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Wehrwolf
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Führerhauptquartier Wehrwolf was the codename used for one of Adolf Hitler's World War II Eastern Front military headquarters between 1942 and 1943. It was one of many other Führer Headquarters throughout Europe.
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The name is derived from Werwolf, which is German for werewolf, but by order of Hitler was spelled like in Wehr, which is German for defense (as in Wehrmacht or Feuerwehr), a spelling that had already been used by Hermann Löns in 1910 for his book Der Wehrwolf that describes resistance in the Thirty Years' War.
The Nazis also used the term Werwolf as a codename for clandestine resistance groups which would carry out guerrilla attacks against the occupying forces towards the end of World War II.
The complex was located in a pine forest about 5 miles north of Vinnytsia in Ukraine. The complex consisted of about 20 wooden cottages and barracks and up to three "B" class bunkers, surrounded by ring of barbed wire and ground defensive positions connected by underground tunnels. A couple of observation points were set up on platforms in the oak trees surrounding the pine forest.
A tea house, a barber shop, a bathhouse, a sauna, a cinema theater and even an open swimming pool were on quarters for habitants' use.
The bunkers were constructed by Organisation Todt and local Ukrainian workers. The complex was served by an airfield in nearby Kalinowka.
Adolf Hitler lived mainly at FHQ Wolfsschanze; he stayed at FHQ Wehrwolf only three times;
On the occasion of his departure in March 1943, a bomb was planted on his plane, which failed to go off. See The aeroplane assassination attempt of the German resistance.
- Zeidler, Zeigert, Die Führerhauptquartiere.
- Christa Schroeder, Er war mein Chef.
