Kriegsbauart
Encyclopedia
The German term Kriegsbauart (wartime class) refers to railway goods wagon
classes that were developed during the Second World War for the Deutsche Reichsbahn
. The start of the war was an arbitrary dividing line for the classification of goods wagons, and did not represent any technological change. In the period shortly before the war, goods wagons were already being designed from a military perspective. This was particularly true for the stake wagons of 1938, which are occasionally referred to as a 'pre-war class' (Vorkriegsbauart) of wagons.
The transition from the welded Austauschbauart
goods wagons to the first Kriegsbauart classes was therefore defined, not so much by design changes, but far more by a concentration on fewer types of wagons and their construction in greater numbers. The cause of this was the rapid increase in transportation tasks, because the railways in German were sucked into the events of war as never before. The Deutsche Reichsbahn was seen as an indispensable partner of National Socialism
, both for the transportation of vehicles, troops and supplies as well as the deportation of Jews to the Nazi concentration camps
.
From 1954, the Deutsche Reichsbahn in East Germany put many goods wagons through its reconstruction programme. Some of these Reko goods wagons were in service until the start of the 1990s.
For consistency, the division of the goods wagons described in this article is based on that in the Austauschbauart
article.
classes, there were only four types for which there was a further requirement in 1939: the two covered vans
(G…s Oppeln and Gl…s Dresden), the stake wagons
(Rs Stuttgart) and the open goods wagons
(Om). Because the first three had been continuously developed during the 1930s, they still met wartime requirements and were built in very large batches during the early years of the war. They sometimes had so-called refinements that speeded up production and minimised the amount of steel used.
For the open wagons, by contrast, not only was a higher maximum load demanded, but also a greater loading volume. As a result, in 1937/38 the Omm wagon was designed from scratch with a maximum load of 24.5 tons and a loading length of 8.72 metres (28.6 ft) (as opposed to 7.72 m (25.3 ft) on Om wagons). Construction began in 1939. Notable external features are the axle base of 6 m (19.7 ft) and the three-dimensional strut frame that tapers downwards to a point. A total of 73,850 of these wagons appeared in three variants:
All Omm wagons were equipped with Hildebrandt-Knorr brakes as well as, in some cases, hand brakes. The Ommr Linz wagons were especially well-suited to carrying vehicles and had special securing equipment for that purposes.
sparing in their use of steel, and faster and cheaper to manufacture. Sometimes design solutions were found that clearly streamlined goods wagon construction. These wagons, built from 1943 onwards, were lighter than their predecessors, but at the same time could carry more. However, the cost of using cheaper steel and thinner profiles was greater wear and tear and a permanent deformation from the outset. As a result, after a few years, extensive improvements were needed.
Important new builds, in order of quantity, were:
Goods wagon
Goods wagons are railway wagons that are used for the transportation of goods .- Development :At the beginning of the railway era, the vast majority of goods wagons were four-wheeled vehicles of simple construction. These were almost exclusively small covered wagons, open wagons with side-boards,...
classes that were developed during the Second World War for the Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn was the name of the following two companies:* Deutsche Reichsbahn, the German Imperial Railways during the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath...
. The start of the war was an arbitrary dividing line for the classification of goods wagons, and did not represent any technological change. In the period shortly before the war, goods wagons were already being designed from a military perspective. This was particularly true for the stake wagons of 1938, which are occasionally referred to as a 'pre-war class' (Vorkriegsbauart) of wagons.
The transition from the welded Austauschbauart
Austauschbauart
The so-called Austauschbauart wagons were German railway vehicles produced from the late 1920s onwards which had common components built to agreed standards.-Origin of the concept:...
goods wagons to the first Kriegsbauart classes was therefore defined, not so much by design changes, but far more by a concentration on fewer types of wagons and their construction in greater numbers. The cause of this was the rapid increase in transportation tasks, because the railways in German were sucked into the events of war as never before. The Deutsche Reichsbahn was seen as an indispensable partner of National Socialism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, both for the transportation of vehicles, troops and supplies as well as the deportation of Jews to the Nazi concentration camps
Nazi concentration camps
Nazi Germany maintained concentration camps throughout the territories it controlled. The first Nazi concentration camps set up in Germany were greatly expanded after the Reichstag fire of 1933, and were intended to hold political prisoners and opponents of the regime...
