2. Administration and Key Personnel

a. Developments at Post and Command Level

The transfer of Kreis Weilheim from Garmisch to Munich Military Post on 13 August (1948) brought the EUCOM Engineer School under the jurisdiction of Munich Military Post. Regensburg Military Post was inactivated 1 November and responsibility for the area formerly serviced by that post was divided between Munich and Nürnberg Military Posts. At the same time a sub-post was set up at Grafenwohr to administer current construction in that area. Effective 1 July the various military posts became responsible for the establishment of field maintenance shops at each post. The Engineer Division assisted the posts in obtaining machine-shop equipment, master mechanics, tools, and space allocations. A Maintenance Section was established in the Supply Branch, Engineer Division, to give technical assistance to engineer maintenance activities in the Command and to supervise the maintenance activities of units directly under the control of the Chief Engineer, EUCOM. Representatives of the Maintenance Section visited the various posts regularly. Studies were conducted during the latter part of the year to find ways to establish the repair and utilities functions of post engineers in the European Command so that they would operate in the same way as post engineers in the United States.

b. Reorganization Within the Engineer Division

Reorganization of the Engineer Division continued during the period under review. Authorized military strength was reduced from 24 officers and 34 enlisted men to 23 officers and 20 enlisted men on 1 October. At the same time the authorization for United States and Allied civilians was cut from 103 to 79. During the third quarter of 1948 a survey of civilian personnel in the Fiscal Branch was completed but no major changes were made. Civilian personnel positions in other branches were under survey at the end of the year. There were no changes in the authorization for German personnel in the Engineer Division but the total number of Germans in assigned units was reduced from 6,301 on 30 June to 3,487 on 31 December, or approximately 45 percent. During the third quarter the Construction Branch was redesignated the Operations Branch and the Engineering Section of the Operations Branch was changed to the Construction Section. Minor changes in designation were also made in the Administrative Branch. Organization of the Engineer Division as of 31 December is shown in Chart 1 (in lieu of the missing chart in the manuscript, the organization as of 30 June 1948 is offered above). The position of Comptroller was instituted on 15 September to perform the following functions:

(1) To advise the Chief Engineer, EUCOM, on development of engineer budget policies. This included a review of engineer personnel authorizations and quotas in order to determine adequate financial support for engineer operations.

(2) To act as personal representative of the Chief Engineer, EUCOM, at all budget hearings.

b. Labor Units

All labor supervision company headquarters were redesignated in August. Two labor service platoons for bridge maintenance were activated during the period. Two labor service companies (one depot and one maintenance) were inactivated along with their labor supervision company headquarters. One service company (construction) and a headquarters company for it were activated. Units were transferred to Wetzlar Military Post from the Engineer Division, and then to Nürnberg Military Post. Others were transferred from Regensburg and USAFE to Nürnberg during the period. Operational assignments of Engineer labor units at the beginning and end of the period are given in Table 5.

5. Manning and Map Reproduction

Engineer activities with regard to mapping and map reproduction during the period consisted of map reproduction by the 7714th Intelligence and Topographical Company at the Frankfurt Base Plant and a mobile section (while a new base plant was being completed at Schwetzingen), photomapping, map storage and issue, a control recovery program with regard to mapping the U.S. Zone, and various intelligence missions,

a. Base Plants

By the end of 1948 the Schwetzingen Base Plant was ready to begin reproducing maps and other impressions. Skilled German employees had been hired. Major construction work had been completed, and most of the machinery was ready for final testing prior to placing the plant in full operation. Pending the development of the Schwetzingen Base Plant to full operating capacity, map reproduction activities continued at the Frankfurt Base Plant. During the last quarter of 1948, a total of 3,148,700 map impressions and 307,350 miscellaneous impressions were made by the Frankfurt plant.

