Major Alfred Becker and the Paris Baukommando

Hey there,

just joined the forum after reading your post on Becker... I am researching Pz.Rgt. 22 and I've come across a lot of info on Becker, but I will have to look it up. I will keep you posted !!!

Greetings from another Belgian !

 

Cheers Dumas, the more about Becker the better, so your input will be very welcome.
About the Champagne Pommery is among the highest quality brands in Reims , so the man was a delikatessen connaisseur and knew where to get his wine. Von Ribbentropp himself represented this Champagne in Germany before the war (as wel as Mumm) .

 

As a new member joined 23rd Nov, I came across this site lookink for information on Major Becker, Thanks to all the contributers who have expanded my knowledge on this interesting subject.

 

You're welcome , I enjoy reading this thread too

 

A few years ago I did some searching for Carl and turned up pics of some of Becker's confections....and some more details.

Regarding the limited numbers of some series....not only was the small scale of his initial enterprise a limiting factor - you have to remember what he was working with in what remained of the french armour; basically only what couldn't be re-used to equip units in 1940-41 for Barbarossa! I.E. what the even Wehrmacht had regarded in 1940 as scrap! So I doubt he was ever removing the turrets from perfectly good tanks.

And the French General Reserve didn't sound like too healthy a place to be storing tanks and other armour anyway - in 1939 and 1940, the French plundered their own reserve for tanks to use for other duties, and refurbished FT-17s to give to the Polish divisions that were formating, to use as airfield defence...and eventually in an attempt to replace their own battlefield losses. But they found that a large number of the stored FT-17s had simply rusted out in storage! And when building the French-gunned confections....he'd be up against finding guns that simply hadn't had the lands worn out of the barrels through use.

One of my particular favourite Becker creations....who wouldn't run away from THIS???

 

[FONT=&amp]I have these numbers if they are any help.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Lorrain Schlepper[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]15 cm FH13[/FONT][FONT=&amp]: 94 converted[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]10.5cm FH18[/FONT][FONT=&amp]:12 converted[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Geschutzwagen 39H[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]10.5cm FH18[/FONT][FONT=&amp]:48 converted[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]7.5cm Pak 40[/FONT][FONT=&amp]:24 converted[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Geschutzwagen FMC[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]10.5cm FH18[/FONT][FONT=&amp]:12 converted[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]7.5cm Pak 40[/FONT][FONT=&amp]: 10 converted[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Panzerkampfwagen 35R[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]4.7cm Pak(t): 174[/FONT] [FONT=&amp]converted[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Regards Ian.[/FONT]

 

Another French AFV used by the Germans was the Char B-2 bis rearmed with a 105mm Howitzer
(10.5cm leFH 18/3 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen B-2 (f) ) 15 x converted in 1942.

The Germans also made use of captured Italian AFVs, they made good use of the various S.P.G.s the Italians used in North Africa.

Carro Commando M41 & M42 (Panzerbelehleswagen M41 771 (i) & M42 772 (i) )
16 x Confiscated & 41 x Produced from 1943/45
Semovente Da 47/32 (Sturmeschutz L6 mit 47/32 770 (i) )
78 x Confiscated
Semovente Da 75/18 (Sturmeschutz M42 mit 75/18 850 (i) )
123 x Confiscated & 55 x Produced from 1943/44
Semovente Da 75/34 (Sturmeschutz M42 mit 75/34 851 (i) )
36 x Confiscated & 80 x Produced from 1943/44
Semovente Da 105/25 (Sturmeschutz M43 mit 105/25 853 (i) )
25 x Confiscated & 91 x Produced from 1943/44

Even more rare was the two below:
Sturmeschutz M43 mit 75/34 851 (i) maybe 29 made from 1944/45
Sturmeschutz M43 mit 75/46 852 (i) maybe 11 made from 1944/45

Regards Ian.