Ludewig Wehrmacht version 1

The standardization of motor vehicles in 1940, the Schell program, is believed to have had its impact on busses too. Ludewig busses are already the bulk of the Wehrmacht fleet. Opel and Ludewig are market leader when the war starts, so impressed busses are often Opel's, and often build by Ludewig. In the period 1939 - 1944 2880 Einheitsaufbau (unity-body) busses are delivered. The first model produced from 1939 to 1943 is a frame with a sheet metal construction. It is used for normal transport, wounded, Model W39 mobile command room, map room, telephone and radio room. No survivors known.

Now after examining all pictures again and again, and again and again, I decided to regroup a lot of them. Although most busses share the roof rack, the large door in the rear and a straight edged separation of the body and the bonnet, there seem to be variations in these "standard" busses. Some have trim, and even the sloping rear fender. Then it hit me. there are no pictures of this busses left side. Only the ones where the spare wheel is embedded in the body, near the driver.
So, for now I've put all busses on this page that have the aproximate dimensions and, have either the rear middle door, or the straight frontseparator or the embedded spare wheel.
And just like magic, the number of pictures counts up to a reasonable number for a vehicle of this many numbers build. If anyone can prove me wrong.... Please, feel free.

Period photos

blitzbus_ruhr-personel_429-01.jpg blitzbus_ruhr-personel_429-02.jpg blitzbus_ruhr-personel_429-03.jpg blitzbus_ruhr-personel_429-04.jpg blitzbus_ruhr-personel_429-05.jpg

A photoshoot in the courtyard of the Ludewig production. Most likely later in the war-period. Notice that it's almost all women.


blitzbus11_lb_ruhr_manual_396-row4-3.jpg blitzbus11_lb_ruhr_manual_396-row4-4.jpg blitzbus11_lb_ruhr_manual_396-row4-5.jpg blitzbus11_rb_ruhr_manual_431-r5-4.jpg blitzbus11_rb_ruhr_manual_431-r5-5.jpg blitzbus11_b_ruhr_manual_431-r5-6.jpg blitzbus11_lb_ruhr_manual_431-r4-3.jpg blitzbus11_rf_ruhr_manual_431-r4-4.jpg blitzbus11_rf_ruhr_manual_431-r4-6.jpg 1st version Wehrmacht bus. Most likely from an instruction manual 1st version Wehrmacht bus. Most likely from an instruction manual Factory photo Loading through the reardoor. (seems from a manual) A strecher through the reardoor. (seems from a manual) Factory picture 

Loading a strecher and promo pictures. Probably Ludewig factory.


blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-03.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-04.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-07.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-08.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-11.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-14.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-16.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-17.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-19.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-20.jpg
blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-21.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_421-23.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_431-r5-3.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr_manual_431-r6-5.jpg

Different stages of an ambulance bus's folding seats and strechers, showing it's flexibility. Probably at the Ludewig factory.


blitzbus93_rf_ruhr-production_431-r6-2.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr-production_396-row2-2.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr-production_396-row3-3.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr-production_396-row3-5.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr-production_396-row3-6.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr-production_396-row4-1.jpg blitzbus11_int_ruhr-production_396-row4-2.jpg blitzbus11_lb_ruhr-production_396-row1-5.jpg blitzbus11_lb_ruhr-production_396-row2-6.jpg

The construction of the wooden frame.


blitzbus11_l_ruhr-ext-storage_396-row7-3.jpg blitzbus11_l_ruhr-ext-storage_396-row7-4.jpg blitzbus93_l_ruhr-ext-storage_396-row7-2.jpg blitzbus93_lb_ruhr-ext-storage_396-row6-06.jpg blitzbus93_lb_ruhr-ext-storage_396-row5.jpg blitzbus93_lb_ruhr-ext-storage_396-row5-02.jpg blitzbus93_lb_ruhr-ext-storage_396-row5-03.jpg blitzbus93_lb_ruhr-ext-storage_396-row6-05.jpg

Outside storage.


