the opportunity of a week’s leave ashore. More importantly, for some of his longest service men, was the arrival of replacements and the transfer back to the Fatherland of the old hands. It would take time to bring the newly-assigned seamen up to the mark, but that was the price of keeping units deployed for months on end.


The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, USA), Tuesday, 21 February 1950

The German Navy’s training ship Roon arrived today from St. Johann, Vinland. The Roon is expected to conduct a series of exercises with elements of the Atlantic Fleet.

Light cruiser Bremen, the North Sea, north of Dogger Bank, Wednesday, 22 February 1950

Konteradmiral Gerhard Wagner had been surprised to receive orders from the Admiralstab to take his cruiser-destroyer group from its base at Helgoland and exercise in the North Sea; at short notice too. He was happy to get his crews to sea, even in winter weather, but he could not help but feel as if it was just showing the English a Lange Nase. He looked up and noticed the circling Sunderland of RAF Coastal Command, wondering what its pilot thought of the spurt of activity on the part of Einzatzgruppe 58.4.

To the south, near Cleaver Bank, Einzatzgruppe 58.5, with the escort carriers Pommern and Westfalen, was supposed to be operating, dispositions whose meaning was unclear. Mentally, Wagner shrugged and checked the Seetakt plot again, reassuring that his ships were keeping proper station.


Handelsblatt. Thursday, 23 February 1950

Heinrich Lanz AG has announced it has formed a partnership with Vehículos Industriales y Agrícolas, S.A of Madrid to manufacture its agricultural tractors at the latter’s new factory at Getafe. It is expected that by year’s end production will be nearing one hundred units per month, with further increases in the New Year.


Militär-Wochenblatt, Friday, 24 February 1950

Both Krupp and Krauss-Maffei have delivered prototypes of their design proposals for a new medium tank to succeed the Standardpanzer Panther. The Krupp design, shown at left, is armed with a 100mm gun of Russian derivation, while the Krauss-Maffei entry, shown at right, carries at 105mm gun developed by Rheinmetall. Both designs feature torsion bar suspensions. No other details have been released at this time. Trials will continue over the next several months.