Hi, Thanks all the info about the RK vehicles. Never knew that the RK used trucks or ambulances. A great find!
As several Dutch websites say that the 540K was previously owned by Seys Inquardt, I today travelled to Wageningen to study some details at an exhibition about the unconditional surrender of Blaskowitz and the former Reichskommissariat vehicles used by the allies.
After peace was agreed on May 4th between Montgomery and the Germans, General Officer Commanding I Canadian Corps Charles Foulkes, wanted his own peace. Helped by the fact that Blaskovitz hesitated to surrender, he summoned Blaskovitz to Hotel de Wereld on May 5th.
Bernhard attended the meeting. He left Het Loo Palace with the unregistered 540K two-seater, but arrived with his staff in Wageningen in the Merc 770, staff members occupying all seats available.
The 770 still had the Reichskommissariat RK-1 plates fitted, both front and rear. Additionally, the Dutch blue-orange weapon was painted on the right front wing. The car also bore white stars and the marking CNF-2 (Commander Dutch Forces-2) on the bonnet and luggage lid. Also the car had the red-golden three-star shield up front. The next day, when Blaskovitz and Foulkes returned to Wageningen, Bernhard also attended this meeting, driving once more the 770.
The 770 was dismantled in 1955 after 10 years with the Dutch Royal family.
The 540K was used by Bernhard throughout the summer. On May 5th 1945, the car had painted the marking CNF (Commander Dutch Forces) on the rear-bonnet and was supplied with several allied white stars.
Now, which car belonged to Seys Inquart? In a 2002 video, Bernhard says that his staff confiscated two Mercs from Seys, but he did not mention the types. To find out whether the 540K was previously owned by Seys, I phoned Frans Vrijaldenhoven, author of a book about Bernhard’s cars. He told me that the 540K was formerly owned by a German industrialist. It was found by Dutch troops with the wheels missing. Wheels were fitted from another Merc and the car was offered to Bernhard.
There is a story about another Seys Inquart Merc. This armored Merc Model W24 AP was supplied to all Reichskommissare after Heydrich’s Protektorat assassination in 1942. In Holland it was registered as the RK-2. Full story at:
http://www.prewarcar.com/read_article.asp?id=2840
Back to the original subject:
If anybody has other info or pix on “RK” registered vehicles, it would be phantastic if they could be posted on this forum.
Best regards
Kees