under trees - source unknown eastfront - Source unknown September 5th 1944 nachtegaallaan denbosch. Book on the liberation of Den Bosch. loading into a messerschmidt 323 - source unknown massive sparewheel - scale 1:72 model bus site blitzbus11_lf_spare.jpg blitzbus11_f_mud.jpg
Hiding under the trees, Looks a mobile HQ in late war. though there are childeren playing.  In Russia behind a tractor On september 5 of 1944 this picture is taken in the nachtegaallaan Den Bosch(Netherlands)  Even a Blitz bus fits in a Me323. An ambulance with all kinds of racks. Not very stylish this massive spare wheel, but practical - This picture came from a scale 1:72 model bus site(which?) Another one. Source unknown  In the Russian(?) mud 
blitzbus11_rf.jpg blitzbus11_lb_woodgas.jpg blitzbus11_fl_brussel-gate.jpg blitzbus11_fl_winter.jpg blitzbus11_f_parade-music.jpg blitzbus11_rf_parade-music.jpg blitzbus11_lf_marine.jpg
In the Russian cold  Instruction how to use a wood gas producer / charcoal burner  In front of the Brussels(Belgium) gate that now is part of the war museum  Winter near a russian village An HQ-bus waiting(?...)  ... and following near a music band  A sailer with 2 busses in the background. The right one could be a Wehrmachts-version. The left one certainly isn't.  
blitzbus11_rb_10ss_sanitat_rouen.jpg blitzbus11_rb_10SS_Sanitat_Rouen-burned.jpg
In Rouen(France) a hospitalbus of the 10th ss is lost to the fire.  Same bus. That's all what remains.     
blitzbus11_b_dubbelstriping.jpg blitzbus11_b_`dubbelstriping-rolbahn-det.jpg blitzbus11_rb_dubbelstriping-rolbahn.jpg blitzbus11_rf_dubbelstriping-rolbahn.jpg blitzbus11_lb_dubbelstriping-plains.jpg blitzbus11_rb_images-of-war-africa.jpg
Reportedly this row is al from the same bus. Source unknown          (This picture)Source: Images of war, Afrika 
1st Wehrmacht version, Political unit Bellarussia 1944 - source: Militaria 181(polish) Beutepanzer Russian army, page78 blitzbus11_lf_1944-belorussia-political-unit.jpg Russian operated Blitz bus. The words say: Glory to the Red Army! (Krasnoy Armii - Slava!)
1st Wehrmacht version, Political unit Bellarussia 1944 - source: Militaria 181(polish) Beutepanzer Russian army, page78 Same Russian political unit(?) Source: Unknown Another Russian operated Blitz bus. The words say: Glory to the Red Army! (Krasnoy Armii - Slava!)       
blitzbus11_lb_wl2147_Baydeww2.jpg blitzbus11_rf_lagerhalle-grouppicture.jpg blitzbus11_r_historic.de_bremen-grouppicture.jpg 1948 - source unknown blitzbus11_lf_stranded
A training(?) trip. Source: Baydeww2  Group picture near a servicing(?) shed  Group picture near Bremen(Germany) Luftwaffe training? A post war start.

1st version Wehrmacht bus. Stranded in Russia?

