Landships II

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> References -> BAKP 20 Charleroi
Post Info TOPIC: BAKP 20 Charleroi
Thomas Buecheler


Captain

Status: Offline
Posts: 90
Date:
BAKP 20 Charleroi
Permalink Closed

Hi


I'm doing some research on the German B.A.K.P. 20 in Charleroi, Belgium. Under the command of the B.A.K.P. 20  ( Bayerischer Armee-Kraftwagen-Park ; Bavarian Army-Motor-Park) special recovery units salvaged british tanks from the Western Front and brought them to Charleroi. There the tanks had been refurbished and prepared for new actions. There are some questions:


- Does someone know where the B.A.K.P. 20 had its quarters before moving to Charleroi in January 1918?


- Some sources suggest that the B.A.K.P. 20 was located in a former locomotive manufacturing plant at Charleroi. Other say that it was a waggon factory (Germain?). Are there any documents like reports, floor plans, photographs etc. concerning this location?


- Are there any remains of these plants at Charleroi today?


- Are there any sources containing drawings, floor plans, photographs and reports of the B.A.K.P. 20 during its time at Charleroi?


- What happened to the B.A.K.P. 20 after August 1918?


Any answer is much appreciated, thank you!


Thomas Buecheler



__________________
Centurion


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 2332
Date:
Permalink Closed

Charlroi appears to have been operating as a tank repair facility before January 1918. Captain Weger of the Germany army made the following statement about the aftermath of the first battle of Cambrai November 20th 1917.


"After the lost ground had been recaptured through our counter attack the captured tanks were towed off and sent to Charlroi where a large tank plant was erected. (Later Charlroi became the Headquarters for the german tank troops)) Here the tanks were repaired and restored to battle condition."


See  'The Fighting Tanks' by Jones Rarey and Icks published 1933 Chapter on German Combat History.



__________________
aka Robert Robinson Always mistrust captions
Centurion


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 2332
Date:
Permalink Closed

Further to this the following was found on a German web site Frontline18. I enclose both the original German and the somewhat quaint  auto translation into English. Dates are in American format (mm dd yy) not British.


Sturm-Panzerkraftwagen-Abteilung (Beute)

Am 08.01.1918 wurde der Chef des Feldkraftfahrwesens Oberst Meyer mit der Bildung einer aus erbeuteten britischen Kampfwagen bestehenden Kampfwagenabteilung betraut. Dazu waren seit dem 11.12.1917 die Beute-Tanks zum Bayrischen Armee-Kraftwagen-Park 20 gebracht worden. Zur Bergung von Beute-Tanks erhielt der B.A.K.P. 20 ein selbständiges Kampfwagen-Berge-Kommando. In Charleroi wurden sämtliche Tanks gesammelt, instandgesetzt, mit Waffen, Munition und optischen Geräten, Nachrichtenmitteln und Sanitätsmaterial ausgerüstet, nach Einsätzen überholt und auf neue Gefechtshandlungen vorbereitet


To 08.01.1918 the boss of the field force driving nature Colonel Meyer was entrusted with the education out captured British combat cars of an existing combat car department. In addition since that 11,12,1917 the booty tanks had been brought to 20 to the Bavarian army motor vehicle park. For the salvage of booty tanks the B.A.K.P received. 20 an independent combat car mountain command. In Charleroi all tanks were collected, equipped repaired, with weapons, ammunition and optical devices, means of communication and medical material, overhauled after employments and prepared for new combat operations.


This suggests that BAKP were in place in Charleroi in November 1917 which is consistent with Captain Weger's account (see previous posting).



__________________
aka Robert Robinson Always mistrust captions
Anonymous

Date:
Permalink Closed

The B.A.K.P.20 came in from the eastern front, an advance party arrived in Belgium in late december 1917, but full working capability was not achieved prior to end of february 1918. - There is a rather detailed account on the B.A.K.P.20 by Marcel Dion & Rainer Strasheim in a back issue (1989 or 1990) of the Belgian "Tank Museum News" (in French and Vlamish) providing the whereabouts, building configuration, number of military and civilian workers etc. It also has some pictures of the plant.

__________________
Thomas Buecheler


Captain

Status: Offline
Posts: 90
Date:
Permalink Closed

Centurion & Anonymous


Thank you very much for your most interesting and useful replies!


Anonymous: I have got two questions:


- Is the issue of the "Tank Museum News" with the account on the B.A.K.P. 20 you mentioned still available?


- If yes, from where can I get such an issue?


Thank you!
Thomas



__________________
Anonymous

Date:
Permalink Closed

The people to turn to would be the association of the Friends of the Bruxelles Tank Museum, they did publish "Tank Museum News" (no idea whether they still do so). Just try the Tank Museum homepage.

__________________
eugene


Field Marshal

Status: Offline
Posts: 498
Date:
Permalink Closed

could you provide the link please?

thanks
Eugene

__________________
Anonymous

Date:
Permalink Closed

Just google "Tank Museum Bruxelles" and you have them.



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> References -> BAKP 20 Charleroi
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard