Allied Military Vehicles in post war Germany
 

Hi chaps,

As you might know, I am doing some research work on the war time and early post war history of the Royal Enfield WD/CO motorcycles.

A german correspondent has sent me a screenshot from an old (2005) eBay (Germany) auction, with a WD/CO for sale.
But there was an interesting phrase in the seller’s remark: “Hier bietest du auf ROYAL ENFIELD WDCO ´44. Modell WDCO ist ein ohv die für das Britische Verteidigungsministerium gebaut wurde. … Das Krad wurde, im Januar 1944, für RAF produziert und geliefert. Die Vertragsnummer (C/14219) ist am Motorblock geschlagen. Nach dem Krieg wurden die Maschinen, im Rahmen der Hilfe, UNRAA überwiesen.” In Shakespeare’s language that is: „You’re bidding on a 1944 Royal Enfield WD/CO, built for the British Ministry of Defence. This bike was built in January 1944, for the RAF. The Contract number C/14219 is stamped on the engine. After the war, these motorcycles were allocated to the UNRAA within the framework of the help plan.“

Aha! What is UNRAA? Google search… it appears that UNRAA and UNRRA are two different abbreviations for the same organisation: “The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was proposed to the United States Congress by president Franklin Delano Roosevelt on June 9th, 1943 to provide relief to areas liberated from Axis powers after World War II.” This information comes from Wikipedia.
But on Wikipedia Germany, there was something more: „Aber auch Fahrzeuge, die aus Kriegszeiten übrig blieben, speziell vom amerikanischen Militär, wurden im Land verteilt. So wurden vielfach bei den Feuerwehren die ersten Fahrzeuge nach dem Krieg aus solchen Fahrzeugen umgebaut, die teilweise bis in die 1960er ihren Dienst versehen mussten, da die Fahrzeuge der Feuerwehr während des Krieges großteils beschlagnahmt wurden.“ In English: „But also ex-army vehicles, mostly American, were distributed in the country. The Fire Services were very often transforming these vehicles for post war use, and these were being used until the 1960’s, while the Fire Service vehicles were mostly impressed during the war.“

It looks as if this WD/CO has served with the German Feuerwehr, what do you think?

I thought it could have been a good idea to start a thread on this, maybe somebody’s got more pictures of allied vehicles in civilian service in post war Germany…?

Cheers,
Jan

Austrian Fire Service Dodge
 

I've just Googeled a bit on this subject, and there are quite a lot of pictures of such vehicles on the internet in Austria and Germany. Many of these are Dodges. On this website http://www.dodge-austria.com/pages/The_Dodge.htm there are many period photographs of these vehicles, and there is even a reference to this UNRRA connection.

Jan

Austria Fire Service Canadian Ford
 

This Ford F60S was built in 1943 according to the Austrian website where I foud this picture. It's been equipped with a typical Rosenbauer pump and the unique bodywork was done by Johann Zeller from Sankt Pölten (Austria). It's served around the Vienna area until 1982, when it was replaced. Also this website is referring to UNRRA. www.wien.gv.at/feuerwehr/images/canada.jpg

Jan

Also a Ford?
 

I'm not a specialist on this matter, but I think this one is also a Ford? Anyway, it's also an ex-allied forces MV in Feuerwehr colours...

Jan

Re: Also a Ford?
 

Jan,

It is a British built Fordson WOT2 truck.

I seem to recollect that this subject of UNRRA vehicles was covered in an issue of Wheels & Tracks magazine, years ago.

UNRRA vehicles
 

Richard,

Would this article also be referring to motorcycles?
Do you know if these vehicles were used for other duties as well? (police, ...)

Thanks for your help,
Jan

Re: UNRRA vehicles
 

Jan,

Not sure about police use, but fire brigades were one of the recipients of UNRRA vehicles. Just had a quick look at W&T No. 56, which has an artice about this aid and mentioning Austria. Motorcycles were included in the aid.

Ford WOT
 

Another Ford truck, in UNRRA livery. This truck transported food from the harbour of Antwerp to a Polish camp with deported people.

Jan