.
From 1954, the Deutsche Reichsbahn in East Germany put many goods wagons through its reconstruction programme. Some of these Reko goods wagons were in service until the start of the 1990s.
For consistency, the division of the goods wagons described in this article is based on that in the Austauschbauart
Austauschbauart
The so-called Austauschbauart wagons were German railway vehicles produced from the late 1920s onwards which had common components built to agreed standards.-Origin of the concept:...
article.
Standard Goods Wagons
Of the eight standard goods wagons that were built in significant quantities as AustauschbauartAustauschbauart
The so-called Austauschbauart wagons were German railway vehicles produced from the late 1920s onwards which had common components built to agreed standards.-Origin of the concept:...
classes, there were only four types for which there was a further requirement in 1939: the two covered vans
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
(G…s Oppeln and Gl…s Dresden), the stake wagons
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
(Rs Stuttgart) and the open goods wagons
Gondola (rail)
In railroad terminology, a gondola is an open-top type of rolling stock that is used for carrying loose bulk materials. Because of its low side walls, gondolas are used to carry either very dense material, such as steel plates or coils, or bulky items such as prefabricated pieces of rail...
(Om). Because the first three had been continuously developed during the 1930s, they still met wartime requirements and were built in very large batches during the early years of the war. They sometimes had so-called refinements that speeded up production and minimised the amount of steel used.
For the open wagons, by contrast, not only was a higher maximum load demanded, but also a greater loading volume. As a result, in 1937/38 the Omm wagon was designed from scratch with a maximum load of 24.5 tons and a loading length of 8.72 metres (28.6 ft) (as opposed to 7.72 m (25.3 ft) on Om wagons). Construction began in 1939. Notable external features are the axle base of 6 m (19.7 ft) and the three-dimensional strut frame that tapers downwards to a point. A total of 73,850 of these wagons appeared in three variants:
| Class German railway wagon classes The system of German railway wagon classes was introduced in Germany in 1902 and 1905 by the Prussian state railways based on their system of norms, and was soon taken up by the other state railways . On the formation of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, the system became mandatory across the whole of... |
Grouping | Side walls | Sole bar | Years of manufacture | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ommr | Linz | 1 m (3.3 ft) high and removable | inside, fish-belly girder reinforcement | 1939−41 | 6130 |
| outside | 1941−43 | 18605 | |||
| Ommru | Villach | 1.55 m (5.1 ft) high and fixed | 1939−45 | 49115 |
All Omm wagons were equipped with Hildebrandt-Knorr brakes as well as, in some cases, hand brakes. The Ommr Linz wagons were especially well-suited to carrying vehicles and had special securing equipment for that purposes.
Standard Goods Wagons With Steel-Saving Features
During the war, the four standard goods wagons were sometimes redesigned with slightly different dimensions. They had to besparing in their use of steel, and faster and cheaper to manufacture. Sometimes design solutions were found that clearly streamlined goods wagon construction. These wagons, built from 1943 onwards, were lighter than their predecessors, but at the same time could carry more. However, the cost of using cheaper steel and thinner profiles was greater wear and tear and a permanent deformation from the outset. As a result, after a few years, extensive improvements were needed.
| Class German railway wagon classes The system of German railway wagon classes was introduced in Germany in 1902 and 1905 by the Prussian state railways based on their system of norms, and was soon taken up by the other state railways . On the formation of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, the system became mandatory across the whole of... |
Grouping | Grouping of predecessor wagon |
Changes to dead weight c.f. predecessor wagon, Data for wagons with hand brake |
Qunatity from 1943 to end of war |
Quantity from end of war to 1950 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gmhs | Bremen | Oppeln | -20% | 7200 | 6190 |
| Glmhs | Leipzig | Dresden | -17% | 4 | French zone of occupation 250 |
| Rmms | Ulm | Stuttgart | -16% | 12647 | Soviet zone of occupation ? |
| Ommru | Klagenfurt | Villach | -21% | 22944 | − |
Special Goods Wagons
More special wagons appeared, albeit no longer in pre-war quantities. Several classes, which had already been developed before 1939, continued in production, sometimes modified. In order of production quantity they were:- Refrigerated vansRefrigerator carA refrigerator car is a refrigerated boxcar , a piece of railroad rolling stock designed to carry perishable freight at specific temperatures. Refrigerator cars differ from simple insulated boxcars and ventilated boxcars , neither of which are fitted with cooling apparatus...
