Hitler's Train!

I recently have found out that hitler had an immense personal train, called Amerika. It had 4 AA Flak 38 batteries on it and had 30 regular carriages. it would have taken tanks, aircraft, and AT guns to destroy it. Just a cool thing i found out.

 

There were trains used during the war that were more heavier armored and armed. There is a pic of one of the Flak 38 cars in this thread along with other info and pics about armored trains and others here,
http://www.ww2f.com/weapons-wwii/24794-trains-wwii.html

 

I know there were better trains, this is just a 1938 model, only used 12 times.

 

All that for one train? You don't think that a single section of a blown up track could stop it

 

The tracks were fortified, but I was talking about an attack on the train directly, plus Hitler's movements were unpredictable, therefore it would have been hard to sabotage the correct track.

 

How much creadance can be given to a TV programme I don't know but according to a "popular history" programme on the assasination attempts on Hitler the tracks were not protected, unpredicablity was the primary protection of Hitler, working on the "find the Queen" card trick.

It is this which prevented a direct attack, resistance fighters cannot hang around waiting for a possible target of opportunity. however on one occasion in Poland a resistance group came close to derailing Amerika, derailing the train in front (a standard troop train).

It would be difficult if not impossible to protect a rail system from terrorism even today and except for the terminals espcecially at the Eagles Nest there would be no additional protection as such.

Steve

 

Yes. trains are always vulnerable no matter what. A couple of rockets or bombs in the line and it stops. Plus, If you place a bomb and detonate it under the train, it derails right there and then.



Cheers...

 

THe tracks were fortified? The entire German Rail infrastructure was fortified against Aircraft, bombs, tanks and AT guns?

Razin's answer is right. Hitler used to send other trains 15 minutes ahead of his own to be a dummy for explosive's and damaged rails, he also continued to change his schedule at the last minute.

Trains themselves are very fragile since they need to stay on there tracks.

 

Guess you're right...