Introduction
On 15 July 1942, SS-Obersturmbannführer Ernst Fick, commander of the Sennheim training camp, requested a portable flamethrower unit from the SS Cavalry Brigade at the Waffen-SS training camp in Dębica to be provided to SS-Standartenführer Paul Blobel’s Sonderkommando 1005. Blobel subsequently tested the effectiveness of the flamethrower for corpse disposal at the Chełmno/Kulmhof extermination camp.1
Documents
OMW de OMX 1100 7 Tle
An SS Kav. Brig.
Von dem mit Verfügung Chef H Rüst. und ob …. goes off …. AZ Amt O A/K I AHA/FZ IN IV D (1) vom 11.7.42. Zugewiesenem PI Gerät sind an SS Sonderkommando BLOBEL abzugeben. 3 KL FM W P 11. 1 Satz Erg. und Vorr. Teile für KL FM W (Fm. F Kasten 1) P 21. 1 Flammenwerferfüllwagen (PF 21) P 516 1 Satz Z und V Sach für einer PF 21 P 702 3. Schützanzüge für FM W P 5255 3. Schutzhandschuh- QPAIG [coding error] für FM W P 5256 3. Gesichtsschutz für FM W mit BEF NIET P 5257. 1 KL Drucklufterzeuger mit CVB ZES VOL ST P 501 1.Satz. Bohrgerät für KL Drucklufterzeuger Satz A P 4970 3. Stickstoffflaschen 10 Liter P 1. Wasserstoff-flasche 40 Liter gefüllt. P 1Luftpumpe. P 1 Ölfüllpumpe. P 2 Fass FM Öl 200 Liter Z 1 Umfülltrichter P 1. Wasserstoff Abschlüssel, auch P 1 Wasserstoffzuziehventil P.1 Satz.Entzündhilfsgerät für … goes off … PF 21 (mit noch 1 Stickstoffdruckregler) P 100 Leuchtstickbatterien P 5332. 50 Glühkopf Stück P 5331.
Im Auftrag FICK, SS Obersturmbannführer.
OMW de OMX 1100 7 Tle
To SS Cavalry Brigade
In accordance with the directive of the Chief H Rüst. and ob … goes off … AZ Office O A/K I AHA/FZ IN IV D (1) dated 11.7.42, the following pionieer equipment has been assigned and is to be handed over to SS Sonderkommando BLOBEL:
3 small flame throwers P 11
1 set of additional and spare parts for small flamethrower (Fm. F Box 1) P 21
1 flamethrower filling cart (PF 21) P 516
1 set of Z and V equipment for PF 21 P 702
3 protective suits for flamethrower P 5255
3 protective gloves for flamethrower P 5256
3 face shields for flamethrower with BEF NIET P 5257
1 small compressed air generator with CVB ZES VOL ST P 501
1 set of drilling equipment for KL compressed air generator set A P 4970
3 nitrogen cylinders, 10 liters P 1
1 hydrogen cylinder, 40 liters filled P 1
1 air pump P 1
1 oil filling pump P 2
1 drum flamethrower oil, 200 liters Z 1
1 hydrogen shutoff key, also P 1 hydrogen shutoff valve
1 set of ignition assistance equipment for … goes off … PF 21 (including 1 nitrogen pressure regulator)
100 signal stick batteries P 5332
50 glow headpieces P 5331
On behalf of FICK, SS Obersturmbannführer.
Archival reference: Public Record Office(PRO), HW 16/20, ZIP/GPD 164, traffic 15.7.42.
- Interrogation of Julius Bauer dated November 12, 1964, BArch B 162/5858, p. 1840. ↩︎
Thanks for all the documents, Hans. Trying to keep up!
Jeff, you’re welcome! Let me know if there’s anything specific you’d like to see here – happy to help