KüFlGr.506 and Propagandaballonen.

[bill norman]

The 1941 KTB of KüFlGr.506 makes occasional reference to the shooting down of Propagandaballonen (propaganda balloons?) over the North Sea. Were these different from barrage balloons? If so, in what way - and what was their purpose? BN (www.billnorman.co.uk)

[Larry deZeng]

There's no way air crew could mistake a barrage balloon for being anything other than a barrage balloon as then were anchored at the target being protected and almost all - German, British, American, French, etc. - were more or less the same size and shape. So I am guessing their "propaganda" balloons were either exactly that or perhaps weather balloons. A propaganda balloon usually carried leaflets that were released over the target country. I think you can find more details on this type of balloon on Google.

[bill norman]

Thanks, Larry. I followed your advice and found an interesting article at http://www.psywar.org/psywar/reprodu.../mballoons.pdf - in case anyone else is interested. BN (www.billnorman.co.uk)

[MarkRS]

The article has been moved to: http://www.psywar.org/pdf_mballoon.pdf

Mark

[Larry deZeng]

Loved the one blaming Fritz Sauckel for the industrial accidents suffered by women working the night shift in factories. Bit of a reach, and I think the Germans reading it thought so, too!