b. Mobile Section

The mobile platoon of the reproduction section continued the printing of maps and miscellaneous items. During the period under review, the platoon printed 2,992,175 impressions, including 2,602,300 mans. To meet the deadline for mapsheets of the 4414-series, urgently needed for EUCOM winter maneuvers, a temporary two-shift system of operations was set up by the section in December. The platoon also trained personnel and supervised the setting up of equipment in the new base plant.

c. Minor Intelligence Projects

The number of minor intelligence projects increased steadily. Projects were considered minor until a higher agency indicated interest or a higher relative value was indicated by field survey. Several trips were made during the period to evaluate material. On these field trips an effort was also made to clarify Engineer intelligence-collecting policies and to gain additional sources of information.

d. Other Activities of the 7714th Engineer Intelligence and Topographic Company

Early in the period a large number of aerial photographs were segregated, indexed, and shipped to the Air Force by the Photomapping Section. Until December, when replacements brought the Photomapping Section to full strength, the work of editing, correcting, computing, and drawing grids for mapsheets in the 4414-series was considerably retarded by a shortage of trained personnel. The program of reboxing, segregating, inventorying, and warehousing maps at the Map Depot Section was completed during the period except for the 4414-series. Boxes for this series were not received in sufficient quantities from the Hanau Engineer Depot to complete the program. The Survey Section continued to supervise the German Land Survey Office at Bamberg, which computed adjustments for certain European triangulation nets. In the Control Recovery Program in the U.S. Zone, all field and office work in Hesse had been completed by the end of the year, field work in Württemberg-Baden had been completed along with about 70 percent of the office work, and vertical control in Bavaria had been completed along with 90 percent of the office work. In December the Survey Section was field-checking recovery cards and maps. It was estimated that this project would be completed in August 1949. Projects of the Intelligence Section during the second half of 1948 included classifying strategically roads and bridges in the Grafenwohr area, making vicinity maps of the crossing site at Frankenthal Autobahn Bridge, analyzing and processing GROUNDHOG material, completing the Rhine bridge and ferry report, completing the Mainz River Report, and compiling topographic data.

6. Reorganization of Supply Administration and Planning

a. Administration

The program of consolidating Engineer depots was completed during the period. Excess Engineer supplies at three sub-depots (Mannheim, Fürth, and Gelnhausen) were turned over to the Germans and the installations were released from the control of the Chief Engineer, EUCOM. Mannheim Engineer Sub-Depot released 7,082 long tons of supplies to the Germans; Fürth, 7,665 long tons; and Gelnhausen, 20,792 long tons. Agencies receiving real estate released by these sub-depots were Heidelberg, Nürnberg, and Frankfurt Military Posts respectively. Hanau Engineer Base Depot became the central engineer agency for the European Command. Operational supply levels for the depot were based upon logistical forecasts prepared by EUCOM Headquarters and detailed construction requirement reports submitted by major commands 150 days before contemplated use. Engineer supply requirements based on these two factors were consolidated by line item, reviewed, compared with previous issues, and revised to meet budget limitations. Items procurable from the German economy were grouped into commodity classifications and submitted to the Bipartite Control Office for approval of procurement by the depot. Class IV items not procurable in Germany were purchased elsewhere in Europe as appropriated dollar funds were made available. Such purchases were negligible during the third quarter and amounted to $482,738.63 in the fourth quarter of 1948. Class II items not procurable in Germany were requisitioned from the United States in accordance with Department of the Army directives and authorizations.

b. Planning

Because of major changes in logistical planning during the last quarter of 1948, basic assumptions previously used in determining engineer supply missions were dropped. New assumptions, based on a continued heavy construction load, an increase in the population supported, a long-term occupation program, and the end of surplus disposal activities, required extensive changes in supply procedures. All of these changes were not firm by the end of the year.

