Wehrwolf or Werwolf?

[Martinski]

...and another one.... a letter from the RSD in FHQu "Wehrwolf" (SS-Ustuf. Danner) to his colleague SS-Ustuf. Mertens - head of the SD - office in Winniza.

Another VERY interesting fact is the FPN....25734 - used to indicate FHQu "Wehrwolf"....!! This is the FPN belonging to 1.Kp. Ldschtz. Btl. 318.

Tessin: "Landesschützen-Btl. 318 * 1.4. 1940 durch Umbenennung des Ldschtz.Btls. XVIII/III
(* 26. 8. 1939 in Königswusterhausen, WK III); Aug. 1944 in der Süd Ukraine vernichtet;
w i e d e r a u f g e s t e l l t und in Budapest abermals vernichtet.
U: WK III, Div. 403, 29. 4. 1940 dem Kdt.Hauptquartier OKH unterstellt (Dez. 1942
in Winniza); 1. 5. 1943 Südrußland (OFK 393); 15. 12. 1943 Hgr. A, sp. Südukraine;
Aug. 1944 Rumänien, Dez. 1944 Budapest
E: 3 Strausberg, WK III"

Ldschtz. Btl. 318 was used to guard the premises of the FHQu "Wehrwolf" (or at the same time Anlage "Eichenhain") when the OKW (and the Führer) were not in place. When the Führer, his OKW-Staff and all services moved back to FHQu "Wolfsschanze" (Rastenburg) - on November 2nd 1942, they left the unemployed FHQu "Wehrwolf" as a base for this Ldschtz. Btl. 318.

But, Dr. Z., I guess that there will be no 4600 hits on "google.de" about this item (unless I will upload this myself!?)

Martin

[waldzee]

[...]From my point of view this makes sense because “Wehrwolf“ is not existing as a definition in the german linguistic usage !!
In contrast “Werwolf” is an established term with a linguistic deduction from the Middle High German. “wera”(Germanic) is “man”. [...]

I don't know enough to make any factual input, but from a purely linguistic perspective I would think it made actually more sense to name a guerrilla/resistance group after the Hermann Löns novel (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Wehrwolf) about a guerrilla/resistance group, than naming it after a mythical lycanthrope.

Regards
Mark

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
thank you!
German, like Icelandic, has some very strong barriers to foreign words.
One of my father's friends left Gimli, Manitoba ( where afer 75 years the locals spoke Anglelandic) to translate in Iceland in 1942.
Herb said he got a lot of 'puzzled looks' at first...
( In 1910, Sturmmann was probably the fellow clearing the street drains.. )

[Martinski]

Hello Waldzee!

You're absolutely right about the very strong barriers to foreign words. Although the codename "Wehrwolf" was adopted and started from July 16th 1942, it took the OKH and RSD several months to make use of the correct spelling in their documents. That's also the reason of this endless discussion after the war. Those who worked in the FHQu or were closely related to OKW-branches, use the name "Wehrwolf" correctly in their literature (memoires etc.). Those belonging to OKH and related branches stick (or tend to) the word "Werwolf". I guess it took some reprimands and/or remarks by the Führer and OKW to make them change things.

Also like your sense of humour! Greetz - Martin (w/o '-h')...

[Martinski]

Another rather unusal document by the local RSD (Anlage Wehrwolf) to the Heeresverpflegungsstelle in Winniza: The order for BEER.

The document is dated on January 26th 1943 and SS-Ustuf. Danner is even referring (or "using") the name of SS-Oberführer Rattenhuber to make an order for beer; for the 51 man RSD personnel. Their need is 8 litres per man for a period of 8 weeks which totals 400 litres of beer...

In the document, SS-Ustuf. Danner twice makes use of the codename "WEHRWOLF"...!!!

Enjoy! Martin

[Martinski]

Hello Dieter!

To do you right and to be correct to history, I also present a very early RSD- document, dated July 17th 1942, exact one day after the arrival of the Führer in his FHQu "Wehrwolf" near Winniza. On July 16th 1942, upon arrival he ordered to use the new codename "Wehrwolf" which was then distributed through the chain of command.

