IWM German Document Centre collection

[Richard T Eger]

The following is taken from within a thread on 12 O'Clock High!:

Steve Coates
Thanks for your input
Mon Aug 27 20:08:40 2001


All,

Thanks for your contribution to this thread. Lucien, I shall seek out a copy of this article, many thanks. Yves, unfortunately, your posting did not address my query in any way shape or form. I think it would be more helpful if you did not construe every sentence containing the word 'French' as automatically derogatory. It's a lot easier to live life working from the reverse premise. I certainly did not read Rabe's comments the way you did and am well aware that he's capable of being brutally concise should he choose to be. If you have anything to add which solely deals with the document trail, I should be interested to read it.

Rabe (but thanks also to Larry and Artie Bob), I am largely in agreement with your comments. The only other guy I am aware of who has a knowldge approaching Larry's as regards the document trail is Richard Bateson but I don't know if Richard is a visitor to this board. Richard, if you're out there, I'd welcome your input.

My own view for what it's worth is that French troops did unearth some important caches, notably Messerschmitt but also from my own perspective, Focke Achgelis. The bulk of this material (but not all) found its way back to London where some of it still resides in the Imperial War Museum's GDC (German Document Centre) collection. Certainly, some items were retained by the French, such as Focke Achgelis blueprints. These presumably went to SNCASE but where they might now be is anyone's guess. Some bits and pieces found their way to the MdA, i.e. any number of drawings of unknown Dornier projects.

Equally, during 1945 French Intelligence was undoubtedly heavily involved in interrogating a number of individuals, yet I have only seen snippets from these papers. So it is my belief there must be a good few interesting files at the SHAA.

I would also be interested to learn how the French went about disarmament in their Zone of Occupation as I have never seen this covered. I am quite sure this would have been approached in a meticulous and thorough fashion, so some record of this activity must remain.

All further useful contributions to this thread are most welcome.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Artie Bob
Paris
Tue Aug 28 00:25:39 2001


As I mentioned, apparently before captured material left the continent, it was collected in Paris, where it was accessed by a number of organizations, including the war crimes tribunal. I have sen the lists and dispositions to various organizations other than A.I.2(g). The particular documents I saw had been collected by ADI(K) and microfilmed at Paris IIRC, some but not all was destined for London(and I of course am referring to Luftwaffe related material, in these cases mostly from manufafacturing sources, but I believe I remember afew of Luftflotte origin. Do you have any pointers to the records of this facility? What I really would like to find is if a complete accession list exists. The few lists I have seen appear to be the "raw" input i.e. just description and quantity of materials coming through the door.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve Coates
Steven.Coates1@btinternet.com
Slightly off my original point, but ...
Tue Aug 28 20:04:24 2001


Artie Bob,

I'll answer your query as best I am able from what I understand. The manufacturing material (the Speer Collection and the Milch Documents) ended up at the IWM as part of the FD (Foreign Documents) Collection. This was quite heavily used by David Irving for 'The Rise and Fall of the Luftwaffe' but has now been largely restituted to the BA-MA and can be accessed via RL 3, although the IWM retained microfilmed copies and has an index of sorts to this material. Certain items remain at the IWM such as the 1943 and 1944 Henschel Year Books.

Other technical material, emanating from individual companies, can be found in the GDC (German Document Centre) collection. There are a number of good index books to this material.

Equally, a number of weaponry related documents, principally those amongst the hoard found at Unterluess are also retained by the IWM as part of the HEC (Halstead Exploitation Centre) collection. Again, the IWM has a useful index to this material. I have a representative list of files but this is far from complete.

The operational material went to the AHB (Air Historical Branch) but as far as I am aware has now all been restituted to the BA-MA. AHB translated portions of this material and these translations can now be accessed at the PRO under AIR 20 / 7700 upwards. This material appears to be an exact duplicate of the material available at the AWM.

Equally, AHB microfilmed a number of 8th Abteilung documents and these are available at the IWM in various grubby boxes. There's some interesting material here. I have a catalogue of these if you're interested. Please feel free to contact me off board.

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 24 September 2001).]