7. Procurement in Germany

Procurement in Germany during the second half of 1948 consisted of headquarters procurement and field procurement.

a. Headquarters Procurement

Headquarters procurement consisted of long-term wholesale purchasing to meet quarterly Engineer supply requirements. During the period 1 July - 30 September it amounted to 6,033,620 DM, of which 6,001,280 DM was for materials and 32,340 DM was for services. Operational responsibility for such procurement belonged to the Commanding Officer, Hanau Engineer Base Depot, By the end of 1948 there were four Engineer procurement teams and two sub-teams under the administration of the Commanding Officer, Hanau Engineer Base Depot:

(1) The Wiesbaden Engineer Procurement Team was responsible for procurement in Greater Hesse. Typical items purchased included lumber, cement, electrical equipment, chemicals, paint, bricks, boilers and heating equipment, carbon tetrachloride, and refrigerating gases.

(2) The Munich Engineer Procurement Team, employing a sub-team at Nürnberg, was responsible for procurement in Bavaria. Typical supplies purchased were lumber, cement, industrial gases, paint, glue, hardware, composition board, incandescent lamps, clay products, and glass.

a. Solid Fuel Storage and Reconsignment Points

During the period there were two solid fuel storage and reconsignment points under the Commanding Officer, Hanau Engineer Base Depot: (1) the Rheinau Engineer Solid Fuels Point, located at Mannheim-Rheinau in Heidelberg Military Post; which received and consigned coal fuels to the various military posts and air installations. This installation had under contract approximately 2,109,000-square feet of open storage space and 60,000 square feet of closed storage apace; and (2) the Kassel Coal Point, located at Kassel in Wetzlar Military Post, which reconsigned loaded rail cars entering the U.S. Zone from the Ruhr. This installation had no storage facilities. The cars were reconsigned to points in the U.S. Zone without unloading.

b. Procurement of Solid Fuels

Solid fuels for United States occupation requirements were procured through the Joint US - UK Coal Authority, Bipartite Control Office. Major commands received coal to meet the requirements of the population supported and facilities occupied. Stocks at EUCOM storage and reconsignment points on 31 December 1948 equaled 18.3 days' supply and other local military stocks equaled 40.4 days' supply at January consumption rates. Solid fuels procured in the fourth quarter of 1948 cost 13,600,000 DM.

9. Rebuild Plants

The number of German firms assisting in the repair of unserviceable equipment was reduced from eleven to four during the second half of 1948. The following rebuild shops were under the jurisdiction of the Commanding Officer, Hanau Engineer Base Depot, at the end of the period:

(1) Uhingen Rebuild Shop, located at the German Daimler-Benz factory, Uhingen, in Stuttgart Military Post, which rebuilt truck-mounted and crawler-mounted cranes. This installation had 56,000 square feet of shop space and 24,000 square feet of parking storage space;

(2) Fulda Rebuild Shop, located at the German Karl Schmidt factory, Fulda, in Wetzlar Military Post, which rebuilt all types and sizes of Engineer generators. It had 49,390 square feet of shop space and 58,780 square feet of parking storage space;

(3) Nürnberg Rebuild Shop, located at the M.A.N. Diesel factory, Nürnberg, which rebuilt all types of Engineer tractors. It had 33,000 square feet of shop space and 147,000 square feet of storage space; and

(4) Backnang Rebuild Shop, located at the German Kraeble Brothers factory, Backnang, in Stuttgart Military Post, which rebuilt all types of Engineer graders, rollers, and air compressors. It had 4,460 square feet of shop space and 17,740 square feet of parking storage space.

(List of the seven other rebuild shops)

10. Other Supply Operations

a. Supply Support to 1st Infantry Division and U.S. Constabulary

Reorganization of the 1st Infantry Division and the U.S. Constabulary required reequipping units in accordance with new Tables of Organization and Equipment. Equipment not immediately available was requisitioned from the United States.