But obviously, and I guess for the same reason you have very strong feelings against this "non-existing" word in German language, several Dienststellen kept using the normal (thus existing) word in German: "Werwolf". But this changed after some time into the initial communicated one: "Wehrwolf" (thus with -'h').

The document presented here is not complete - just a fragment. It is a complaint by the Mayor (russ.: 'Starosta') of the village of Strishawka, where the FHQu is located. Already on July 14th, a farmer remarked that some cows were become ill and instable while walking them back in the evening to the kolchose. On July 16th, 25 young cows of the herd were seriously ill and two of them were slaughtered the same day and their meat inspected by a local vet. The conclusion: poisened by ARSENIC.

So, after investigation, this document states that the Stabsartz, Dr. Klauser (of FHQu "Wehrwolf") gave the order to use arsenic in a perimeter of 2 km around the FHQu in order to get rid of the mosquitoes.... A rather strong measure...!!!!

Martin

[history1]

Fully agree with Dieter.
Here´s a documentary from yesterday evening about the "Werwolf" organisation:
http://info.zdf.de/ZDF/zdfportal/web/ZD ... gebot.html
They also provide some documents from post war interrogation where one can clearly read "Werwolf" and not "Wehrwolf".

[Martinski]

Sorry History1 - you got it totally WRONG.... This discussion is about the codename of the FÜHRERHAUPTQUARTIER (FHQu) in Strishawka near Winniza (used in 1942 & 1943) and has NOTHING to do with the ORGANIZATION bearing (nearly) the same name! These are two DIFFERENT items!

The yesterday's documentary is about the organization ("Letztes Aufgebot etc.) from the end of the war!!!!!

Please check the original documents I uploaded here... These come from the archives and are original! To rely on post-war documentaries and/or literature is mostly discutable!

Thanks anyway! Martin

[Martinski]

Hello to all!

Yesterday found the book that proves my theory. The book bearing the name "Der Wehrwolf", by Hermann Löhns was published and promoted by the: "Soldatenbücherei des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht Abt. Inland". See picture.

So - this means that the (in German language "wrong" and "non-existing") word 'der Wehrwolf' was at least known and in use by the OKW.

By the way.... TODAY, July 16th, it is exactly 70 years ago that the Führer and the OKW moved by airplane(s) to the new field HQ's. The airplanes, headed by SS-Gruf. Hans Baur, landed at Winniza airfield and the column moved to the new Headquarters. The Führer arrived at 11:15Hr at the Anlage "Eichenhain". At his arrival, he choose the codename "WEHRWOLF". So the FHQu "Wehrwolf" started today, seventy years ago functioning.

Greeetz to all - Martin

[Martinski]

Another one - now by two German native authors; in the books by Peter Schmitz and Klaus-Jürgen Thies: "Die Truppenkennzeichen der Verbände und Einheiten der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS" - in Band 1 ("Das Heer"): page 849:

'Einsatz in der Ukraine. Einrichten und Sicherung der Befehlszentrale "Wehrwolf" bei Winniza. Nach Anlaufen der Sommeroffensive 1942 verlegt das Btl. wieder zur "Wolfsschanze".'

So - another hit of the codename WEHRWOLF WITH '-h'...!

[Martinski]

In this RSD document, dated of June 30th 1943, they explain a mortal accident due to a problem with the power lines, running from the power unit in Winniza, over the "Anlage Wehrwolf", over the Kalinowka Luftwaffe airfield and connecting the town of Kalinowka.

In this single document (two pages - showing just the top of 1st page) the RSD uses FIVE times the codename "Anlage Wehrwolf" WITH '-H'...

so - one must be blind or being a stubborn non-believer to deny this fact....

PS: I own about 5.000 of these documents in my archives.... => FHQu "Wehrwolf"... !!!

