Handwriting (again!)

[Nick Beale]

Can anyone help with the first word on the attached image?

I've only got as far as the second and third words being "Jafü Süd".

Thanks.

[Karl]

"Befehl"?

[Nick Beale]

Thanks for that. I'd never have worked it out on my own.

[Broncazonk]

Could this be an unknown, but significant cause for the Luftwaffe losing air superiority over the continent in early 1944--they couldn't read their own handwriting?

I can picture an entire staffel of pilots clustered around the operations table trying to figure out what their handwritten orders say. "Is that an "M?" Where in the hell is Snarfdueplatzengris?

Bronc

[edwest2]

I have seen many examples of German handwriting over the years. And yes, a lot of it falls into the 'quickly scrawled' category but I also have experience with the American version. We still get letters at the office where I work, and from time to time, I'm asked to interpret. The same with German writing. The number of possible characters is limited and context helps with determining what the word is or could be.

Using my own office as an example, there are people who have excellent penmanship and some who do not.

Ed

[Broncazonk]

I like my version of events better...

[Peter Achs]

I would say "Direkter".

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Peter Achs

I would say "Direkter".

Thank you Peter.

[RT]

Direktor Bergtsch.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by RT

Direktor Bergtsch.

The previous sortie, which was not written with abbreviations, was »Begleitschutz für SG 4«. That gave the clue that this one read »… Beglsch. für –"–«. it was just the first word I got stuck on.

The context is operations over the Anzio-Nettuno beach head.