blitzbus11_rf_14nov1941-harbour-shipping.jpg Shipping in Napels 1941 - Source unknown blitzbus11_afrika-docks.jpg
5 window Blitz bus near Tripoli Cabratta. Interiour pictures are never 100% certain of this or that vehicle. This one is.... (see next picture. Source: unknown 5 window Blitz bus near Tripoli Cabratta. A double exposion that pinpoints interiour and exteriour. Source: unknown Same bus as the previous picture - source: Ebay blitzbus11_lf_ambu.jpg - source unknown blitzbus11_rft_ambu.jpg - source unknown
Near Tripoli Cabratta. Interiour pictures are never 100% certain of this or that vehicle. This one is.... (see next picture. Source: unknown Near Tripoli Cabratta. A double exposion that pinpoints interiour and exteriour. Source: unknown Same bus as the previous pictures - source unknown Ambulance bus  Ambulance busses 
blitzbus11_r_508mil-aec-mammoth.jpg
These 2 rows reportedly Rommels bus             
blitzbus11_rf_africa.jpg blitzbus11_l_africa-rommel.jpg blitzbus11_r_rommel-1stBase-acroma.jpg Command bus Gen Rommel 1stBase Acroma blitzbus11_rb_rommelBus.jpg blitzbus11_rf_rommel-africa.jpg blitzbus11_lb_africa-rommel.jpg
Cut out of a bigger picture. The VW follows a SdKfz251  Cut out of a bigger picture. Mussolini's gate  1st base Acroma. From a forum (Which one?)  1st base Acroma. From a forum (Which one?)  An Italian(?) officer visits.   This I have doubts about. But it is in Africa  A huge camouflage net  
Probably shot by an aircraft scene is Africa - source unknown Completely shredded, probably by an airplane in Africa
Africa pictures
The sign says: 'Attention - 200m dangerous road - Wadi el kuf - Slow' Befehlsstelle (Commandpost) blitzbus11_rf_afrika-camo-dugin.jpg August 8th 1942 an Australian Salvage unit uses a coach as office - Austrialian War Memorial Marada Marsa el Brega Januari 1942 - Source unknown Marada Marsa el Brega Januari 1942 - Source unknown Marada Marsa el Brega Januari 1942 - Source unknown
The sign says: 'Attention - 200m dangerous road - Wadi el kuf - Slow' a 'Befehlsstelle' (commandcentre) with it's radiator exposed and a hatch over a window. Note the closed door. Source Opel book Same bus! August 8th 1942 an Australian Salvage unit uses a coach as office Marada Marsa el Brega, January 1942  Marada Marsa el Brega, January 1942  Marada Marsa el Brega, January 1942 
blitzbus11_lb_images-of-war-africa.jpg En route in Africa - Source unknown Derna Africa - Source unknown blitzbus11_rf_images-of-war-africa-jun1942-temp-command.jpg blitzbus11_rf_images-of-war-africa.jpg blitzbus11_r_images-of-war-africa-jun1942-temp-command.jpg detail africa dugin
Source: Images of War, Africa  En route in Africa - Source unknown  Derna in Africa - Source unknown  Source: Images of War, Africa  Source: Images of War, Africa  Source: Images of War, Africa  Dug in. 
massive sparewheel - Africa, (Opel Book) blitzbus11_b_africa.jpg blitzbus11_lft_africa.jpg blitzbus11_horch-kfz15-africa.jpg blitzbus11_lf_pz2-collone.jpg blitzbus11_f_africa.jpg blitzbus11_lb_africa-tent
source "an Opel book" HQ 551  Serpentinenstrasse  Following a Horch Kfz17 radiotruck  Hospital convoy passed by a Pz II  Captured by British troops  1st version Wehrmacht bus. Location: Africa, shade is obviously essential.
blitzbus11_lb-det-africa.jpg - source unknown blitzbus11_r_africa.jpg - source unknown
Officers behind a bus. The man on the right seems to wear civvy clothes  A smoke brake. 

Drawings

Front WH1 - Konrad Molin Back WH1 - Konrad Molin Right WH1 - Konrad Molin Left WH1 - Konrad Molin


Illustrations

Wehrmacht 1st version september 1944, sofia(bulgaria) - source Militaria 181(polish) Beutepanzer Russian army page87 Wehrmacht 1st version, 4th panzerdivision Eastfront1943 - source Militaria 135(polish), panzercolours V, page49
Wehrmacht 1st version september 1944, sofia(bulgaria) - source Militaria 181(polish) Beutepanzer Russian army page87 Wehrmacht 1st version, 4th panzerdivision Eastfront1943 - source Militaria 135(polish), panzercolours V, page49


Production start:1939
Production end:1943
Numbers:2880 minus 44 production
Engine:3.6 L
Chassis:4.7 Niederrahmen
Range:Road: 280km
Number of windows: 7
Number of seats: 15 wooden benches (30 seats)


index | | last revised: January 14 2013