"Bernhard" station Be-15

["Bernhard" station locations - intro]

Latest page update: February 2020 (added refs. 210X-210AE, Fig. 267B).

Previous page updates: October-November 2019 (uploaded complete map for ref. 210A, added maps ref. 210E-210W). September 2019 (added ref. 246).

BERNHARD INSTALLATION BE-15 AT BYTÓW (SZYMBARK, Poland)

Bernhard installation Be-15 is located 2 km to the southeast of the village of Szymbark in Poland, in an area now called Szwedzka Góra (Swedish hill). Szymbark is also referred to as Schönberg, which is its German name from when the area was located in the German province of Westpreußen (Western Prussia), ref. 246. It lies 40 km to the southwest of the Baltic coastal city of Gdańsk (Danzig). Note: there where at least six villages or towns named Schön(e)berg in Westpreußen.

The location is often referred to as being near Bytów (Bütow), but that town is 40 km to the west of the actual Bernhard location. I.e., Be-15 lies about halfway between Bytów and Gdańsk. Possibly there was an important German administrative facilities in or near Bytów (in the German province Hinterpommern; Farther Pomerania). There was no Luftwaffe airfield near Bütow (ref. 132C).

The antenna manufacturer Hein, Lehman & Co. in Berlin shipped all parts of the large antenna system to the site, but they were never installed (line item 12 in ref. 177B).

Fig. 267A: Be-15 is marked on a Luftnachrichten map of July 1944

(source: ref. 210B; the dashed outline of the icon indicates "planned or under construction")

Fig. 267B: Be-15 is marked "destroyed" on a Luftnachrichten map of February 1945

(source: ref. 210Y)

Fig. 268: The southwest side of the Bernhard ring at Szymbark, with a modern telecom tower

(photo: © Jacek Durych, used with permission)

Fig. 269: Looking down from the telcom tower onto the Bernhard ring

(source: ©2005 Czarek Piotrowski, used with permission)

Fig. 270: Side-view of the Bernhard ring at Szymbark

(source: ©2005 Czarek Piotrowski, used with permission)

Fig. 271: Side-view of the Bernhard ring at Szymbark

(source: ©2005 Czarek Piotrowski, used with permission)

Fig. 272: There are three rectangular "dimples" for each of the 120 rail-ties

(source: ©2005 Czarek Piotrowski, used with permission)

Fig. 273: Holes at the base of the ring - unknown what their purpose is (drainage?)

There are three concrete structures near the Bernhard ring, that appear to date back to the WW2 era: two square blocks, and a rectangular foundation. Their purpose is unknown.

Fig. 274: The three original concrete structures near the ring

Fig. 275: One of the two concrete blocks

Fig. 276: The rectangular foundation with a smaller concrete rectangle that is capped

