WesWorld

October 4, 1934 - Berlin

The Heer has announced two new anti-tank contracts: 1 to Solothurn for production of their S18-150 anti-tank rifle in 15 * 96mm, to be called the Panzerbusche 34 in service, and another to Krupp for producton of the Schwere Panzerbusche 34 in 28mm * 187mm. The latter contract was a bit of a surprise, most observers had expected the contract for a Heer anti-tank gun to go to Rheinmetall with their 37mm gun. However, the Gerhlich-designed Krupp entry was both lighter and capable of penetrating more armor, so the choice was not that difficult.


October 6, 1934 - Dresden

Solothurn has delivered a small number of "final test" prototype rifles to the Infantry School for user evaluation, allowing the officers and men to get one last input before the production run begins on the Solothurn rifles.


October 9, 1934 - Berlin

The Luftwaffe has announced the victor of the two competitions it held this summer: the Fw-187 won the long-range fighter competition (to no one's surprise after watching the planes fly), and the Ju-87 (somewhat of a surprise, given it's limitations). Negotiations with Focke-Wulf and Junkers are expected to begin immediately.


October 15, 1934 - Schweinfurt

The first production Bf-109B, equipped with the DB-601Aa engine, has been rolled out of the BFW factory today. The new fuel-injected engine is the only real change from the Bf-109As, but the Luftwaffe is expected to convert the later examples of it's order and all future orders to the new aircraft.

Solothurn anti-tank rifle in action.

Yep. The S18-150 would be slightly smaller and lighter than that, because it fires a slightly smaller and shorter cartridge, but it's not a small weapon.

Here's http://data3.primeportal.net/armory/yuri…le_01_of_22.jpg another picture of the historical S18-100, next to a MG42 for scale. The WW 15mm S18-150 would be very similar to the S18-100 in size, the action could be shortened approximately 10mm, but that's about the only real change.

October 19, 1934 - Schweinfurt

BFW has announced that they and Fiesler have reached a license production agreement, allowing Fiesler to produce Bf-109s for the Luftwaffe, This will relieve one of the bottlenecks on production of the new fighter, the only remaining impediment being the supply of DB-601s from Daimler-Benz. However, that roadblock seems well on it's way tro being fixed as well, with production projection ramping up smoothly over the next year.

October 30, 1934 - Dessau

First flight of Junker's new aircraft diesel, the Jumo 208, in the nose position of a Ju-52. The 208, in contrast to the preceding Jumo 204/205 engines, is an aircooled 9 cylinder radial engine, instead of a watercooled inline with 6 cylinders and opposed pistons.

I can't think of many diesel radials apart from a Bristol Jupiter conversion or some Russian behemoths. I'm not sure what advantages there are to the radial layout.

Actually, there were a number of different radial diesel designs that were built, just not many in quantity. See here http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Duxford/Aviat.htm for a number of aircraft diesels, and the Wikipedia article on radial engines mentions a US company (Nordberg) that produced lots of radial diesels for use in aluminum plants and power plants. Additionally, there's the BMW-Lanova 114 V-4, which was a liquid-cooled radial.

The advantage, in this case, over the Jumo 205s is perceived to be that the complexity and efficiency losses of the gearing to connect the second driveshaft to the first can be avoided. Also, the plan is to add a second bank of cylinders and it is expected to be easier and more efficient to do that than to extend the cylinder bank on a 205 (the historical Jumo 218, dropped very early in development).

The new Jumo 208 is, as previously mentioned, a 9 cylinder radial. The cylinders have a displacement of 27 liters, the engine weighs (with it's turbocharger) 918 kg/2020 pounds, and as tested produces 925 KW/1240 hp (though this is expected to grow as development continues). The specific fuel consumption is 218 grams per kilowatt hour. The Junkers company sees the engine as ideal in roles similar to those where the 205 has proved itself: roles where range and fuel economy matter more than horsepower to weight or ability to change power output (ie, commercial aircraft, especially longer-ranged flights, flying boats, and possibly military patrol aircraft). It might see service on Fw-200s or Ju-90s, for instance, or on Luftwaffe Do-24s.

