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Dear page visitor, I have doubted whether it is a good idea to add this document onto our website. I have, nevertheless, considered that it does indeed make sense to get an idea of what happened in Germany beside their electronic industry. The Second World War was a very complex and long enduring conflict. Germany could only sustain this competition when it was capable of producing enough goods. Generally, all goods (products) necessitated sufficient quantities of raw materials, such as rubber, iron, aluminium and of course chemical products like, for instance: petrol and lubricants of all kinds. One, maybe crucial, aspects is the availability iron. In a great war even today 'Fe' is a crucial factor. Considering all this, it does make sense to get an idea as to how some of the German heavy steel industry managed to supply this crucial material. Please bear in mind - that Germany possessed large coal mines, but lacked greatly their own iron recourses. Most iron was obtained from Sweden, that may have been one of the factors of occupying Norway (April 1940) as its geographical position was crucial in this respect. I have already dealt with another implication in my DEHS 2008 paper: that progress on the long term is only obtainable in a democratic environment. Non democratically ran societies will always sooner or later fail! As did finally the Roman Empire - Napoleon France - the Nazi era and the Soviet ruled hemisphere.
Reported by Mr. J.D. Dickson U.S. Ord.
Visit 6-15 June 1945
CIOS Target No. 21/399
Metallurgy
Personnel of Teams (US)
Mr. J.D. Dickerson, U.S. Ord. Team Leader
Mr. H.C. Smith, U.S. Ord. Deputy
Mr. R. Fischer, U.S. Eng.
Mr. R.A. Gezelius, U.S. Ord.
Mr. C.F. Parke, JR, U.S. Eng.
Mr. H.B. Brightman, U.S. Ord.
Mr. T.G. Foulkes, U.S. Ord.
Lt. Col. A.R. greatbatch, BR.
The investigators of the two men above are incorporated herein. Date of Investigation 21 May 1945
Restricted
Hermann Goring Steel Works
Paul Pleiger Hutte (Hütte, AOB)
Stahlwerke Braunschweig
Satisfactory steel was produced in sizable quantity from low grade ore mind locally without the assistance of imported high grade ores.
The extensive properties of the Hermann Goring works consisted of mines, blast furnaces, steel plants, and factories. This report covers investigations of the iron ore mines, blast furnaces, steel melting units, rolling mills, foundry, forging plants, and shell machining shops located in the vicinity of Watenstedt-Salzgitter.
It was said that the present investment involved 1,000,000,000 R.M. The plant was designed by N.A. Brassert & Co, Ltd, and was originally planned as four separate units, only one of which was completed.
The mines steel works and shops in this vicinity employed over 35,000 persons, of whom approximately 80% were foreign.
The plants was considered to be of such importance that all installations were surrounded by artificial fog pots for screening against air raids. Flak installations were also noted.
The Paul Pleiger Works of the Hermann Goring Corporation showed Germany their possible independence of foreign ores. It is desired to emphasize the tremendous implication of potential steel production for the Salzgitter ore bodies by means of employed at this plant.
Combined statement of Dr. Strickrodt follows: During 1936-1937 the shortage of iron and steel in Germany became acute. Many of the smaller individually owned plants were forced to close, due to their inability to obtain material with which to work. ...
Shortage finally became so serious that home building was curtailed, due to the lack of steel beams (wood being unavailable) ..
The steel industry of western Germany at first opposed the plan entirely. Later they insisted that the steel plant should be placed in western Germany . Mr. Pleiger as the representative of the smaller concerns, demanded that the plant be located near the iron mines in the Salzgitter district ...
Careful study of the problem of using ores of the Salzgitter district indicated that a more economical operation could be achieved by the construction of a new plant, ..
Personnel interviewed
Dr. Georg Strickrodt, Acting General Manager and formerly Lecal Advisor and Manager Utilities (this may be due to the fact that these names had not been directly engaged to Nazi sympathy, AOB)
Josef Wurm, Acting Assist. General Manager. formerly Chief Maintenance Engineer and Supt. of Shell Production (ammunition, AOB)
Dr. Eduard Schiegries, Supt. of Blast Furnances and Ore Preparation
Dr. Konrad Hofmann (Hoffmann?), Supt. of Steel Melting
Mr. Heinrich Schmieding, Acting Supt. of Rolling Mills
Mr. Erich Schulte, Ass. Acting Supt. of Rolling
Dr. Konrad Riedel (Riedl?), Acting Research Director
Mr. Brodac, General Foreman of Foundry
Dr. Heinrich Meyer, Acting Mining Engeneer
Iron ores for use in the Reichswerke Hermann Goring (Göring, AOB) were obtained from the mines of the subsidiary company - "Erzbergbau Salzgitter"
During the war the mine manager was Dr. Franz Beckenbauer, assisted by Dr. Heinrich Meyer. Dr. Beckenbauer was under military arrest (by U.S. troops, AOB) and the mines were in charge of Dr. Meyer. The mine administration offices were in Ringelheim Castle.
Salzgitter Area:
1. Finkenkuhle at Salzgitter
2. Georg/Gitter at Gitter
3. Haverlahwiese No. 1 at Gebhardshagen
4. Haverwiese No. 2 at Gebhardshagen-Lichtenberg
5. Haverlahwiese open cut at Gebhardshagen
6. Hannoversche Treue at Engerode-Calbecht
7. Worthlah/Ohlendorf at Flachstockheim
Peine Area: Peine I/II at Vohrum near Peine
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