Martin

[Martinski]

Peter Hoffmann: "Hitler's Personal Security" - notes on the use and spelling of the word "W E H R W O L F" in his book:

W E H R W O L F :
35. Seidler, Zeigert, pp. 222 - 226 . Again, as in the case of ' W o l f s c h a n z e , ' the
spelling preferred by Hitler has been adopted in the present work.

22b. See Peter Hoffmann, Widerstand, Staatsstreich, Attentat (R. Piper Verlag: Munich, 2nd ed. 1970), p. 655 and note 73 on p. 876; F. Schmidt, letter 16 Sept. 1974; papers of J . Wolf (maps). Spelling: ' Werwolf ' would seem correct, as Hitler's aides agreed, but Hitler insisted on 'Wehrwolf;' Puttkamer, letter 13 Jan. 1976; see also NAT - i 75 Roll 94 where Himmler uses the spelling ' Wehrwolf.'

Martin

[Martinski]

Another perfect example of what is called "my biggest mistake"!

After Adolf Hitler and the OKW - Staff have left the site of the FHQu "Wehrwolf" on November 1st 1942, the on purpose formed section of the Geheime Feldpolizei (GFP) left on-site was called "Sicherungskommando - WEHRWOLF - "

Here a beautiful example of a header on a report of November 23rd 1942 by this section, indicating clearly and legible the use of the "wrong" word - WEHRWOLF - !!!??? - WITH '-H'....!!!!!!!

Enjoy! Martin
PS: source: my private collection of Documents regarding FHQu "Wehrwolf"

[Martinski]

... and yet another one to document "my biggest mistake"...! A rather unusual handwritten document, written and signed by the RSD responable for the "Anlage Wehrwolf" (yes, yes... WITH '-H' !!!!).

SS-Ustuf. Karl Danner (Kriminal-Obersekretär) was the Head of Geh.Feldpolizei Gruppe RSD / Dst. Sicherungsgruppe Ost who was left on-site after the departure of the Führer, his SS-Begleitkommando and the OKW - Services on 13. March 1943. After their departure, some construction works (Sperrkreis III) went on by the O.T. and this was also supervised by SS-Ustuf. Karl Danner and his men of the GFP.

On 22. May 1943, the officers (I also own the Invitation List, containing rank & name of 32 persons: of the OT-Einsatz "Eichenhain", the OT-Bauleitung Winniza, the Landesschutzbtl.318, the RSD and some Wehrmacht personalites etc.) decided to hold a "Herrenabend" (so wining & dining) in the "Kasino" (the Führer & Officers Mess of FHQu "Wehrwolf").

So.. here again (as on many more original contemporary documents): W E H R W O L F ... WITH '-H' ... !!!

Enjoy a rare wartime document!

Martin
PS: my "Visitor's Guide to the FHQu "Wehrwolf" is now finished - soon available; my (very detailed) book some later! Stay tuned!

[Martinski]

For the interested: forgot to mention:

Herr Wilhelm HALAS is the boss (Germ.: Einhaber) of the company Fa. HALAS. They were specialized in: road construction / quarry enterprise / quarry explosives company (Strassenbaufirma / Steinbruchfirma / Sprengarbeiten).

Fa. HALAS was contracted by the OT-Zentrale Berlin to work for the OT-Sondereinsatz "Eichenhain". They were based in the village Strishawka (hence the indication of the "address" following Herr Halas' name). Strishawka is located next to the site of the FHQu "Wehrwolf".

Martin
PS: my "Visitor's Guide to the FHQu "Wehrwolf" is now finished - soon available; my (very detailed) book some later! Stay tuned!

[Martinski]

Here we go again... just acquired a copy of an original publication called: "Wehrwolf" - Blatt des Jungnationalen Bundes (B.d.J.) - (9. Jahr, Heft 2 / Nebelung 1929)...

Again, the non - German word "WEHRWOLF" spelled WITH '-H'... !!!!

Martin
PS: my "Visitor's Guide to the FHQu "Wehrwolf" is now finished - soon available; my (very detailed) book some later! Stay tuned!