Account by Heinrich Weiss of 1940 Western Campaigns

[Brian]

Hi Larry

I do have Heinrich's widow's address but I don't think she will be able to help. She did not respond to my request for information on his work - and she doesn't read or write English.

I believe Peter Cornwall is in possession of part of the manuscript.

Cheers
Brian

[Larry Hickey]

Brian,

Thanks for your comments. I'm not optimisic that the widow will be able to help much--and I'm not fluent in German. Off board, I've now received the names and addresses of two female family members, one of whom is probably the widow, although I'm not sure which one she is.

I'm aware of Peter's holdings on this in detail, and he has always been most helpful. I'm still hoping that there is a Belgian air-war manuscript, and perhaps an overall one on all or part of the French Campaign, that may have been shared with some of the primary researchers in those areas, similar to what I was able to acquire in Holland on the Dutch Campaign. Maybe these don't exist, but I'm still looking. Maybe what you and Peter have is the majority or even all of what does exist of the manuscript. I just don't know to what state of completeness Heinrich had brought his research at the time of his death. Do you know the answer to this? Are there separate, complete, or relatively complete manuscripts in existence on the Belgian and French parts of the Western Campaign, similar to what he produced on Holland? And then there is still the question of the vast research archive behind the manuscripts.

From off board communications it appears that the Battle of Britain material was nowhere near a complete manuscript on the subject, although Heinrich had acquired a lot of data in a rough form.

I want to thank everyone who has responded to my requests for information on this, both on and off board. Your info is much appreciated.

Regards

[Brian]

Hi Larry

When compiling Twelve Days in May, I would send Heinrich my draft chapters and he would add/amend - so I didn't have actual access to his work. As far as I recall, he tentatively referred to his m/s as an account of the 'Coastal War', whatever that may imply. Whether it was in-depth or not, I cannot answer. I was at the time being specific to Hurricane operations. I know it ran to at least 700 typed pages but not necessarily in narrative format but rather a series of reports pertaining to each day. Very impressive research but in need of a writer's touch!

One who met him on occasion is Jack (John) Foreman but he seems reticent to respond to enquiries these days, even from me, one who has know him for many years!

Not sure this helps.
Cheers
Brian

[Larry Hickey]

Brian,

This definitely helps me understand the form that his research had taken. I've seen his day to day format in the Dutch Campaign history, so I presume that he expanded this to the entire Western Campaign.

I've sent you a private message.

Thanks

[Peter T]

Hello Larry,

I visited Heinrich several times. We spent hours discussing. His main interest was the operations against ships; as Brian wrote ‘Coastal war’. During the meetings, we exchanged information and Heinrich helped me with the queries I had. To do so he had to fall back on his documentation. One day his wife was not at home and the whole room has full with binders and books. I do not think there was a real manuscript on the Belgian or French campaign, like the one we all know on the Dutch part. I never saw one, and I think Heinrich would have shown it to me, as I could copy everything I needed. Heinrich mainly used two thick binders with day-by-day missions and losses. Some parts were far more detailed (like Dunkerque = raids against ships) and included info on allied fighters etc. Other part contained only info from German sources.

Peter

[Larry Hickey]

Peter,

Thanks for your insights into this. It is now pretty certain that no "Belgian" manuscipt exists, comparable to the "Dutch" manuscirpt, as I'm sure that Heinrich would have at least shown this to you, and probably passed you a copy if such a thing existed. Were you able to copy any of his reference materials relating to the Belgian part of the airwar?

So now, we're down to the question of who got his research and reference materials after his death?

Regards,

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

After careful thought, I'm going to bring this discussion about the Heinrich Weiss manuscript and his huge archive from last July to a conclusion. About three weeks ago I acquired from the Weiss family the original, typewritten copy of his 2000 plus-page manuscript on the war in the west from 1939 through mid-1941, the ownership of the copyright on this document, plus Heinrich's entire 40-years of research materials to back up his project. Heinrich died about four years ago without publishing the results of his efforts. However, his research archive provided much of the German side of the information in Chris Shore's "Fledgling Eagles" and Brian Cull's "Twelve Days in May." This massive archive includes perhaps 75,000 pages of material in German, English and French. This is by far the most comprehensive collection of materials on the period of the war in the west of which I am aware. So, this collection has not been lost, but it now will be preserved, archived and used in a major, and hopefully definitive, history of the air war in WW II from events just prior to the outbreak of WW II, through the end of 1940. This includes the participation of all sides. At present, this series, known as "Eagles Over Europe," which complements my "Eagles Over the Pacific" book series, is projected at seven primary volumes, plus at least an equal number of secondary volumes of additional photos and appendices. About 35-40 experts on the air war during this period are already cooperating with and supporting this project, for which there will likely be many authors, co-authors and associate authors. Others are joining the effort on a regular basis. I will be posting further info on the EOE book series in the future.

For now, my thanks to everyone who assisted with the acquistion of the Weiss archive for use in our EOE book series.

Regards,