Sunday, February 28, 2021

Clement Attlee's Cabinet (1945)

Clement Attlee's 1945 Cabinet. Photo by James Jarche/Popperfoto
 

British Prime Minister and Labour Party leader, Clement Attlee (seated in front row, centre), with members of his new cabinet in the garden of No 10 Downing Street in London following Labour's victory in the 1945 United Kingdom general election, 23rd August 1945.

Front row, left to right: Leader of the House of Lords Christopher Addison, Lord Chancellor William Jowitt, President of the Board of Trade Sir Stafford Cripps, Lord Privy Seal Arthur Greenwood, Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin, Clement Attlee, Leader of the House of Commons Herbert Morrison, Chancellor Hugh Dalton, First Lord of the Admiralty Albert Alexander, Home Secretary James Chuter Ede, and Minister of Education Ellen Wilkinson.

Back row, left to right: Minister of Health Aneurin Bevan, Minister of Labour George Isaacs, Secretary of State for Air William Wedgwood Benn, Colonies Secretary George Hall, Secretary of State for India and Burma Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, Secretary of State for War Jack Lawson, Secretary of State for Scotland Joseph Westwood, Minister of Fuel and Power Manny Shinwell and Minister of Agriculture Tom Williams.

 

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=442195080382655&set=gm.1679878278864255

Loading Firebombs into a Bomber

 

 
An unidentified member of the US Army Chemical Warfare Service (CWS) loads clusters of M-74 firebombs into the open bomb bay door of a bomber at the Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, September 23, 1947. The aircraft is an NAA B-25 Mitchell, medium bomber.


Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=443459473589549&set=gm.1681256412059775

British Medals on Display

 

A female worker poses beside a display of finished decorations and medals at the Royal Mint based at Royal Mint Court in London in February 1946.

Medals in trays are, top row left to right, Military Cross, OBE civil medal and Territorial Decoration. Bottom row from left, OBE medal for women, Distinguished Flying Cross decoration and the Imperial Service Medal.

Medals in trays are, top row from left, Distinguished Flying Cross decoration, OBE medal with bow for women and Air Force Cross decoration. Second row from left, Territorial Decoration, OBE Military award, George Cross, OBE civil medal and Baronet's Badge. Third row from left, Military Medal, Military Cross and General Service Medal. Below is the Imperial Service Medal.

 

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1681446002040816/?__cft__[0]=AZXngA1ewGk8NVxw3ac79ihX8rrHfM7U1RIE0k9elf-V2RnZRHoOu99t0wvbvjmtrErP6_5DJ1m361z93mOk0fqcS0xbNM2yUojqBuaaOVAFdIvFhPGqCWerMNCq8FJXNn2NAdbt9Lszt_0Q9E-Rovyq&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Bio of General Sir Neil Ritchie

 
British Army officer General Sir Neil Ritchie (1897-1983), General Officer Commanding Scottish Command and Governor of Edinburgh Castle in his office in Edinburgh, Scotland on 8th January 1946.

General Sir Neil Methuen Ritchie, GBE, KCB, DSO, MC, KStJ (29 July 1897 – 11 December 1983) was a British Army officer who saw service during both the world wars. He is most notable during the Second World War for commanding the British Eighth Army in the North African Campaign from November 1941 until being dismissed in June 1942. Despite this, his career did not end. Richie later commanded XII Corps throughout the campaign in Northwest Europe, from June 1944 until Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) in May 1945.

Ritchie rise through the ranks coincided with the earliest phases of the war when British fortunes were at their lowest ebb. The Eighth Army, fighting in the North African Campaign, was the only British land force engaging the German Army anywhere in the world. After some early successes against the Italians the British were pushed back following the arrival of the Afrikakorps under Erwin Rommel. Ritchie was originally intended as a temporary appointment until a suitable commander could be found, but in fact ended up commanding the Eighth Army for nearly seven months. He was in command of the Eighth Army at the Battle of Gazala in May–June 1942 where he failed to exercise strong command over the Army and the British and Commonwealth forces were heavily defeated, losing the port of Tobruk. He was sacked by Auchinleck on 25 June prior to the First Battle of El Alamein.

The historian Richard Mead has kind words for Ritchie:

"Notwithstanding this shattering blow to his reputation, he managed to pick himself up, to play to his strengths and, by the end of the War, to re-establish himself, if not as a great general, then at least as a highly competent one."