(classGerman railway wagon classesThe system of German railway wagon classes was introduced in Germany in 1902 and 1905 by the Prussian state railways based on their system of norms, and was soon taken up by the other state railways . On the formation of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, the system became mandatory across the whole of...
Gkhs Berlin) in large batches - Eight-wheeled, saddle-bottomed wagonsGondola (rail)In railroad terminology, a gondola is an open-top type of rolling stock that is used for carrying loose bulk materials. Because of its low side walls, gondolas are used to carry either very dense material, such as steel plates or coils, or bulky items such as prefabricated pieces of rail...
(OOt Saarbrücken), some with lids (KKt Saarbrücken) - Ballast hoppersHopper carA hopper car is a type of railroad freight car used to transport loose bulk commodities such as coal, ore, grain, track ballast, and the like. The name originated from the coke manufacturing industry which is part of the steel industry ....
(Otmm) - Bucket wagons (Ok Nürnberg) in small numbers.
Important new builds, in order of quantity, were:
- Eight- and twelve-wheeled, heavy rail flatsFlatcarA flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
for tank transportation - Simple refrigerated vans based on the Gls van
- Eight-wheeled, covered vansBoxcarA boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
with a huge 51 ton maximum load (GGths Bromberg), that the DR in East Germany used as a prototype for its post-war models - Lidded wagons in small numbers with a design based on the Omm wagon (see above)
- Several trial versions of eight-wheeled open goods wagonsGondola (rail)In railroad terminology, a gondola is an open-top type of rolling stock that is used for carrying loose bulk materials. Because of its low side walls, gondolas are used to carry either very dense material, such as steel plates or coils, or bulky items such as prefabricated pieces of rail...
.
Literature and Sources
- Carstens S et al. (2000). Güterwagen (Vols. 1 and 2), MIBA-Verlag, Nuremberg.
- Carstens S et al. (2003). Güterwagen (Vols. 3 and 4), MIBA-Verlag, Nuremberg.
- Carstens S (2008). Güterwagen (Vol. 5), MIBA-Verlag, Nuremberg.
See also
- History of rail transport in GermanyHistory of rail transport in GermanyGerman Railway history began with the opening of the steam-hauled Bavarian Ludwig Railway between Nuremberg and Fürth on 7 December 1835. This had been preceded by the opening of the horse-hauled Prince William Railway on 20 September 1831...
- Deutsche Reichsbahn-GesellschaftDeutsche Reichsbahn-GesellschaftThe Deutsche Reichsbahn – was the name of the German national railway created from the railways of the individual states of the German Empire following the end of World War I....
- AustauschbauartAustauschbauartThe so-called Austauschbauart wagons were German railway vehicles produced from the late 1920s onwards which had common components built to agreed standards.-Origin of the concept:...
- German railway wagon classesGerman railway wagon classesThe system of German railway wagon classes was introduced in Germany in 1902 and 1905 by the Prussian state railways based on their system of norms, and was soon taken up by the other state railways . On the formation of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, the system became mandatory across the whole of...
- German State Railway Wagon AssociationGerman State Railway Wagon AssociationThe German State Railway Wagon Association was an association of the German state railways Länderbahnen founded in 1909. The purpose of the association was to guarantee the unrestricted exchange of goods wagons between the member railway administrations...
- VerbandsbauartVerbandsbauartThe German term Verbandsbauart describes both a type of goods wagon as well as a type of tram.In order to standardise the goods wagons classes of the various German state railways , the German State Railway Wagon Association issued regulations...
External links
- Kriegsbauart goods wagons in Epoch 2 (German)
- German goods wagons from 1910 to 1945 (German)
- There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany