Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Dear all,

I am looking for the correct English translation-meaning of the following German Nachtjagd terms:

Benito

Bordmeßfunker (as opposed to Bordfunker or radio/radar operator)

Bordwart

Befristete Krähe (B.K.): literally ‘? crow’, codeword for increased operational readiness

E.S. (Erkennungssignal, or 'Eigen Schutz'(?)

Strassenjagd: 'street hunting'


Cheers and thanks for any help,

Theo

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Bordmessfunker or Bordfunkmessmann? Aircraft radar operator
Bordwart-flight engineer
Befristet-for a specified period
ES-Erkennungssignal=Recognition signal
Strassenjagd-Road or Road Transport hunting?

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hello

Befristete Krähe is the opposite of 'endgültig Krähe' (which meant 'readyness cancelled'): for the next 1-2-3 hours the state of readiness is halted.

Strassenjagd: this refers to the harassment attacks on allied street convoys behind the allied/german frontline by Ju88's and Bf110's of the NJG's: several NJG losses in the southeast part of Holland were nightfighters on such missions, see for instance several A.D.I.K. reports in november/december 1944.

All the best, Marcel

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

»Straßenjagd« was also carried out by the Nachtschlachtgruppen. I translated it as "road hunting" because I couldn't think of an RAF equivalent. Maybe something like "truck hunting" would fit?

As for »Erkennungssignale«, RAF Operations Record Books talk about "Resins" which I assume is short for "recognition signals", so the equivalent of ES would be Resins.

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Many thanks chaps for your most useful contributions, which are of great help in completing the German glossary for the NJWD 2nd edition!

Cheers -and all the best wishes for 2015!

Theo

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

»Straßenjagd« may I humbly suggest Armed Recce.
bregds
SES

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Or traffic interdiction?

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hi Nick,
The allied (RAF) doctrinal equivalent would be Armed Recce, but as a trilateration your expression would do.
bregds
SES
Been there, done that and got the T-Shirt.

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Good evening !

As a German language native, I wouldn't agree with this.

A "Nachtjäger" pursuits an enemy aircraft at night. A "Tagjäger" pursuits and fights against enemy aircraft at daytime.

The "Straßenjagd" is in my opinion a term, which came up during the French campaign and later, when those fighter-units shot up enemy columnes on the roads. This happened during the Ardennes 1944/45 by German Nightfighter units several times in Luxembourg, Belgium and North-East France.

Armed recce is an allied term. It meant to fly into enemy space until someone shoots to you. Then shoot back or disappear. This was a kind of reconnaissance. When the German military forces joined NATO, this term was then called in German "bewaffnete Aufklärung".

But this term doesn't agree (in my opinion) with Straßenjagd.

All the best !

Horst Weber

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

. . . and that is precisely what was and is called Armed Recce by the allies during WW II and by NATO to-day.
"An air mission flown with the primary purpose of locating and attacking targets of opportunity, i.e. enemy materiel, personnel, and facilities, in assigned general areas or along assigned ground communication routes, and not for the purpose of attacking specific briefed targets". Please see AAP-6 and JP 1-02
bregds
SES

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Or what civilians call "looking for trouble."

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

;-)
bregds
SES

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hmm....I would say that "Straßenjagd" means strafing roads and everything that moves on it.

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

That's what I would say, too.

The term is in the German language very specific.

On my opinion, the term "Straßenjagd (road pursuit)" is not comparable to "armed recce", since an "armed recce" has an open end, whilst a "Straßenjagd" is targeting (mostly well known) roads and its traffic.

On the other hand, I'd never heard a term like "bewaffnete Aufklärung" by the Luftwaffe in WW 2.

Best wishes !

Horst Weber

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Dear all,

This develops into an interesting discussion! To add some more, this is what I got back from my co-author of the NJWD 2nd edition Rod Mackenzie, when I sent him the translation of B.K.::

Befristete Krähe (B.K.): literally ‘time-bound crow’, a Luftwaffe codeword for temporarily discontinued operational readiness.

From what I’ve seen in the context of the ULTRA operational reports, B.K. led to a stand-to to operational readiness, often followed by 30- and/or 15-minute readiness, whereas E.K. led to the stand-down from operational readiness. Thus B.K. and E.K. appears to have marked the start and end of a period of operational readiness.


Cheers, Theo

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hi Horst,

See the attached document from January 1943 for "bewaffnete Aufklärung". "Straßenjagd" is also mentioned regularly as a mission type in the same document.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Good morning Andrew !

Thank you very much for the clarification !. Personnally, I'd never seen this term. I thought it was adapted in the military standard terminology, when West-Germany joined the NATO. Well, you'll never too old to learn !.

Thanks

Horst Weber

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hello Theo,

Do you have any date of publication that you are working towards that you're in a position to share with us? I think there are many of us looking forward to your new books.

Best regards
/Mikael

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hi Horst,

take a look at the below attached text. "Bewaffnete Aufklärung" is something what I heared from my father as he was an Observer in 1.(F)122 and as he talked about this time.


Seeaufklärer
Die Luftaufklärung für den Seekrieg hatte die Weite des Seeraumes, die feindlichen Küstengewässer und die Häfen zu überwachen. Sie sollte Unterlagen über die Bewegungen des Gegners und seine vermutlichen Absichten erbringen. Weite Flächen des Meeres wurden von mehreren Flugzeugen in sogen. Fächeraufklärung abgesucht. Wurde ein feindlicher Flottenverband oder Geleitzug gesichtet, wurde er durch Funk gemeldet.

***Das Aufklärungsflugzeug hielt solange Fühlung, bis der Gegner von eigenen Luft- oder Seestreitkräften angegriffen wurde oder bis ein anderer Aufklärer das Fühlungshalten übernahm. Oft wurde auch die bewaffnete Aufklärung angewandt. Der gesichtete Feind wurde mit Bordwaffen und Bomben, später auch mit Torpedos angegriffen.

---

***The reconnaissance aircraft held as long as contact, until the enemy was attacked by its own air or naval or until another reconnaissance took over the command. Often the armed reconnaissance was applied. The enemy was sighted, and later attacked with on-board weapons and bombs and torpedoes.

Source:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...ader/Index.htm

Cheers, Rainer

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hello Mikael,

The planned publication date for all five volumes of the NJWD 2nd edition is Spring 2016, each volume will be around 400 pages and fully illustrated with at least 200 photos per volume (many of them previously unpublished Nachtjagd photos). Its a massive undertaking, but I'm now gradually beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Cheers, Theo

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Whow! How exciting!