REFERENCES

Ref. 132:
Ref. 132A: "Luftverteidigungszone West" page of Forschungsgruppe Untertage e.V. [pdf]
Ref. 132B: "Fliegerhorste - und Einsatzhäfen der Luftwaffe"
Ref. 132C: "Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-1945", Henry L. deZeng [pdf]
Ref. 132D: Brief biography of Lieutenant General Karl Kitzinger, Landeskunde entdecken online Baden-Württemberg (LEO-BW), Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg [pdf]
Ref. 132E: "UK airfield listing" (RAF and USAF)
Ref. 132F: "Flugplätze der Luftwaffe 1934 - 1945 und was davon übrig blieb - Gesamtverzeichnis", Jürgen Zapf, 2010, 568 pp.
Ref. 132G: "Luftwaffe night fighter control methods", Michaël Svejgaard [pdf]
Ref. 132H: Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust
Ref. 177: post-war letters [in German] from the company "Hein, Lehmann & Co. Eisenkonstruktionen, Brücken- und Signalbau K.-G." in Berlin-Tempelhof to Telefunken in Berlin, with claims ("Altforderungen") regarding delivery and installation of various types of antenna systems (arrays, tube & lattice masts, wooden masts, metal-clad wooden huts, verticals, dishes, turntables, for "Bernhard", "Marius", "Marius II", "Uran II", "Forsthaus-KF", etc.), installations in Germany, Hungary, Monte Carlo, Croatia, etc., during the period of July 1942 through the end of the war (8 May 1945); source: corporate archives of DTM Berlin, file nr. I.2.060C-00541:
Ref. 177A: Letter from Hein, Lehmann & Co. to Telefunken with payment status of 17 Telefunken purchase orders and the resulting outstanding significant claim; dated 19 June 1949, 2 pp.
Ref. 177B: Letter from Hein, Lehmann & Co. to Telefunken with adjusted claims, based on assessment of Telefunken counter-claims; dated 19 June 1950, 8 pp.
Ref. 177C: Letter from Hein, Lehmann & Co. to Telefunken, with further justification for claims regarding delivery & installation of 12 "Bernhard" antenna systems (against purchase order of July 1941) for Be-2 - Be-8 and Be-12, of 6 associated "Dioden-Masten" antenna masts (based on price quote of September 1941), and delivery (without installation) of the antenna systems of Be-1 and Be-9 - Be-11; dated 5 February 1951, 3 pp.
Ref. 210: Maps (charts) with Luftnachrichten Anlagen (Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations) from the Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv (BArch-MA, BAMA) Freiburg/Germany, used in accordance with "Erstinformation für Ihren Besuch im Bundesarchiv in Freiburg, Stand Juni 2016". Note: at the Archive, only free-hand photography is allowed (no tripod, etc.), under sub-obtimal lighting conditions. Also, most of the maps are large, are folded into A4-size (ca. 21x30 cm, ≈8x12 inch), and are not flat when unfolded...
Ref. 210A: "Funk-Navigationsanlagen im Reichsgebiet" (radio-navigation stations in the Reich), Oberkommando der Luftwaffe [OKL] - Generalnachrichtenführer 1- II. Map is dated 15 June 1944. [file size: 65 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here 12 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/8 "Ln. Anlagen (Karten)", Bandnr. 2, Teil 2 of "Anlage B, Teil 2: Ln. Anlagen verschiedener Art, Juni - Aug. 1944".
Bernhard stations Be-0, Be-9, B-10, Be-11, and Be-12 are marked on this map. Map size 4x5 A4-size panels.
Ref. 210B: "Bernhard"-Anlagen im Reichsgebiet"(radio-navigation stations in the Reich), OKL - Generalnachrichtenführer Abt. 1/ II. Map is dated 1 July 1944. [file size: 24 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/8.
Bernhard stations Be-0, Be-6, Be-8 through Be-12, and Be-14 through Be-16 are marked on this map. Map size 5x2½ A4-size panels.
Ref. 210C: "Ln.-Anlagen Westfront" (Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations on the western front). Map is dated 30 August 1944. [file size: 22 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/8
Bernhard station Be-6 is marked on this map. Map size 4x3 A4-size panels.
Ref. 210D: "Funk-Navigationsanlagen Ost-Raum" (radio-navigation installations, eastern area), OKL Generalnachrichtenführer 1. Abt.II. Map is dated 15 June 1944. [file size: 44 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 26 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/8.
Map is marked with locations of Sonne, Komet, Zyklop, Egon, and Truhe stations. Map size 5x5 A4-size panels.
Ref. 210E: "Funk-Navigationsanlagen Westraum" (radio-navigation installations, western area), OKL - Generalnachrichtenführer 1. Abt. II. Map is dated 15 June 1944. [file size: 83 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 10 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/8.
