Hitler's train "Erika"

[André Bride]

My team and myself let us be currently producing a model with the 1/87ème reproducing the meeting between Hitler and Pétain which proceeded on October 24, 1940 in the station of Montoire (France).

On this model the train of Hitler called "Erika"is reproduced .

This train was composed of 13 cars of Deutsche Reichsbahn:
- 105 060 Bln - SalMaschPw4ük-37 - Luggage and electric generator.
- 105 062 Bln - SalMaschPw4ük-37 - Luggage and electric generator.
- 10 206 Bln - Sal4ü-37 - personal Show of A.Hitler.
- 10 252 Bln - SalBer4ü-3å - Room of conference.
- 10 242 Bln - SalR4ü-37 - Restaurant.
- 10 244 Bln - SalR4ü-37 - Restaurant.
- 10 221 Bln - SalBegl4ü-37 - Berths for the personnel.
- 10 222 Bln - SalBegl4ü-37 - Berths for the personnel.
- 10 223 Bln - SalBegl4ü-37 - Berths for the personnel.
- 10 231 Bln - SalL4ü-37 - Beds for guests.
- 10 232 Bln - SalL4ü-37 - Beds for guests.
- 10 281 Bln - SalBad6ü-39 - Bathroom.
- 10 251 Bln - SalPresse4ü-37 - Room of press.

This train also was equipped with two coaches of anti-aircraft defence equipped each of two quadruple mountings of 20mm.

I am thus in the search of information (photographs, plans...) concerning the various models of cars present in this convoy (including the coaches of anti-aircraft defence).

The elements which you could transmit to me will not be to in no case communicated to the public in some form that it is, they will be used only as reference in the realization of this model in single specimen.

PS: Afflicted for the bad quality of English, but I use a data-processing translator...

[Jeff O]

I think that if you research more..you'll find that train was actually called Amerika.

Surfkorps 8)

[André Bride]

I confirm the code name "Erika" for the train of Hitler.
Our research in the German files confirms it!!!

Friendships 8)

Andre

[Jeff O]

Where i found out that his train was called Amerika was in a book called Dirty Little Secrets of WW2 by James F. Dunnigan and Albert A. Nofi.
p.153

They could be wrong but thats where i saw it.

Surfkorps

[Richard Murphy]

I have only ever heard of his train being refered to as Amerika, and I'm sure there is a site that gives details on it somewhere on-line (It was the subject of a long thread on the old style Feldgrau forum, I think.

Regards from the Park,

Rich

[john2]

In John Toland's book Adolf Hitler the train was also called Amerika. Perhaps if the code name was erika it was shortened form?

[Redbaron1908]

i also think that the name might have been shorthened

[André Bride]

I am with the current of this polemic which lasts for a very long time. "Amerika" or "Erika" we preserve the second version because the documents of time of the railroads French as those of 137éme RI of the German army which was stationed on the spot make state of "Erika". In addition, Paul Schmidt, the interpreter of Hitler, confirms "Erika" in one maintains given to the newspaper "l'Aurore" in 1960.

[AvD]

Sorry if this has been asked before. What happened to the special trains? The Hitler train? The Göring train? Have they been destroyed or preserved?

[André Bride]

In the train of Hitler, alone its coach personnel was destroyed by Wermarcht in 1945. The other coaches were used in a civil commercial exploitation until in the Sixties.

[AvD]

In the train of Hitler, alone its coach personnel was destroyed by Wermarcht in 1945. The other coaches were used in a civil commercial exploitation until in the Sixties.

Thank you for this answer. Could you tell me where I can find more information on this subject?
Are there any pictures of this train? A search in Google did not help me a lot...

[Dicer]

where can I buy the real train

[varjag]

I am also puzzled by the debate about Amerika or Erika. All literature references to this train speaks about 'Amerika'. On the 1st of Febr. 1943 it's codename was changed to 'Brandenburg', I believe. My sources also tell that the commander of this mobile FHQ in 1939, was none less than Erwin Rommel? The train was appearently 'shadowing' Hitler to his various headquarters, i.o.w. - it was mostly parked at or near Rastenburg. The composition of the train that I have closely follows Andre's;
2 locomotives, Befehlswagen,Nachrichtenwagen, Hitlers Wohn-und-Arbeitswagen,Begleitkommandowagen,Speisewagen, 'a few' Gäste-und Schlafwagen, Pressewagen,Gepäckwagen and 2 FLAK-carriages with 20mm guns. Quite a train indeed and I believe Göring and Himmler also had similar 'rolling HQ's'. What a nice idea Andre - to recreate Am-Erika in HO scale!

[AvD]

Sorry if I'm wrong, but wasn't Asia the name of Göring's train? And is this not an argument in favor of Amerika for Hitler's train? It is a pity that Frau Traudl Jünge died a few months ago. We could have asked her!

[Korbius]

Does anyone have images of "Erika" to share with the rest of us?