Bulldozers?
Moderators: dnichols, GHQ, Mk 1
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Sepp
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- Location: Stanardsville VA USA
Bulldozers?
Just wondering why it is hard to find anything about WWII German bulldozers? How did they clear obstacles?
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Mk 1
- E5
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> How did they clear obstacles?
With strong backs, picks and axes for the most part.
German engineers in WW2 were primarily muscle-powered. Wehrmacht engineering equipment mostly hauled men, hand-tools, and lumber.
It seems that the only time you see heavy equipment is on significant construction projects. If you are building a chain of concrete bunkers you might warrant actual construction equipment. Otherwise it was all muscle-power.
Or so I have read. Don't claim more than casual knowledge of the topic, though. Others may show us more.
With strong backs, picks and axes for the most part.
German engineers in WW2 were primarily muscle-powered. Wehrmacht engineering equipment mostly hauled men, hand-tools, and lumber.
It seems that the only time you see heavy equipment is on significant construction projects. If you are building a chain of concrete bunkers you might warrant actual construction equipment. Otherwise it was all muscle-power.
Or so I have read. Don't claim more than casual knowledge of the topic, though. Others may show us more.
-Mark 1
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
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groundlber
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German bulldozers
Apparently, the Germans didn't use much mechanised construction equipment. I watched a documentary on the construction of the autobahns in the 1930's, most of the work was done by hand. I guess they had dump trucks or cement mixers , but cars and trucks were comparitevly rare outside of big cities. One of my other hobbies is watching old movies, there are usually more horse drawn vehicles than motor vehicles in background scenes. Remember the original Volkswagens were literally a 'people's car', something a factory worker could afford to buy (on time payments).
In one of his books, John Keegan metions the first time he saw a bulldozer was when the Americans were building a camp near his home.
Groundlber
In one of his books, John Keegan metions the first time he saw a bulldozer was when the Americans were building a camp near his home.
Groundlber
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TAMMY
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The duties of German engineers were more limited respect to those of the US Army Corps of Engineer.
The German engineers were mainly combat troops, their with additional light construction duties (besides miltary bridging). Any heavy construction (concrete bunkers, roads, fortifierd lines, etc.) was carried out by the Organisation Todt. For this reason the Engineer had no heavy equioment.
From a technical point of view, Germany was at the same level of the other european countries if not better. The limited use of machinery was quite common..
The German considered hand-power enough for their needs., They did not even have tank with dozer blades (and no bridgelayer).
Note that a German company invented the scrapdozer in 1939 and, as far as i know, they still own its licence The bulldozer became common in Europe only after the war and their first large use was the removal of the rubble left by the war.
In any case I am quite sure that even the americans used hand-power for the immediate works like opening a breach in a roadblock or in a antitank obstacle. There were no bulldozer at the head of the allied armored columns in 1945, eventually there was a 155SP howitzer. For large works they engaged local civilians, For example in Italy there were a few "divisions" of workers.
The German engineers were mainly combat troops, their with additional light construction duties (besides miltary bridging). Any heavy construction (concrete bunkers, roads, fortifierd lines, etc.) was carried out by the Organisation Todt. For this reason the Engineer had no heavy equioment.
From a technical point of view, Germany was at the same level of the other european countries if not better. The limited use of machinery was quite common..
The German considered hand-power enough for their needs., They did not even have tank with dozer blades (and no bridgelayer).
Note that a German company invented the scrapdozer in 1939 and, as far as i know, they still own its licence The bulldozer became common in Europe only after the war and their first large use was the removal of the rubble left by the war.
In any case I am quite sure that even the americans used hand-power for the immediate works like opening a breach in a roadblock or in a antitank obstacle. There were no bulldozer at the head of the allied armored columns in 1945, eventually there was a 155SP howitzer. For large works they engaged local civilians, For example in Italy there were a few "divisions" of workers.
Ubicumque et semper