Bernhard stations Be-2, Be-6, Be-8, and Be-10 are marked on this map. Map is marked with locations of Sonne, Knickebein, Komet, Zyklop, Bernhard, Truhe, Erika, Y-(Kampf), Egon (Kampf), Baldur, Peildörfer, Flugsicherungshaupstellen, and Flugsichsrungszentralen.
Map size 6x5 A4-sheets (WxH). Map scale is 1:2000000.
Ref. 210F: "Funknavigationsanlagen" (radio-navigation installations), OKL - Generalnachrichtenführer 1. Abt.II Map is dated 1 October 1944. [file size: 107 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 13 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/13.
Map covers Europe, from mid-Scandinavia down to mid-Italy. Map is marked with locations of Sonne, Zyklop, Egon, Truhe, Bernhard, Y-Kampf, Hermine, Knickebein, Komet, Erika, Flugsicherungs-Zentralen, Flugsicherungshauptstellen. Map size 7x4 A4-sheets (WxH). Map scale 1:200000.
Ref. 210G: "Flughafen-Bereichskommando (Koflug) 10/XII". Map is not dated. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 20/310.
Koflug 10/XII moved to Morlaix/Bretagne in July of 1940; it was dissolved in October of 1944.
Bernhard station Be-2 is marked on this map. Map is marked up with Korps- & Divisions-boundaries, Ln.-Anlagen, Flugwachen, Fliegerhorste, Unterstellungen, Armeekorps LXXIV & XXV; map scale 1:500000.
Ref. 210H: "Kommando des Flughafenbereiches 8/XII (Morlaix)" (Kdo FHB 8-XII). Map is dated 6 July 1944. [file size: 91 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 31 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 20/310.
Bernhard station Be-2 is marked on this map. Map covers the western half of Brittany (Bretagne). Map is marked with boundaries at Ln. Korps & Division level; Map scale 1:200000.
The original large single-sheet map (ca. 120x105 cm overall size) was divided into 4x5 separate map panels of ca. A4 size, that were glued onto a large sheet of thin gray canvas, and folded.
Ref. 210J: Map of FuMG Stellungen in Litauen [Luftwaffe radar sites in Lithuania], Oberkommando der Luftwaffe - Generalnachrichtenführer (O.K.L. Gen.Nafü), 1. Abt. (III). Map is dated 21 July 1944. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/6.
Flugwachkommandos, Flugmeldezentralen, Luftflottengrenzen also marked on the map. Map scale 1:2500000, Zchs.Nr. 44/46.
Ref. 210K: Map "Ln. Anlagen im Raume Rumänien" (Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations in Rumania]). Map is dated 25 August 1944. [file size: 25 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/8.
Map is marked with locations of FuMG, Funknav. Anlagen, LVerm., Jägerleistellungen. Map size 5x2 A4-sheets (WxH).
Ref. 210L: Map "Ln. Anlagen im Raume Bulgarien" (Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations in Bulgaria). Map is dated 25 August 1944. [file size: 21 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/8.
Map is marked with locations of FuMG, Funknav. Anlagen, LVerm., Flugsicherungshaupstellen, Jägerleistellungen. Also, 1 map panel has listing of Luftnachrichtentruppe units present in Bulgaria at that time. Map size 5x2 A4-sheets (WxH).
Ref. 210M: "Ln.-Anlagen im Raume Finnland - Übersichtskarte von Nord-Finnland" (Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations in Finland). [file size: 34 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 4 MB]. Map is dated 14 October 1944. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/13/K5.
Map is marked with locations of FuMG, Funknav. Anlagen Sonne, Kzw-Adcock, Luftparke, FMZ, S.u.J.-Stellen, Frontrep. Betriebe, LVerm., Flugsicherungshaupstellen, and Jägerdienste. Map markings include dates of explosive destruction or disassembly ("Sprengung", "Abbau"). Map size 3x2½ A4-sheets (WxH).
Ref. 210N: "U ntitled map of northernmost Scandinavia". Map is not dated. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/13.
Map is marked with location of "Sonne" beacons S-20 at Andö and S-17 at Svanvik, Flugsicherungszentralen "Lofoten", "Polarmeer", nr. 11 at Kemi/Finland. Map scale 1:4000000. Map size 2x1 A4-sheets (WxH).
Ref. 210P: "Ln.-Anlagen Baltikum" (Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations in the Baltic area). Map is dated 18 September 1944. [file size: 24 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 3 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/13/K3.
Map is marked with locations of FuM, LV, and RV-Netz. Map size 2x2 A4-sheets (WxH).
Ref. 210Q: "Ln. Anlagen im Raume Griechenland" (Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations in Greece). Map is dated 30 August 1944 - 5 November 1944 [file size: 26 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 4 MB].
