Luftwaffe units in Mulsach / Moussey 1944

[Sophie]

Hi,

I'm interested to know more about the presence of German Luftwaffe Units (or other German soldier units) at Mulsach or Moussey in 1944.

In the village's factory Bataville the Germans installed a 'Feldbekleidungsamt der Luftwaffe' until they had to leave in september 1944.

In the history of Bataville I learned that "Le personnel est dirigé, encadré, administré par des militaires et des civils allemands. Jusqu'en 1942, le Major Henkel est responsable de tout l'ensemble. Puis le colonel Jensens lui succède. Il a pour adjoints le Ma­jor Krob et l'inspecteur Denkel. D'autres officiers occupent les postes principaux : Personnel, (chef de Service : Major Jaeck), comptabilité, gestion, matériel, surveillance, services médicaux (infirmerie - soins dentaires), etc. et assurent le com­mandement d'un détachement armé de la Luftwaffe (pour le gardienna­ge) et d'une formation de pompiers. Les sous-officiers dirigent les ate­liers et ont sous leurs ordres des contremaîtres civils allemands (surtout Sarrois) et quelques Mosellans (principalement d'anciens agents de maîtrise de l'usine Bata). Des officiers supérieurs et des généraux de la Luftwaffe et de la Wehrmacht viennent, en visite, de temps à autre. Au printemps 1944, le passage de Bürckel, Gauleiter de la Westmark est signalé."

The colonel cited could be Hans Jensen from the Flughafen-Bereichs-Kommando Breslau but they were in Lemberg from january 1943 to july 1944 so I'm not sure... Anyone more into this or into the officers present, give a go! All information's welcome. Thx

[Larry D.]

Sophie,

You can check out the names of the officers at the link below. The career summaries are not complete by any means as they include only about 50% - 60% of the total number of officers who served in the Luftwaffe. Furthermore, the data for most of them is woefully incomplete. Most Luftwaffe officers in the rank of Major and above should be listed, however. It's too bad you lack the first names.

http://www.ww2.dk/lwoffz.html

L.

[Sophie]

Thank you Larry. After a quick research in the Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries I can say that the colonel Jensen who is mentioned as the leader of the FBA in Mulsach - Moussey was Johannes Jensen.

"Jensen, Johannes: 06.43 Obstlt., Leiter Feldbekleidungsamt d.Lw. 1/XII Mulsach. 01.08.43 promo to Oberst."

Does the Lw. 1/XII here mean Flug-Hafen-Bereichs-Kommando 1/XII ?

[Larry D.]

Thank you Larry. After a quick research in the Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries I can say that the colonel Jensen who is mentioned as the leader of the FBA in Mulsach - Moussey was Johannes Jensen.

"Jensen, Johannes: 06.43 Obstlt., Leiter Feldbekleidungsamt d.Lw. 1/XII Mulsach. 01.08.43 promo to Oberst."

Does the Lw. 1/XII here mean Flug-Hafen-Bereichs-Kommando 1/XII ?

No, Sophie, it means that this particular Feldbekleidungsamt d.Lw. was the first one formed in and by Luftgaukommando XII. Nearly all of the thousands of Luftwaffe ground servicing, support and supply units were formed by a numbered Luftgaukommando (I, II, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, XI, XII, XIII, XVIII and a few others toward the end of the war (XIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII and XXX) were given an Arabic number followed by a slash and the Roman numeral of the Luftgaukdo. that formed it.

Luftgaukommando XII (1st Formation)
(FpN: none assigned)

Kommandierender General:
(Unknown) (12 Oct 37 - 1 Mar 38)
Gen.Lt. Friedrich Heilingbrunner (1 Mar 38 - 30 Jan 41)

Subordination:
Luftkreiskommando 4 (12 Oct 37 - 4 Feb 38)
Luftwaffengruppenkdo. 3 (4 Feb 38 - 1 Feb 39)
Luftflottenkdo. 3 (1 Feb 39 - 30 Jan 41)

Subordinate Commands:
Kommando Flughafenbereiche (airfield regional commands) and Fliegerhorstkommandanturen (air base commands), Luftnachrichten (air force signals), Sanitäts (medical), Flak (antiaircraft), civil air defense, supply, schools, replacements and sundry other ground service and support commands, staffs and units located within its territory of authority. These changed frequently and in the absence of surviving source documentation it is not possible to list them accurately or completely.

Formation and History. (Oct 37 - Jan 41)
Formed 12 October 1937 in Giessen by re-designating Luftgaukdo. 11 (Giessen), but moved to Wiesbaden on 1 April 1938. The Luftgau comprised the Rhineland and Pfalz regions of western Germany and the southern part of the Province of Hesse. Luftgaukdo. XII supported the attack on France and the Low Countries in May 1940 and, together with Luftgaukdo. XIII, was instrumental in setting up the complex of airfield commands and ground organization in western France from June 1940. On 30 January 1941 Luftgaukdo. XII and Luftgaukdo. XIII (Nürnberg) were consolidated as Luftgaukdo. XII/XIII with headquarters in Wiesbaden and a small administrative staff in Nürnberg.

© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress).
(1st Draft 2006)

L.

[Sophie]

Ok Larry, thanks again... Sorry for my late reply but the noticing mail got stuck in my spam. Can I conclude that because of being the first FBA created by this Luftgaukommando it means that it was an important one or must I see the installation more as a matter of opportunity?

[Larry D.]

No, Sophie. The number assigned to a particular unit, installation, depot, etc., had nothing to do with its relative importance. The numbers assigned by the Luftgaukommando were strictly chronological in nature. So, for example, 1/XII would have been the first one of this type formed and assigned a number within this Luftgau. However, as the war wore on, this proved to be the only Feldbekleidungsamt formed by Luftgaukdo. XII. There was no 2/XII, etc.

L.

[Sophie]

Ok good to know! I'm gonna read some more about this unit where I can.

Sophie

[Sophie]

I'm looking for a certain officer Bonhof (might also be Borhof/Barhof but the first is more likely). Presumable date of birth 6 . 1 . 27 If not likely then 6. 1 . 21 . This officer must have been present in Mulsach but I can't find him on the list.

[Larry D.]

Sophie -

These are the only ones beginning with "B" that have your date of birth. I think a DOB of 06.01.27 is quite unlikely for an officer. Hitlerjugend, RAD or Luftwaffenhelfer, maybe, but not the active regular Luftwaffe. He would have turned 18 in January 1945.

BEISENHERZ, Otto. (DOB: 06.01.21). Leutnant.
BORN, Heinz. (DOB: 06.01.21). Leutnant.
BRINKMANN, Kurt. (DOB: 06.01.21). Leutnant.

L.

[Sophie]

Yes I know Larry, 1927 is very unlikely but the name's definitely Bonhof or something alike. I think he must have been an officer in Metz or Mulsach, most probably the latter, certainly in that region. The list of Henry and Douglas is not complete so that's probably why that name is not on it.

[MatParis2023]

Dear Sophie,

I'm also interested by the history of Mulsach and Bataville during these years.

My grand mother used to work there. She came from Belgium but was hungarian.

Would you be as kind as to share your discoveries about thoses days ? Do you know where archives could be find ? They are not in the industrial archives of Moselle.

Thanks a lot for any information, I'm looking for my grand father who may have worked there too.

[Sophie]

Hello,

Have not been searching further. All I know is here. Industrial archives not really searched for. As for my case I think it is too difficult

Sophie

[Sophie]

But Mat, as I give this another thought, if you find out something more about Bata and its workers or about the soldiers that were there around may and june 1944... please feel free to share it. My grandmother got pregnant there and then