SS RSHA, SonderKommando Dora 1945?

[Simon O.]

I found this notice some years ago amongst personnel files kept in the Norwegian National archive and thought it interesting enough to photograph.

Does anyone know anything about this Sonderkommando Dora under the RSHA's amt-mil?

[Gerdan]

There was a Kommandounternehmen Dora, but in 1942/1943 mapmaking in Afrika - but not 1945.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unternehmen_Dora

Gerdan

[Gerdan]

Addition:

https://www.bundesarchiv.de/imperia/...u_el_kebir.pdf

Gerdan

[Gerdan]

I found also this among the National Archives index:

NND 871065 XE007527 Sonderkommando Dora - Oct 45-Dec 46 Vol 1

Gerdan

[Archi]

Hello Simon and Gerdan !

It seems that the name is coming from that Afrika expedition mentioned by Gerdan and it should
also be related to Otto Schulze-Kampfhenkel.

But it also seems that the "Sonderkommando Dora" was not dissolved, but continued to exist
under Forschungsstaffel z.b.V., first under the Abwehr and later under SS-RSHA.
The best link I found so far was this :
http://www.wikiwand.com/de/Forschungsstaffel_z.b.V.
I hope this gives at least some hints for further research.

Best regards,

Archi

[Simon O.]

Thanks, that's interesting, it seems the sonderkommando included some heavyweight scientists, i would guess this leutnant was himself a scientist in civilian life which led to his 4 month posting to the unit.

[PanzerElite]

nothing accociatied with the topic,
just watch a new film Der Hauptmann,
from a forgery Sonderkommando 'H'.

[Gerdan]

# 1

Oberst Remold's signature.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Remold

Gerdan

[Simon O.]

Thanks for reminding me of that film, it's one i'd like to see.

Gerdan
Thanks, i am quite familiar with Josef Remold, i have examples of his signature in my collection and i found his personnel file with several years of 'beurteilung' in the same files as the note above came from. A real treasure trove of information.

[Archi]

Hello !

I picked up a book, that explains a lot of the HQs mentioned above, the tasks
of Forschungsstaffel z.b.V., and the role of Lt./Oberlt. Otto Schulz-Kampfhenkel:
"Vom Amazonas an die Ostfront"

What might be relevant to this thread :
Sonderkommando Dora was formed in early 1942 and subordinated to Amt Abwehr/OKW.
One major task was a survey and cartography of the terrain in Southern Lybia and
to reconnoitre possible pathes along which the Long Range Desert Group
(or larger amounts of troops) could possibly operate.

One element of Sd.Kdo. Dora was "Gruppe Forschung" (wissenschaftliche-technische Gruppe).
When the Sonderkommando Dora was withdrawn from Africa in 1942/43, it was not dissolved.
Instead, the scientific group was expanded and evolved into "Forschungsstaffel z.b.V.".
In 1943-44, this unit fielded various kinds of expeditions (in East-, North- and South-Europe),
mainly with tasks to provide improved informations on cartography, geology (exploitation
of mineral/oil) to support the German war effort.

One important point is, that the group used very modern/sophisticated methods. This raised
the interest of the Allied side, for which reason many members of the group were interrogated by
the OSS (and perhaps other groups). This might explain the NARA material found by Gerdan.

What is the possible connection of Lt. Schnaiter to this unit ?
Quite possible, that he was a scientist himself. Perhaps, he might have worked together
with the Lappland expedition in second half 1944 and had some additional tasks, related to this.
Perhaps even both !

I'll add two scans from the book mentioned above :
The first informs on the main tasks of the Lappland expedition and also gives an example of some of
the other tasks of other expeditions.
The second scan might be useful for further details on the Lappland expedition.

Thanks for pointing to this very unknown chapter of history !