Map is marked with locations of FuMG, Flugsicherungszentralen, L. Verm., Luftparke, Ln. Gast., Frontrep. Betr., Rep. & Sammelstellen f. Bordfunk Geräte. Map size 4x2 (WxH) A4-sheets. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/13.
Ref. 210R: Map "Drahtlage Ost" (wired communication links, eastern area). Map is not dated. [file size: 21 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur RL 2-V/8.
Map is marked with line types (DK, Zuspannung, Heereslinie, Fernkabel, I-Kabel, LF-Kabel), LV, Schaltstellen. Scale 1:2500000.
Ref. 210S: "I. Flugsicherungsbezirke" (air traffic control districts), OKL. Gen.-Nafü, 1. Abt. II. Map is dated 1 October 1944. [file size: 91 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is is here, 11 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/13.
Colored map covers area of the southern half of Scandinavia through Greece. A seperate smal map of entire Scandinavia is attached to the back of the map (included). Map is marked with locations of Flugsicherungszentralen, Flugsicherungshauptstellen. Map scale 1:200000. Map size 5x4 (WxH) A4-sheets.
Ref. 210T: "I. Flugsicherungsbezirke" (air traffic control districts). Map is dated 1 October 1944. [file size: 17 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 2 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/13.
Black & white map covers area of the southern half of Scandinavia through Greece. Map is marked with locations of Flugsicherungs-Hauptstellen and Flugsicherungszentralen. Map size: 3x2 (WxH) A4-sheets.
Ref. 210U: "Wassermann-Einsatz und -Planung" (operational and planned Wasserman sites), Zeichgs-Nr. 44/18-1-A, GKdos, OKL. Gen.-Nafü, 1. Abt. III. Map is dated 20 June 1944. [file size: 76 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 8 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/9.
Map covers area of northern Britain to northwestern Egypt. Map is marked with locations of Wassermann (L/M/S; operational/under construction/planned by Luftflotten, proposed by O.K.L. Gen.Nafü.), Fu.MG (nachtjagdfähig), Jagdschloß, Mammut, Freya (+ An , + An & Kuh, + Kuh & Gemse, + Fahrstuhl), Würzburg (A-D, Riese, Riese + Gema Zusatz).
Map size: 6x5 (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale 1:2500000.
Ref. 210V: "Jägermeßstellungen" (radar sites for fighter intercept guidance), Zeichgs-Nr. 44/17-2-A, GKdos, OKL. Gen.-Nafü, 1. Abt. III. Map is dated 20 June 1944. [file size: 61 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 25 MB]. Note: this map was rather poorly folded (6x5 layers) and not flat at all, which made it hard to stitch the indiviudal partial images back together. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/9.
Map covers area of northern Britain to northwestern Egypt. Map is marked with locations of Egon (Gerät, Gerät + AN, Gerät + A/K), Y-Stellung, Y-Gerät (operational, under construction, planned), Tagjadgenauigkeit, Nachtjagdgenauigkeit, and also boundaries of Zusatzzahlgebiete, Jagdtrapezbegrenzung.
Map size: 6x5 (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale 1:2500000.
Ref. 210W: "Flugmeldeeinsatz- und Organisationsplanung", Zeichgs-Nr. 44/20-1-A, GKdos, OKL. Gen.-Nafü, 1. Abt. III. Map is dated 20 June 1944. [file size: 63 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 26 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/9.
Note: this map has the same background map as ref. 210V, but with some different mark-ups. Map covers area of northern Britain to northwestern Egypt. Map is marked with locations of Wassermann (L/M/S), Fu.MG (nachtjagdfähig), Mammut, Freya (+ An , + An & Gemse, + An & Kuh, + Kuh & Gemse, + Fahrstuhl), Würzburg (A-D, Riese, Riese + Gema Zusatz), and also boundaries of Zusatzzahlgebiete, Jagdtrapezbegrenzung.
Map size: 6x5 (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale 1:2500000.
Ref. 210X: "Ln-Gerätestellungen im Landekopfraum" [Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations/sites]. Map is dated 24-June-1944. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/235 (frmr. RL 2-V/5).
Map is centered on Allied invasion beachheads in Normandie. Map is marked with location of LV, Fu.M.B., H-Peiler, Fu.M.G. Fu.Nav. (Y, Kn, E, Be), H.-Zug, Jägermeßstellungen, and s. & l. Funkfeuer sites. "Bernhard" stations Be-1 (Favières) and Be-4 (La Pernelle) are marked on this map.
Map size: ca. 4x3½ (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale 1:500000.
Cover letter for the above map. Letter without subject, dated 24 June 1944, addressed to Chef Luftwaffe Führungsstab. Letter reference "Gen.Nafü. 1. Abt (I), Nr. 11 004/44 g. Kdos". Letter mentions scuttling/destruction of installations, transfer of forces from the Cotentin peninsula to Cherbourg, and numbers of German forces killed or taken prisoner.