13. Operation VITTLES

The Engineer Division was responsible for construction and maintenance of airfields, runways, ramps, buildings, and hardstands needed to support Operation VITTLES. Early in the period under review, large quantities of Engineer equipment required for construction of new airstrips in Berlin were collected at Hanau Engineer Base Depot. Over one hundred pieces of equipment, including tractors, graders, rollers, scrapers, asphalt distributors, generators, and crushing and screening plants, were dismantled at Hanau, shipped by air to Berlin, and reassembled. This operation often required cutting the frames of some of the larger pieces of equipment and rewelding them in Berlin. By the end of the year, runway construction at Tempelhof Airfield in Berlin was 99 percent complete and that at Tegel Airfield was 97 percent complete. By the end of the year, a total of 2,608,620 man hours of work had been approved for VITTLES projects, of which almost half was for runways, taxiways, and aprons. As airfield construction neared completion, attention was directed more and more toward improving accommodations for VITTLES personnel. To provide adequate accommodations in Berlin and Frankfurt, new barracks were constructed, existing buildings were rehabilitated, and messes, clubs, and other recreation centers were brought to higher standards.

15. Real Estate

a. Reduction of Holdings

During the second half of 1948, military posts continued the program of reducing real estate costs. In spite of a slight increase in facilities under requisition during the third quarter, monthly rentals declined steadily. Real estate holdings for 30 June, 30 September, and 31 December, were as follows:

b. Outstanding Accounts

In July 1948 damage charges for French properties released between 1 April 1947 and 31 March 1948 were forwarded to American (Graves) Registration Command (AGRC) by French authorities. These damage bills were paid by AGRC during the fourth quarter of 1948. Payment was from civil, not Engineer Service, funds. All necessary screening and checking of surplus property documents covering sales of items by the Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commissioner was completed during the period. An evaluation of bridges and bridging transferred to the Belgian Government was completed. Real estate claims of the Belgian Government totaling $415,484 were paid during the fourth quarter. Negotiations toward a blanket settlement of all charges and the execution of a quit-claim for the period 1 July 1946 - 31 March 1947 were progressing. The Belgian Government was expected to present a final figure before 1 February 1949.

c. I.G. Farben Properties

With the establishment of the I.G. Farben Commission as a receiver for the I.G. Farben Industries, measures were taken by Engineer Division during the third quarter to secure payment for I.G. Farben properties held by the United States Forces since 19 July 1945. About 90 percent of these facilities were located in Frankfurt Military Post. Payments amounted to 1,655,000 DM for FY 1946, 3,450,000 DM for FY 1947, and 2,435,000 DM for FY 1948.

16. Intelligence

a. War Projects

Army funds made available during the fourth quarter permitted resumption of intelligence activities which had been curtailed during the third quarter of 1948. During the period under review, seven major intelligence projects were initiated and eleven were completed. This reduced the number of active projects from thirty-one on 30 June to twenty-seven on 31 December.

b. Other Activities

The workload performance in putting documents through the standard checking procedures and in operating a technical library and reproduction service is indicated in the following figures:

b. Secondary Training Missions

All Engineer units with secondary training missions were tested during the third quarter. Units which failed were retested. The training of units assigned secondary training missions was considered excellent during the fourth quarter. All such units were given final tests and were considered proficient in their assigned missions. Training was cut to two hours per month for all personnel who passed. Those not tested and newly assigned continued to train two hours per week.

18. Repairs and Utilities

a. Preventive Maintenance

A preventive maintenance program was inaugurated during the final quarter of 1948. The program was instituted to conserve manpower, improve health and morale, reduce repairs and utilities' costs, and increase the useful life of buildings and other real property by correcting minor errors before they became serious.

b. Other Repairs and Utilities Activities

Studies were conducted to determine whether the repairs and utilities functions of post engineers in the European Command might be established on the same level as those of post engineers in the United States. In the third quarter, surveys of requirements for winterizing ordnance and heavy-equipment-maintenance shops and Operation VITTLES facilities were conducted. All EUCOM cold storage plants were surveyed to insure that they were in optimum working condition. Major packing and crating problems were solved and emphasis was placed on the proper marking and securing of containers. Wood and wood-products conservation was stressed during the third quarter and the use of surplus quartermaster cases for packing and crating was studied.

