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Military Geologists and the Military Geologists and the German German Afrika Afrika Korps Korps 1940 1940 - - 43 43 J. David Rogers J. David Rogers University of Missouri University of Missouri - - Rolla Rolla
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Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Feb 06, 2018

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Page 1: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Military Geologists and the Military Geologists and the German German AfrikaAfrika KorpsKorps

19401940--4343

J. David RogersJ. David RogersUniversity of MissouriUniversity of Missouri--RollaRolla

Page 2: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

OutlineOutline

German Military Geologist OrganizationGerman Military Geologist OrganizationGerman Military EngineersGerman Military EngineersAfrikaAfrika KorpsKorpsSummarySummaryReferencesReferences

Page 3: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

German Military Engineer SchoolGerman Military Engineer SchoolThe building

was a German military engineers' school in the late 30s.

Then, the site of the Armistice signing in May 1945.

Soviet General Marshall Zhukov also used it as his headquarters after World War II.

Page 4: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Military Engineer SchoolMilitary Engineer School

Page 5: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

German German AfrikaAfrika KorpsKorps• Commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

• Operated in Africa from 1941 –1943

• Operation Torch, Nov 1942, opened up a second front on the Afrika Korps

• Germans, surrounded at Tunis and Bizeret by land and sea, begin surrendering in May 1943

• FM Rommel was withdrawn to Greece in Mar 1943 to organize defenses there

Page 6: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Northern Africa GeographyNorthern Africa Geography

Page 7: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

North African GeographyNorth African Geography

Page 8: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Terrain Feature ChallengesTerrain Feature Challenges

On land or at sea, the terrain challenged operations continuously.

First widespread use of half tracks

Page 9: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Water RequirementsWater Requirements

One person requires 1 gal/day of water in the desert.

Page 10: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Adapting to EnvironmentAdapting to Environment

• Tents with flaps rolled up.

• R&R in Mediterranean

Page 11: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Adapt and OvercomeAdapt and Overcome

Germans used camels for logistics when possible.

Page 12: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Other Other AdaptionsAdaptions

Dig, man, dig!

Page 13: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

In the TrenchesIn the Trenches

Casualties in the African Campaign for the Germans totaled 18,594 killed and 3,400 missing.

Page 14: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

BlitzkreigBlitzkreig EngineersEngineers

German military German military engineers, road engineers, road builders, and demolition builders, and demolition squads created paths squads created paths for the German Army to for the German Army to move quickly. move quickly.

They blazed roads and They blazed roads and paved highways to paved highways to enable force mobility, enable force mobility, using their armor using their armor effectively in a series of effectively in a series of flanking maneuvers flanking maneuvers . .

Page 15: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Assessing Assessing TrafficabilityTrafficability

Tracked vehicles allowed far greater mobility through rough terrain and bomb damaged urban areas

Page 16: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Other Transportation DifficultiesOther Transportation Difficulties

The BMO at work.

Mud? In the desert?

Page 17: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

The 5 gallon “Jerry Can” was developed The 5 gallon “Jerry Can” was developed by the Germans for their by the Germans for their AfrikaAfrika KorpsKorps

Page 18: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Finding WaterFinding Water

German geologists interviewed natives to find water sources.

Page 19: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

Mixing materialsMixing materials

Page 20: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

RommelRommel on inspection touron inspection tour

Page 21: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

SUMMARYSUMMARYGermans recognized importance of geological Germans recognized importance of geological information during time of war by compiling information during time of war by compiling comprehensive manual on War Geology in 1938.comprehensive manual on War Geology in 1938.German geologists integral part of Army engineering German geologists integral part of Army engineering activities in all theaters of World War II.activities in all theaters of World War II.Geologists also utilized in logistical support and Geologists also utilized in logistical support and design and construction of defensive works.design and construction of defensive works.AfrikaAfrika KorpsKorps operations turned on logistical support, operations turned on logistical support, navigation and deception. Geologist’s knowledge navigation and deception. Geologist’s knowledge was incorporated into maneuver planning and was incorporated into maneuver planning and positioning of defensespositioning of defenses..

Page 22: Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps 1940-43rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Geology and Afrika... · Military Geologists and the German Afrika Korps ... German military engineers,

REFERENCESREFERENCES

Military Geology in War and PeaceMilitary Geology in War and Peace by James Underwood, The by James Underwood, The Geological Society of America, Boulder, COGeological Society of America, Boulder, COWehrgeologieWehrgeologie by Dr. Kurd von by Dr. Kurd von BulowBulow, translated by MAJ Walter , translated by MAJ Walter KranzKranz, Ph.D, and MAJ Erich , Ph.D, and MAJ Erich SonneSonne, , QuelleQuelle and Mayer Publishing and Mayer Publishing House, LeipzigHouse, Leipzighttp://www.museumhttp://www.museum--karlshorst.de/karlshorst.de/http://www.essaybank.co.uk/http://www.essaybank.co.uk/http://www.ww2battles.com/afrikakorps/dak/http://www.ww2battles.com/afrikakorps/dak/http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/mar/stories/desertsur.htmlhttp://www.desertusa.com/mag99/mar/stories/desertsur.html