unknown wooden German structures

[RudiS]

Hi all,

Attached photo was taken by a GI on a German airfield in Europe in 1943/44/45. Does anyone know what these mobile wooden structures are for?

[Hans Nauta]

Hi Rudi,

These were obstacles to prevent any allied (airborne) landings on the landing field. You can see the wooden wheels which allowed the obstacles to be rolled/towed towards the field in case of an imminent threatening situation.

Regards,
Hans

[RudiS]

I was thinking along the same line. The Luftwaffe's version of the Rommel's asparagus used in the Normandy. Nice to have it confirmed.

Thanks for your reply. It's very much appreciated, Hans.

[Snautzer]

Notice the wheel under the tripods.

[Pete63]

Rudi,
At Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden these movable obstacles were towed onto the open areas of the airfield so that it was dangerous to land there.
The tricycle wooden obstacles were covered with camouflage nets and were towed into position with a train of ten of these Versperrungen at one time behind a tractor (like an ST or SS 100) or a truck (probably) and dropped off one by one so lots of square meters were covered with these obstacles.
During daytime or nighttime operations the obstacles were parked next to airfield buildings around the open field of Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden. They can be easily recognized on wartime aerial photographs.
With kind regards,
Piet Bouma
The Netherlands

[RudiS]

Thanks Michiel & Pete for your replies. Very much appreciated.

[Snautzer]

Found another use for it, from http://www.forgottenairfields.com/ge...tadt-s517.html


Ben Bajorek was stationed at Giebelstadt with 603 ACWS and recalls: "While I was there in the 1950s, there still existed pyramid-shaped angle iron structures on wheels that were used in the camouflage of the field during the war. They were stacked with hay and became movable haystacks that were placed to break up the hard straight line of the runway."