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.

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

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.

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

The construction of the wooden frame.

Outside storage.

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
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.
In Rouen(France) a hospitalbus of the 10th ss is lost to the fire.	Same bus. That's all what remains.
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	Same Russian political unit(?) Source: Unknown	Another Russian operated Blitz bus. The words say: Glory to the Red Army! (Krasnoy Armii - Slava!)
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?
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
These 2 rows reportedly Rommels bus
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
	Completely shredded, probably by an airplane in Africa
Africa pictures
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
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.
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.
Officers behind a bus. The man on the right seems to wear civvy clothes	A smoke brake.

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

index | | last revised: January 14 2013