SZ/AEAF/1/1/1 - Importance of certain locomotive depots and railway centres in Western and Northern France and Belguim, 12/1/44

SZ/AEAF/1/1/1

Item

Importance of certain locomotive depots and railway centres in Western and Northern France and Belguim, 12/1/44

1944

2 leaves

Brant, E. W.

With appendix A only [cf. SZ/AEAF/1/1/2], a list of principal French locomotive depots in order of numerical importance, i.e. the number of locomotives "shedded" or otherwise available.

Brant points out that the locomotive stock of the French railways is "just sufficient" for essential civilian needs, "that portion of French industry which it is the German interest to keep working", and the day to day military needs of the German military authorities; there is no reserve capacity to cope with emergencies.

In considering the effect of heavy air attacks on French and Belgian railways he argues that the effort would be more effectively deployed if attacks were concentrated in Northern and Western France rather than on the system as a whole.