Signal Supply in the Post-War Period

(Sources: Various volumes of the OCCUPATION FORCES IN EUROPE series)
In the early months of the occupation there was a steadily increasing consolidation of signal equipment at permanent depots within Germany:

Neu Aubing (near Munich), Depot S-24
Mannheim, Depot S-613
Nürnberg, Depot S-870

These signal depots had originally been set up by the armies (3rd and 7th) during their advance through Germany. In the months immediately following VE-Day, Seventh Army supply operations centered on developing S-613 at Mannheim as the principal signal depot in the Western Military District, while Third Army selected the depot at Neu Aubing (S-24) as the only Eastern Military District signal depot for storage and issue of Signal equipment. The depot at Mannheim (S-613) was designated to receive all fixed plant equipment. The three signal depots were transferred, along with similar depots set up in the Bremen Enclave and in Berlin, to the control of TSFET (Theater Services Forces, European Theater - the post-war replacement of the wartime Communications Zone) in October 1945.

Major supply projects in the immediate post-hostilities period (second half of 1945):
Repair and packaging of Signal supplies for shipment to the Pacific (redeployment).
Redeployment of Signal troops; - on V-E Day, approx 75,000 Signal troops on hand in the ETO; - of the above number, 33,000 were assigned to ComZ - by end of July, 85% of signal construction troops in ComZ had been redeployed.
Shipments of signal supplies from depots in western Europe to the U.S. and Germany (largely completed by the end of March 1946); - total of 160,000 tons of signal equipment on hand on March 31 1946; - by March 31 1946, 95% declared surplus; - by end of June (1946), 141,671 tons of surplus property held in Signal depots.
Establishment of permanent signal depots in the U.S. Zone; - by the end of June (1946), permanent signal depots had been established at:
Mannheim
Nürnberg
Neu Aubing (Munich)

Major supply projects during the first half of 1946:
Disposal of captured enemy equipment;
Furnishing equipment required by the U.S. Constabulary

Signal depot operating responsibilities were transferred, as scheduled, from Continental Base Section (CBS) to OCSigO with the closure of the former (May 15 - Jun 15, 1947).

Responsibilities of the Supply & Procurement Div:
Supervision of Signal Corps depot operations;
Formulation of policies and supervision of operations with respect to captured enemy material;
Repair and maintenance of signal equipment;
Procurement and production of signal equipment;
Disposition of surplus signal property;
Determination of Theater requirements for signal items;
Control of Theater levels of signal supply.

During the third quarter of 1946, the U.S. Constabulary continued to place heavy demands for signal equipment on the Supply & Procurement Div.

On Sep 30 1946, surplus property on hand in six depots in France and Belgium totaled 120,585 long tons. No items remained for shipment to the U.S. or to Germany. This surplus in the liberated areas was disposed of by Western Base Section before Mar 31 1947.

On Sep 30 1946, signal supplies on hand in the six signal depots in Germany totaled 81,424 long tons. The signal depots were located at:
Mannheim
Berlin
Neu Aubing
Bremen
Nürnberg
Hanau

In 1946, in accordance with the new Theater policy of consolidating technical installations at key depots located at strategic points within the US Zone of Occupation, a central signal depot and maintenance shop was established on 5 July 1946 at Hanau. The depot site had been chosen because of its central location in the US Zone and the availability of hardstanding storage space.

The 22nd Sig Svc Gp, formerly located at Mannheim, moved to Hanau to operate the new depot. Hq & Hq Co of the Group was augmented by Company B, 126th Signal Battalion.(1) The 22nd Signal Brigade had it's origins in Frankfurt Germany with the activation, on 1 December 1945, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 22nd Signal Service Group with duties supporting the Army of Occupation.

The disposition program initiated as part of the effort to consolidate signal supply at the central signal depot in Hanau, provided that all items needed for Theater reserve levels be moved to Hanau. Items requested by the War Department were returned to the Z.I.; demilitarized captured signal equipment was released to OMGUS; the remaining signal equipment was declared as surplus and transferred to other services or declared to the Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commissioner. Between 5 July 1946 and 1 May 1947, when it became a point of issue, the Hanau Signal Depot was engaged in receiving and repairing stocks from the other depots, in improving its storage and repair facilities, and in obtaining and training a German staff.

On 20 June 1948, the 22nd Signal Service Group was inactivated and replaced by the 7797 Signal Depot Group.

The closing of the Mannheim Signal Depot in August, 1948, (2) and the disposition of remaining surplus stocks through the Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commissioner (OFLC) and Staatliche Erfassungs-Gesellschaft für Öffentliches Gut (STEG), left - at the end of 1948 - signal supplies concentrated at Wels, Austria, the Hanau Signal Depot, and (military) post installations, and enabled the Hanau Signal Depot to assume the central supply role designated for it early in 1946.

The Hanau Signal Depot was replaced in June 1952 by the Rhine Signal Depot (in Pirmasens).

(1) The other depots were operated during the same period as follows:
Mannheim Signal Depot - 543rd Signal Base Depot Company and 192nd Signal Repair Company
Bremen Signal Depot - 218th Signal Depot Company
Neu Aubing Signal Depot - 51st Signal Depot Company
Nürnberg Signal Depot - 221st Signal Depot Company

(2) Nürnberg Signal Depot was the first to closed out - latter part of 1947; this was followed by the Bremen Signal Depot (May, 1948); the Neu Aubing Signal Depot (June 1948); and then the Mannheim Signal Depot.