c. Water Supply

The water supply system serving Grafenwohr Training Area was surveyed during the third quarter to insure adequate and hygienic water. Since many water supply systems in use by U.S. Forces had never been officially approved by the Chief Surgeon, in spite of chlorination and other minimum precautions, a comprehensive survey was undertaken during the period to bring all systems up to standard. This survey was completed during the fourth quarter. Surveys were also made to insure that necessary standby equipment was issued to all posts where needed. Additional chlorination equipment was procured from several German manufacturers to provide stocks for current requirements.

d. Electric Power and Light

A fluorescent lighting system, designed by the Engineer Division, was installed at EUCOM Headquarters. This system was expected to result in a saving of approximately 30 percent in electric power and at the same time to increase the standard of illumination. Similar systems were planned for other installations.

e. Fire Prevention Week

In connection with Fire Prevention Week (3 - 9 October 1948), the Planning and Control Branch, Engineer Division, in cooperation with other EUCOM Divisions, prepared and distributed posters and a proclamation signed by General Clay. Fire Prevention Week, which featured newspaper publicity, radio announcements, fire drills, and parades throughout the Command, served to emphasize both to occupation personnel and to the German population the importance of fire prevention. Preliminary plans were made for a Fire Prevention Week in 1949.

f. Fire Regulations

In October 1948, a revised EUCOM circular on fire regulations was published to provide a working guide for the fire service. A monthly fire-run report, listing all fire runs and losses at military posts, was initiated during the last quarter.

19. Engineer Fiscal Matters

a. Curtailed 1949 German Budget

Several conferences to discuss means of alleviating difficulties imposed on the Engineer mission in the European Command by the stringent German budget for the 1949 fiscal year were held from 8 - 19 September in the office of the Deputy Budget and Fiscal Director. The conferences, called by the Chief Engineer, were attended by representatives of all post commanders, post engineers, and post fiscal officers. The conferences produced an immediate adjustment of funds by projects, a curtailment of less urgent Engineer activities, and a reduction in the number of German personnel employed by the Engineers. The needs of the posts amounted to 32,000,000 DM more than had been allocated. The Engineer Division, however, absorbed the entire amount by releasing approximately 15,000,000 DM held in reserve and drastically reducing the headquarters procurement program. It was anticipated that approximately 5,000,000 DM would be recouped for headquarters procurement from monthly rentals paid in dollars and subsequently converted into deutsche marks. By the end of the year, however, refunds reported by finance officers totaled only 1,342,686 DM.

b. The 1950 German Budget

The German budget (Fiscal Year 1950) for the Engineer Division was submitted to the Deputy Director, Budget and Fiscal Division, in December 1948. Under this budget, the Quartermaster Division would budget and fund mess personnel previously included in the Engineer budget. Similarly, billeting personnel were to be budgeted and funded under the Army Finance System.

c. Appropriated Funds

Invoices and receiving reports obtained for all open-market purchases and contract accounts covering appropriated-fund procurement in Allied and neutral countries were audited, vouchered, and submitted to appropriate accounting and disbursing officers for payment. No backlog existed on 31 December 1948.

In building the bridge, the Engineer Group had to finish the demolition of the nearby railway bridge. Near the new piers was part of a masonry bridge that looked similar to the Castle Design of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This was a fitting tribute the Army Engineering.

Army of Occupation
The regiment remained in Germany in the Allied Occupation Zones in Germany under the command of the U.S. Fifteenth Army, later being deactivated in 1949 (should be 1947). By May 1946 the 332nd was actively involved in rebuilding the airstrip at Wiesbaden. At the time it was known as Fliegerhorst Wiesbaden. It came to be called Wiesbaden Army Airfield (WAAF) and is still in operation today.

After V-E day, the Army was interested in conditions affecting the morale of the troops in the Occupation Zones. To meet the needs of the troops the chief of special services offered programs with recreational athletics. Soldiers could engage in boxing, football, baseball, softball, tennis, golf, track & field, badminton, bowling, swimming, archery and horseshoe pitching. These activities fell under the Army Sports Program.