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  #1  
Old 3rd November 2009, 05:57
Richard T. Eger Richard T. Eger is offline
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"REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

This new book by Patrick Brion is the culmination of 18 years worth of meticulous research on the subject of the Me 262 production facility, in and around the razorback mountain "Walpersberg" near Kahla in Thuringia.

The book contains over 400 photos with many illustrations of documents of all types as they related to this production site. Patrick was aided by many others, including most noteably Klaus Müller, co-author himself of a book on the REIMAHG entitled Deckname LACHS. Following Klaus' publication of his book, he began on another aspect regarding the construction of the runway on top of the mountain, which he personally took part in as a teenager. The runway was used to transfer the newly built Me 262's to Zerbst airfield nearby. It was far too short to land on, so take-offs were an all or nothing proposition. Klaus decided to fold in his own efforts into the current book.

As noted, this is a pictorial history. Text is fairly minimal, but certainly adequate. It is in both English and German. A 600-page all text book is planned to follow.

The table of contents is as follows:

Foreword 4
Preface 8
Timetable 12
Planning to build the factory 21
Aiming to produce the jet fighter Me 262 45
Workforce and Camps 61
The factory seen by the Allies 105
Occupation and Dismantling 135
Postwar - Today 201
The old tunnel system 221
Retracing the past 231
Objects and documents 255
A word of gratitude 274
Sources 275

I can heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in the Me 262 production facility at the Walpersberg. Patrick has covered the subject from virtually every angle, complete with photos and documents, some of them arcane in the extreme. Still, like someone starting out with a jigsaw puzzle in which many of the pieces are missing, Patrick has been able to assemble a sufficient number of these minor documents to paint an excellent picture of the whole.

If there is any particular weakness, it is not having ground photos of Me 262's being produced before capture, nor a feel for the day to day operations. Documentation on such is virtually non-existent, so one can forgive this lack. However, one is greeted by many aerial photos taken by Allied reconnaissance aircraft and photos of Me 262's as captured. Klaus Müller's photos of the runway construction provide a "You are there" feeling.

Details in the photos of the numerous massive and minor structures are carefully explained, as well as the extensive tunnel network within the Walpersberg, giving one the feeling of a pretty throrough understanding of what was accomplished or intended. Some structures were still only partly built and tunnels incomplete at the time of capture.

The use of forced/slave labor is covered in detail in a rather reverential tone. Not only has Patrick carefully researched the history of this site, but he and his wife Steffi have participated in many commemoration ceremonies for those that had been forced to work there, some losing their lives in the process.

The front and back covers of the book can be found at:

http://www.lwag.org/reference/REIMAHGF.jpg

http://www.lwag.org/reference/REIMAHGB.jpg

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this book, you can write to Patrick at patrickbrion@hotmail.com. The price is 35 Euro plus shipping.

Regards,
Richard
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  #2  
Old 3rd November 2009, 07:30
Dan O'Connell Dan O'Connell is offline
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Re: "REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

Nice review Richard, thank you.
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  #3  
Old 3rd November 2009, 16:47
leonventer leonventer is offline
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Re: "REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard T. Eger View Post
This new book by Patrick Brion is the culmination of 18 years worth of meticulous research on the subject of the Me 262 production facility ...

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this book, you can write to Patrick at patrickbrion@hotmail.com. The price is 35 Euro plus shipping.
Sounds a great resource! Thanks for the informative review, Richard. Looking forward to the text volume too -- please keep us informed.

Thanks,
Leon Venter
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Old 15th December 2009, 16:38
searcher007 searcher007 is offline
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Re: "REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

In April 2009 the History and Research Association Walpersberg e.V. presented a new book on the history of the former aircraft factory “REIMAHG” near Kahla. The authors Markus Gleichmann and Karl-Heinz Bock (both members of the association) searched national and international archives for several years and are in contact with many witnesses. The 176 page summary of the research results illustrated with 104 images was printed in cooperation with the Heinrich-Jung-Publishing House Zella/Mehlis under the title “Düsenjäger über dem Walpersberg. Die Geschichte des ehemaligen Rüstungswerk REIMAHG bei Kahla / Thüringen” („Fighters-Jets over the Walpersberg. The History of the Former Munitions Factory REIMAHG near Kahla / Thuringia” – available in German only).


As of April 1944 one of the last and largest defense projects of the Nazis began during the Second World War near the Thuringian town of Kahla. About 15,000 laborers were working in disastrous, inhumane conditions at the construction of an underground aircraft factory. The objective was to set up a production facility for the Me 262, the first in series-produced jet-fighter of the world, with an output of 1,200 aircraft per month.
Up to the American invasion on April 12th, 1945 the REIMAHG Kahla factory set up large assembly bunkers, several aircraft elevators, a comprehensive infrastructure and a huge tunnel system under the code name "Lachs” (“Salmon”).
The book documents essential facts about the development and construction of the production facilities, the use of forced labor, the planned use of high-tech and the history before and after the rise of this secret factory.


best regards
searcher007


www.reimahg.de
www.walpersberg.com
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  #5  
Old 16th December 2009, 10:13
searcher007 searcher007 is offline
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Re: "REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

Titel: Düsenjäger über dem Walpersberg. Die Geschichte des ehemaligen Rüstungswerk REIMAHG bei Kahla / Thüringen
Author/Creator: Gleichmann, Markus, Bock, Karl-Heinz.
Published: Zella-Mehlis : Heinrich-Jung-Verlagsgesellschaft, 2009.
Format: Book
Physical Desc.: 176 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports., plans ; 22 cm.
Language: German
ISBN: 393058882X, 9783930588824
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-141).
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  #6  
Old 2nd November 2019, 16:49
Patrick Brion's Avatar
Patrick Brion Patrick Brion is offline
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Re: "REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

An update on the publication. After 38 years of service within the Belgian army, I retired last April this year. We moved back to Kahla, beginning of August and have updated the book, which is now in hardcover. Also, our brandnew website is to be found here : www.walpersberg.de
Cheers,
Patrick
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Old 3rd November 2019, 00:10
edwest2 edwest2 is offline
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Re: "REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

Congratulations Patrick.


Regards,
Ed
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Old 3rd November 2019, 02:20
Larry deZeng Larry deZeng is offline
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Re: "REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

A marvelous website, Patrick! Rich in outstanding research that will hopefully be preserved for the next 100 generations.

P.S. I knew Richard Eger quite well. His plan was to place his research papers with the Me 262 museum that is in the Seattle/Washington area.

L.
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Old 3rd November 2019, 23:15
Del Davis Del Davis is offline
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Re: "REIMAHG" - A Pictorial History, by Patrick Brion

Patrick,

Where can one obtain a copy of the book? The website does not have a "purchase" option
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Del Davis
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