LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

Greetings one and all,

this is just a general query to see if anyone has further insight on captured Luftwaffe files that are either missing from or not catalogued with BArch/MA.

Here are two examples:

1. Kriegstagebuch No. 2, OKL.Gen.Nafüe.3.Abt, 1944-1945

TICOM Report TICOM/D-4, dated 13 July 1945, discusses the Anlagen (Appendices) to this KTB, especially Anlagenband A 1.

However, the only available files at Bundesarchiv are:

BArch RL 2-V/27
Kriegstagebuch (unvollständig) 5. Sept 1944 - 17. März 1945
https://invenio.bundesarchiv.de/inve...-bf16e4fac269/

BArch RL 2-V/28 & 29
Anlagen zum Kriegstagebuch: Bd. 1 & 2: Anlagenband A 2
https://invenio.bundesarchiv.de/inve...-fa2b8ec9a3ba/

BArch RL 2-V/30
Anlagen zum Kriegstagebuch: Bd. 3: Anlagenband A 3 (Stördienst)
https://invenio.bundesarchiv.de/inve...-4167e541b4da/

Anlagenband A 1, mentioned in the TICOM report isn't to be found. I guess there is a possibility this file was not returned to Germany, given the nature of its contents (the Horchdienst - Signals Intelligence operations against the Allied Air Forces).

2. Lw.Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt., Feindliche Einflüge in Reich.- Anzahl, Abschüsse, eigener Einsatz und Verluste, Feb - März 1945

An ADI(K)/USAFE paper published between 1945-49 (see TNA AIR 20/1195) contains statistics transcribed from captured files of the Lw.Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. The original files related to statistics for the periods October 1943 - October 1944 and February - April 1945. Both files tabulated the statistics in the same manner.

However, only one of the two files is listed at Bundesarchiv:

BArch RL 2-III/1279
Feindliche Einflüge in Reich.- Anzahl, Abschüsse, eigener Einsatz und Verluste, Okt 1943 - Okt 1944
https://invenio.bundesarchiv.de/inve...-0dcf348932d9/



Does anyone have any insight as to why files might be missing from BArch - missing before transfer back to Germany? Not transferred? Not yet catalogued by BArch? TIA.

Re: LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

Horchdienst

Just a guess, but the USAFSS did gather up the captured Luftwaffe Sigint files to write the following:
Seabourne Reports (Top Secret postwar USAFSS multi-volume study of Luftwaffe signals intelligence).

These reports and related files were available at AFHRA Maxwell AFB, Montgomery/Alabama until about 10-15 years ago at which time they were seized by Electronic Security Command/25th Air Force and taken to San Antonio/Texas, or so I was told by AFHRA staff.

L. deZ.

Re: LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

The NSA released information in 2009 about this. The Army Security Agency prepared this material in 1946. I hope it's helpful here.

https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jul/1...1_SYNOPSIS.PDF

Re: LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

Hi Larry and Ed,

thanks for the replies. Yes, I have a copy of the Seabourne Report and other related surveys.

The Archive Archive has a huge tranche of reports:

https://archive.org/details/ticom/TicomI-109/

Larry, did AFHRA have original German files or microfilmed copies of such files?

Given the nature of the NSA material declassified beginning in 2009, I cannot see what would now be in the original A 1 appendices to warrant continued classification and retention outside of BArch. TICOM D-4 makes clear the A 1 Appendices related to standard signals intelligence and nothing related to more sensitive cryptoanalysis.

Cheers

Rod

Re: LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

Thank you for this link.

Regards


Darius

Re: LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

Rod wrote:
Good question. I don't know, Rod, as they only pulled paper copies of the reports for me. If I had to guess, I would say they did not have the original German documents and files. I went through a lot of material at AFHRA during 7 visits in the 1980's and 1990's and came across an original document only once, I think.

L. deZ.

Re: LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

Hi Rod,

I hope you don't mind my asking, but can you identify this "more sensitive cryptoanalysis"?

Re: LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

That would be German attempts to break into machine-encrypted military and civilian communications and German machine-encryption technology, as opposed to more 'routine' signal intelligence and traffic analysis.

TICOM Report D-4 refers to the KTB A 1 Anlagen thus: "...contains nothing on cryptoanalysis and little of interest to TICOM." The report does, however, detail some of the A 1 appendices worthy of translation and further evaluation.

BArch RL 2-V/27 contains an incomplete index to the missing KTB A 1 Anlagen.

Re: LW Files Missing from the Bundesarchiv?
 

Thank you Rod.