I would have thought that the solution would be to alter the design of the Ju205. Crankshaft into the middle and run the pistons in a true opposed layout. It would give a nice short engine with plenty of room for the turbocharger aft. When more power is needed, add another block of cylinders and gear the crankshafts through a reduction gear in between to the output shaft.

Coupled engines have, historically, been problematic, and generally not used when there was a choice.

November 3, 1934 - Berlin

Word has broken of the breakdown of the San Francisco treaty talks, and that the German delegation is in the process of returning home. The Foreign Minister will be taking the train across the US, then flying home on Graf Zeppelin, while Grand Admiral Raeder and the flotilla of KM ships that were in attendance in San Francisco will be transitting the Panama Canal and the English Channel on their way home.

November 14, 1934 - Fredricshafen

After a long trip to the US, Foreign Minister Stressemann has returned to the Reich. The negotiations for a new naval arms treaty were unsuccessful, with no new Treaty being agreed on to replace the Cleito Treaty that was due to expire even without a number of signatories having left or announced that they will be leaving the Treaty regime. Back on German soil, the Foreign Minister said, "Well, the negotiations in San Francisco did not go as we could have hoped, it's certainly true."


November 16, 1934 - Berlin

Foreign Minister Stressemann and his Polish counterpart Foreign Minister Mital have been involved in discussions throughout the day. The details of their conversations are not known, but with the Reich and Poland having agreed on the Danzig Corridor previously, it won't be that.

November 10, 1934 - Berlin

The news of the failure of the San Francisco talks has put more urgency into the annual debates on the budget for the armed forces. Dr. Jarres DNVP is, as usual, in favor of increased funding for all branches, but not all of the junior partners in the coalition agree. The KM is very likely to receive an increase in manpower and funding, as is the Luftwaffe, but the Heer may not see any more men added to it. However, it will continue to receive new equipment.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson

Dr. Jarres DNVP is, as usual, in favor of increased funding for all branches, but not all of the junior partners in the coalition agree.

Isn't waiting and see what Germany's neighbours do a more prudent course of action? More monies might not have to be spent.

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson

Dr. Jarres DNVP is, as usual, in favor of increased funding for all branches, but not all of the junior partners in the coalition agree.

Isn't waiting and see what Germany's neighbours do a more prudent course of action? More monies might not have to be spent.

In the case of the Heer, all Germany has to do is look East and it's outmanned by the Czechs alone. In the case of the Luftwaffe, the same is true. In the case of the KM, the ships under construction are solid enough, but without allies none of the alliances that surround Germany will pay much more attention to her neutrality in any future spats than was paid to the Dutch neutrality in the Great War (and Germany is not real keen on joining any of the alliances that currently surround it).

November 19, 1934 - Berlin

Rumor has it htat the subject of discussion between Foreign Minister Stressemann and Polish Foreign Minister Mital is a non-aggression pact. This would make some degree of sense as the Danzig Corridor question was recently settled.

November 26th, 1934 - Berlin

The contents of the proposed German Polish Non-Aggression Treaty were released today to the greatly interested Reichstag. The revanchist Right was, predictably, dismayed, but with preparations already beginning on the Danzig Line their strength is weak and there's little belief that they will be able to mount more than token protests.


November 29th, 1934- Berlin

The Foreign Ministry has announced the impending visit of King Carl Phillip of Nordmark to Germany during the first half of December.

November 22, 1934 - Berlin

The news of the King of Italy's abdication sent shockwaves through the halls of the Reichstag, and at Heer headquarters. General von Runstedt was chairing a meeting of the General Staff. "Warn 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Corps, 1st Mountain, and Guderian that they may receive march orders in the near future. Army structure would be 3rd Army, composed of 1st and 2nd Infantry Corps, 1st Mountain Corps. and reinforced by 1st Panzer Division, and 4th Army, composed of 3rd Infantry Corps and 2nd Mountain Corps. Both armies to be reinforced with independent artillery and cavalry units, we need to get that done. We do not have march orders yet, these are strictly precautionary moves, no units are to leave their bases until further orders. Understood?"

November 24, 1934 - Berlin

The German government released a statement on the Italian situation. "The German government wishes the best for the Italian people in their current situation, and hopes that the current situation results in good government and peace on the Italian peninsula as soon as possible."