Richard T Eger
04-20-2001, 05:54 PM
Rather unique, the von Rohden collection in scattered amongst 3 U.S. historical repositories. The following are descriptions taken from two of the depositories on-line data bases and from an on-line bibliography of a paper:
<U>Library of Congress</U>
"Europaische Beitrage zur Geschichte des Weltkrieges II, 1939-1945 : Luftkrieg (European contributions to the history of World War II, 1939-1945: air war) / Hans Detlef Herhudt von Rohden, editor. -- Fourteen volumes; see notes in LC card in MicRR card catalog, under "Europaische Beitrage..." -- n.p. : 1946- . -- 13 microfilm reels ; 55 microfilm reels.
LC Call Number: Microfilm 1750
Describes the Luftwaffe's participation in World War II. The collection is of unusual importance because most Luftwaffe documents were destroyed before Germany's defeat, and the original documents (commonly called the "von Rohden collection") were returned to West Germany in 1967. They have been difficult to access by American scholars since then. These films contain unique documents, especially after reel 13 of the document section.
Further information on the history of this collection and on other collections of German World War II documents at the Library of Congress may be found in the Microform Reading Room's vertical file under "Rohden," and in the Manuscript Division under the title, Guide to Captured German Documents.
NOTE: Volumes 1-3 and 5-14 in German and English; volume 4 in English only.
An additional 73 reels of documentation is available at the National Archives under the number T-971, as well as an unpublished index to their contents. These additional reels contain much that the Microform Reading Room collection does not have, although they also duplicate many documents in the collection here.
LCCN: mic55-3119
GUIDE: Not in LC. "Die Entwicklung des Projekts R" is on a separate reel.
1. Germany. Luftwaffe--History--Sources. 2. World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, German--Sources."
Another reference to the same collection:
"Library of Congress
Microform Reading Room
First and East Capitol Streets, S. E.
Washington, DC 20540
(202) 707- 5471
Herhudt Von Rohden, Hans Detlef, 1899-? . Microfilm 1750.
Microfilm; 1943-1945; 68 reels.
Director of the German historical section of the Luftwaffe (1943-1945). This collection, known as the Von Rohden Collection of German Aeronautical Documents, originated from 32 boxes of documents stored at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. It was prepared under the direction of Von Rohden, and describes the Luftwaffe's
participation in World War II from the German point of view. It includes draft essays which he coauthored expressing ramifications of strategic air power. There are official records and documents ranging from those of the Fuhrer and the Reichmarschall to the individual luftflotte. Between May 1945, when Von Rohden was detained as a prisoner of war, and 1947 he was afforded the opportunity to investigate German air history. There are 13 reels of narrative in German and English, and an additional 55 reels of documentation. An additional 73 reels of documentation are available at the National Archives under the number T-971 [some of which are duplications]. ... The importance of the films lies in the fact that the original documents were returned to Germany c1967 and access has become very difficult for American scholars. For many researchers the films offer the only access. These documents are, practically speaking, the only primary materials for the history of the air war, since the Germans burned about 95% of Luftwaffe documents when the approach of Allied troops made Germany's defeat certain."
<U>NARA</U>
Record Group "242.9.3 Microfilm copies of the von Rohden collection of research materials on the role of the German Air Force in World War II
Textual Records: Collection, 1911-47 (73 rolls), consisting of studies, reports, texts of speeches, issuances, and other records, 1911
<U>Library of Congress</U>
"Europaische Beitrage zur Geschichte des Weltkrieges II, 1939-1945 : Luftkrieg (European contributions to the history of World War II, 1939-1945: air war) / Hans Detlef Herhudt von Rohden, editor. -- Fourteen volumes; see notes in LC card in MicRR card catalog, under "Europaische Beitrage..." -- n.p. : 1946- . -- 13 microfilm reels ; 55 microfilm reels.
LC Call Number: Microfilm 1750
Describes the Luftwaffe's participation in World War II. The collection is of unusual importance because most Luftwaffe documents were destroyed before Germany's defeat, and the original documents (commonly called the "von Rohden collection") were returned to West Germany in 1967. They have been difficult to access by American scholars since then. These films contain unique documents, especially after reel 13 of the document section.
Further information on the history of this collection and on other collections of German World War II documents at the Library of Congress may be found in the Microform Reading Room's vertical file under "Rohden," and in the Manuscript Division under the title, Guide to Captured German Documents.
NOTE: Volumes 1-3 and 5-14 in German and English; volume 4 in English only.
An additional 73 reels of documentation is available at the National Archives under the number T-971, as well as an unpublished index to their contents. These additional reels contain much that the Microform Reading Room collection does not have, although they also duplicate many documents in the collection here.
LCCN: mic55-3119
GUIDE: Not in LC. "Die Entwicklung des Projekts R" is on a separate reel.
1. Germany. Luftwaffe--History--Sources. 2. World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, German--Sources."
Another reference to the same collection:
"Library of Congress
Microform Reading Room
First and East Capitol Streets, S. E.
Washington, DC 20540
(202) 707- 5471
Herhudt Von Rohden, Hans Detlef, 1899-? . Microfilm 1750.
Microfilm; 1943-1945; 68 reels.
Director of the German historical section of the Luftwaffe (1943-1945). This collection, known as the Von Rohden Collection of German Aeronautical Documents, originated from 32 boxes of documents stored at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. It was prepared under the direction of Von Rohden, and describes the Luftwaffe's
participation in World War II from the German point of view. It includes draft essays which he coauthored expressing ramifications of strategic air power. There are official records and documents ranging from those of the Fuhrer and the Reichmarschall to the individual luftflotte. Between May 1945, when Von Rohden was detained as a prisoner of war, and 1947 he was afforded the opportunity to investigate German air history. There are 13 reels of narrative in German and English, and an additional 55 reels of documentation. An additional 73 reels of documentation are available at the National Archives under the number T-971 [some of which are duplications]. ... The importance of the films lies in the fact that the original documents were returned to Germany c1967 and access has become very difficult for American scholars. For many researchers the films offer the only access. These documents are, practically speaking, the only primary materials for the history of the air war, since the Germans burned about 95% of Luftwaffe documents when the approach of Allied troops made Germany's defeat certain."
<U>NARA</U>
Record Group "242.9.3 Microfilm copies of the von Rohden collection of research materials on the role of the German Air Force in World War II
Textual Records: Collection, 1911-47 (73 rolls), consisting of studies, reports, texts of speeches, issuances, and other records, 1911