Who is maker of GWL

[Pascal H.]

Does anybody know where there abbreviation "GWL" stand for .

Thanks,
Pascal

[mgidhagen]

Salut Pascal,
GWL is short for the firm Gebrüder Wegerhoff of Lüdenscheid.
Cheers,
Mike G

Does anybody know where there abbreviation "GWL" stand for .

Thanks,
Pascal

[Pascal H.]

Thank you Mike .

Pascal

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Pascal,



Your going to need this;



http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/reserach_tools/ldo.htm

Best,
JD

[Rich G]

Just out of interest, how do we know for sure that it stands for this maker?

Rich

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hi Rich,


Because it was one of the remaining companies to somewhat survive the war.

Best,
JD

[Pascal H.]

Thank you for your replies . I am putting together a list of makers marks together with their names and some of them are really hard to find.

Thanks again,
Pascal

[Rich G]

Hi Rich,


Because it was one of the remaining companies to somewhat survive the war.

Best,
JD

Joe,

Didn't know that. Has someone actually contacted them and they confirmed they made awards in the third reich era? Don't get me wrong but I thought these firms usually denied all knowledge of that era in time?!

Rich

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Rich,

Lüdenscheid was not a primary target for allied bombings or even a secondary target area. I have not talked to anyone from there, so no first hand account. This is my assumption sin studying USAF as well as LW aviation history of WWII.
No mention of heavy bombing attacks on Lüdenscheid.

Best,
JD

[Mark S.]

Well, it wasnt Berlin ..

..but Ludenscheid was indeed a target for Allied bombing, as well as Solingen. With the numerous iron foundries and aluminum manufacturing in this area, it was a natural choice for a target.

[Joseph D'Errico]

Here is a link to some interesting reading of Allied bombing Priorities as well objectives.

http://www.anesi.com/ussbs02.htm

Best,
JD

[Mark S.]

Here is a link to some interesting reading of Allied bombing Priorities as well objectives.

http://www.anesi.com/ussbs02.htm

Best,
JD

I have read that summary, as well as the one written for the PTO. You have to understand that this is the United States summary, and lists British involvment as only a cursory mention, usually when it relates to the US Bomb runs.

The British seemed to have a different agenda on many of their bomb runs. In simplistic terms, ours were mostly strategic, and in some cases tactical, there were many British bombings that were hinged solely on terror.

Ludenscheid could have fallen in to several catagories, even one described as one of oppertunity, but I do think you are probably right, it was never a primary target, at least not on the level of Schweinfurt, but it was bombed.

[Lorenzo Brown]

Is there any other maker that the "GWL" could stand for?

The closest I find is Gottlieb & Wagner...but they're from Idar/Oberstein.

Although I HAVE seen badges with the GWL logo attributed to Gottlieb & Wagner on one of our Sponsor sites, my guess is Gebruder Wegerhoff.

[Brian S]

..but Ludenscheid was indeed a target for Allied bombing, as well as Solingen. With the numerous iron foundries and aluminum manufacturing in this area, it was a natural choice for a target.

From

The Dentist of Auschwitz

Lüdenscheid was a picturesque small town untouched by the ravages of the bitter conflict. It was nestled in a region called Sauerland, with lush green meadows and bountiful soil. A small river, the Volme, wound along the main road to the county seat of Hagen. Not a single house there bore the scars of war. With great fanfare, Mr. Happe introduced us to the town elders, the mayor, and the police chief. Lüdenscheid had had a small number of Jews before the war. Only one survived. The mayor, a former Nazi, made every effort to show that he had liked Jews. He said they missed the Jews who had once lived there and urged us to stay. He also promised to help find us housing and jobs. They all showed great respect for Mr. Happe's new friends.

[Mark S.]

What about the barrage laid down by 911th and 332nd Field Artillery Battalions of the 86th division? There was some fierce fighting aorund Ludenscheid, it hardly escaped the ravages of war. It just wasnt flattened like so many other cities.
I will find the facts regarding the bombing.