Ref. 210Y: "Ln.-Anlagen im Bereich der Ostfront" [Luftwaffe Signal Corps installations on the eastern front]. Map is dated 9 February 1945. [file size: 103 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 21 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL-2-V-19.
Map covers area from Denmark to Hungary. Map is marked with locations of Fu.MG (1. Ordnung, Eisenbahn, mot.), Funknav.-Anlagen (Egon, Zyklop, Sonne, Truhe), LVermittlung, Jägerleitstellungen, and Flugsicherungszentralen (Nachtjagd) sites. Map markings include "Bernhard" stations Be-0, Be-12, and Be-15. On the back of the map's legend panel, the map title is repeated, but changed by hand to "Ln.-Anlagen im Bereich der Front" and "Bereich Reichsgebiet 9.2.45".
Map size: ca. 6x3½ (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale is not marked.
Ref. 210Z: "Flugsicherungseinheiten mit Nebenkarte Norwegen". Map is dated 1-Jan-1945, Gen.-Nafü 1/II. [file size: 61 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 11 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL-2-V-19.
Map covers area from Scandinavia to Romania. Map is marked with location of Flugsicherungshauptstellen, abgesetzte UKW Arbeitsplätze, Flugsicherungszentralen (Fluz), and Rgt. / Abt. / Komp. sites.
Map size: ca. 4x3½ (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale is 1:2000000.
Ref. 210AA: "Flugsicherungszentralen Flugsicherungs-Hauptstellen", map covers area from The Netherlands to Hungary. Map is dated 1-January-1945, Gen.-Nafü 1/II. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL-2-V-19.
Map is marked with location of Flugsicherungszentralen (Fluz; Kampf & Nachtjagd), Flugsicherungs-Haupstellen, abgesetzte UKW-Arbeitsplätze.
Map size: ca. 4x2 (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale 1:2000000.
Ref. 210AB: "Drehkreuzachsen im Reichsgebiet". Map is dated 1-March-1945 with update on 22-March-1945, Gen.-Nafü. [file size: 88 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 26 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL-2-V-19.
Map covers area from Denmark to Hungary. Map is marked with location of "Drehkreuzachsen" lines (permanent phone lines, with wire-pairs twisted between masts), LV, LSZ, Jägermeßstellungen, Schaltstellen, TF-Verstärker.
Map size: ca. 5x3½ (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale 1:1000000.
Ref. 210AC: "Gesamt-Drahtlage" [Complete com wire/cable map]. Map is dated 1-January-1945. [file size: 41 MB; good-but-lower-resolution file is here, 23 MB]. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL-2-V-19.
Map covers area from Denmark to Hungary. Map is marked with location of Drehkreuzachsen, Heereslinien, Fernkabel, Breitbandkabel, U-Kabel, LF-Kabel, LV, Schaltstellen, LSZ, Verstärkerämter, Betriebsstellen.
Map size: ca. 4x2 (WxH) A4-sheets. Map scale 1:2000000.
Ref. 210AD: "Begriffsbestimmungen" [definitions/terminology], Anlage (appendix) to "Der Reichsmarschall d. Großdeutschen Reiches und Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe Lw.Fü.St./Chef NVW Nr. 10 222/44 g.Kdos.(l/I) vom 28.2.44". Dated 28 february 1944. Page 6 missing from file. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/5.
Brief definition/clarifaction of the terms "Flugmeldedienst", "Flugwache" (Vollflugwache / Tagflugwache / Behelfsflugwache), "Fu.M.G.Stellung" (1. Ordung, 2. Ordnung, 3.Ordnung), Flugmeldezentrale (Stellungs-, Abschnitts-, Divisions-, Korps-, Flotten-), "Flugmelde-Bereiche" (Stellungs, - Abschnitts- (Flugmeldeabschnitt), Divisions-), "Einheiten des Flugmeldedienstes" (-Kompanie, -Abteilung-, -Regiment), "Flugmeldeauswertestelle eines Fliegerhorstes", "Florian-Netz", "Reportageverfahren", "Jägermeßdienst", "Jägermeßstellung", "Warnwache", "L.S.Warnkommando (L.S.Wako)", "L.S.Warnzentrale", "Eisenbahnflugwarnzentrale (Eflu-Wz.)", "Flugmeldposten der Flakartillerie".
Ref. 210AE: "Taktische Zeichen für die Neuorganization des Flugmeldedienstes, Eintragung der Geräteausstattung der Fu.M.G.-Stellung, Darstellung des Ausbauzustandes, Taktische Zeichen für die Neuorganization des Jägerleitdienstes" [map & org-chart symbology for the Luftwaffe Aircraft Reporting Service, standard equipment configuratins for radar sites, map & org-chart symbology for the reorganized Fighter Guidance Service], 1944, 6 pp. Source: BArch-MA/BAMA file nr. (Signatur) RL 2-V/5.
Ref. 246: "Karte POM-WPRU-DANZIG ca. 1938", F. Schulz, 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2019. [pdf]

External links last checked: January 2019