The Mauser Train: High Adventure in the Last Days of WWII

Published on May 18, 2021
Duration: 20:43

This video details the incredible 'Mauser Train' evacuation of R&D assets at the end of WWII. It highlights the logistical challenges, including moving 29 boxcars of material by truck and bicycle, and the perilous journey involving air attacks. The story culminates in the discovery of the train by Allied forces and the eventual fate of its valuable prototypes, including the StG 45.

Quick Summary

The 'Mauser Train' was a secret WWII evacuation of Mauser's R&D assets, including the StG 45 and Me 262 cannons, from Oberndorf to the Alps in 1945. It faced logistical hurdles and air attacks before being discovered by Allied forces.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: The Mauser Train Story
  2. 01:58Albert Speer's Evacuation Order
  3. 03:33Train Inventory: Prototypes & Cannons
  4. 05:27Logistics: Trucks & Bicycles
  5. 06:51Air Attack on the Train
  6. 10:09Arrival and Hiding in the Alps
  7. 11:25Allied Discovery and Seizure
  8. 13:33Lossnitzer's Post-War Career
  9. 15:29Fate of the Cargo
  10. 17:46Legacy: The StG 45

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the 'Mauser Train' during WWII?

The 'Mauser Train' refers to the secret evacuation of Mauser's research and development assets, including prototypes like the StG 45 and Me 262 aircraft cannons, from Oberndorf to the Alps in February 1945 to protect them from Allied advances.

What challenges did the Mauser Train evacuation face?

The evacuation faced significant challenges, including a bombing of the power station, poor local rail infrastructure requiring transport by truck and bicycle, and direct air attacks by Allied P-47 Thunderbolts during its journey.

What valuable items were on the Mauser Train?

The train carried crucial items such as drawings, test materials, prototype weapons like the Volkspistole and StG 45, and vital 50mm/55mm aircraft cannons intended for the Me 262 fighter jet.

What happened to the Mauser Train's cargo after the war?

Allied intelligence located the train in June 1945. Much of the cargo was ransacked during transport to Paris and Britain, and experimental aircraft cannons were lost when the aircraft they were installed in crashed.

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