Best regards,

Archi

[MarcoPennisi]

I understand that RSHA VI G , a section of the SD-Ausland, the latter including the Militarisches Amt, dealt with cartography thru the so-called Weltkartenabteilung. Forschungsstaffel z. b. V. was based in Neudorf am Gröditzberg . For further info, please read P.Svatek’s „WIEN ALS TOR NACH DEM SÜDOSTEN“ – DER BEITRAG WIENER GEISTESWISSENSCHAFTLER ZUR ERFORSCHUNG SÜDOSTEUROPAS WÄHREND DES NATIONAL SOZIALISMUS
As an officer of the Nebelwerfer branch , 2nd Lt Schnaiter may have been simply very proficient in cartography.

[Simon O.]

That's great information guys, a couple of observations, Rundhaug in North Norway, a place i know well, was a main headquarters site, mostly korps level but at that time for a short while also for AOK 20 after it had pulled out of Finland.

The second thing i notice is mention of Major Tilley. That's a name i come across often in the archives, he was in Norway after the surrender.

[Archi]

Hello !

Interesting additional info by Marco Pennisi !
It also points to the fact, that Forschungsstaffel z.b.V. was not only involved in topographic cartography,
but also in matters of "Volkstum".

I found the biography of Lt. Wolfgang Pillewitzer, who led the Lappland expedition. I thought I share some
excerpts, because they explain, what the that expedition did in detail, and they are probably typical for
some of the tasks of these expeditions in general.

When the German High command became aware in mid 1944, that Finnland would quit the war, they needed to prepare
retreat positions. Some of these were near Vuotso and Laeteseno. For both regions no detailed maps existed.
To provide those detailed maps, became the task of the "Lappland Unternehmen".

The area around Vuotso was a very swampy terrain with a size of about 4000 km^2, while the Laetesono area was
a really unknown terrain of 2000 km^2 size, (also designated as "Enontekiözipfel"), "in the middle of nowhere",
where only a a handful of villages existed.

According to the report by Pillewitzer, they finished the Vuotso map in early October 1944, and the other map
could only be finished later at Rundhaug in November.

On the Way to Rundhaug, they met the Geb.A.O.K. 20 Kartenstelle at Lake Inari, which had great difficulties to
destroy their large sets of Finnland maps.
=> This is a problem, occuring during retreats, I was totally unaware of, so I'll attach that part of the report as well,
in the second scan.

In the end, Pillewitzer mentions, that the work on these maps was not completely finished and that he worked on them
for several more years.
=> That could also be an explanation for the task of Lt. Schnaiter.

Best regards,

Archi

[Simon O.]

That's great information. Actually the Germans started preparations for pulling out of Finland already in september 43. The mapping of those two areas makes absolute sense as they were to be defensive lines. The one to the North West, closer to Norway and Sweden was built up as the Sturmbock Stellung and was occupied by the 7 Geb.Div. and Gebirgsjäger Brigade 139 for about 2 months until mid january 45 when the Lyngen Stellung was ready to take over.

[Archi]

Hello !

Simon, thanks for the interesting additional information on the Sturmbock-Stellung. That also answers
the question by Dr. Pillewitzer, who wondered, whether their maps would have been of practical relevance.

I found a link to a very thorough and well made website, covering many details of Forschungsstaffel z.b.V.
(and German military air survey in general) :
http://www.vexilli.net/HisMGLW/index...rg_FoStff.html

I post it for three reasons :
1) at the top, it lists the locations of the HQ and explains that this moved in Feb. 45 from Schlesien
to Tauberbischofsheim and later to Unterauerbach (so that's probably where Lt. Schnaiter went also).

2) At the bottom, it has a few more details on the Lappland Unternehmen, but especially it points
to another task, not mentioned before : Guidance to camouflage !
This also makes sense. If one is good in analysing aerial photography, it should also be possible to explain,
how to make aerial detections difficult.

3) Finally, the link lists several officers (and NCOs) and their tasks within Forschungsstaffel z.b.V.
So if some colleague finds a reference to this unusual unit, the link could provide a good starting point
for further research .

Best regards,

Archi