Source :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1682156208636462/?__cft__[0]=AZWz_dceQGxhtnOZ5Nu_ej8J-opzLcII7VHOosBYQz4jlbFHRDvld6TJh_TCvTVMKMALP_Ti8fgZhKH9AwnFAci8-2pNobgWbTleoF_3QOH-K6xusW5L-8MIox1_Zk3AY36-ues74IbW4gvrBrO-hG5J&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Bio of Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Nye

 

 
British Army officer General Sir Archibald Nye (1895-1967), recently appointed Governor of Madras, posed in uniform at his house in Kensington, London on 24th January 1946.

Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Edward Nye GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, KCB, KBE, MC (23 April 1895 – 13 November 1967) was a senior British Army officer who served in both world wars. In the latter he served as Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff (VCIGS).

On 20 May 1939, Nye was promoted to colonel, with the temporary rank of brigadier, and sent to India to raise a brigade, commanding the Nowshera Brigade from May 1939 to January 1940. In February 1940 he returned to London to take up the post of Deputy Director of Staff Duties, War Office and became Director of Staff Duties with the acting rank of major-general from 1 November. Promoted to substantive major-general on 18 November 1941, in December he became Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff with the acting rank of lieutenant-general from 5 December. His most important function in this role was to represent the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Alan Brooke, when he was unable to attend one of the many committees on which he sat such as the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the Defence Committee (Operations), the War Cabinet and the Army Council. The enormous burdens placed on Brooke meant that he needed to delegate many of his tasks and for this he relied heavily on Nye. The partnership was highly successful and Nye remained in the job for the rest of the war. It could be said that while Brooke ran the war, Nye ran the army. Advanced to the temporary rank of lieutenant-general on 5 December 1942, in the 1944 Birthday Honours Nye was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the first of five knighthoods he would ultimately be conferred with. He was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant general on 14 September 1944. Nye retired on 29 March 1946.


Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Nye
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=444232173512279&set=gm.1682157755302974

Stuka of StG 2 "Immelmann"

 

Junkers Ju 87D "Stuka" of II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2) ‘Immelmann’ being prepared for an operation. On the engine cowling of the aircraft is the Bamberger Horseman emblem, which Geschwaderkommodore Ernst Kupfer had created for the unit. The red circle signifying 5. Staffel. The photograph was taken by PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) photographer Siegfried Lauterwasser in mid-1943. In late June and early July 1943, StG 2 moved to the Kharkov region in preparation for Operation Citadel, the Battle of Kursk. Ernst Kupfer took command of the wing, effective from 13 March 1943. Stab./StG 2 moved to Kharkov-East and was followed by I./StG 2 on 4 July. The group reported 37 Ju 87s on 1 July. II./StG 2 moved to Kharkov-North on 5 July under the command of Hans-Karl Stepp [from 17 June 1943] with 36 Ju 87s. III./StG 2 joined Stab. and I./StG 2 at Kharkov-East with 35 Ju 87s reported on 1 July 1943.


Source :
https://airwarpublications.com/ernst-kupfer-earticle-available/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturzkampfgeschwader_2

Legion Condor

 

 
Photo of a German Condor Legion Volunteer in Spain

On 27th July, 1936, Adolf Hitler sent the the Spanish Nationalists 26 German fighter aircraft. He also sent 30 Junkers 52s from Berlin and Stuttgart to Morocco. Over the next couple of weeks the aircraft transported over 15,000 troops to Spain. The fighter aircraft soon went into action and the Germans suffered their first losses when airmen Helmut Schulze and Herbert Zeck were killed on 15th August.

In September 1936, Lieutenant Colonel Walther Warlimont of the German General Staff arrived as the German commander and military adviser to General Francisco Franco. The following month Warlimont suggested that a German Condor Legion should be formed to fight in the Spanish Civil War.

The initial force consisted a Bomber Group of three squadrons of Ju-52 bombers; a Fighter Group with three squadrons of He-51 fighters; a Reconnaissance Group with two squadrons of He-99 and He-70 reconnaissance bombers; and a Seaplane Squadron of He-59 and He-60 floatplanes.

Adolf Hitler hoped this would not be necessary as General Francisco Franco claimed he was on the verge of victory. This prediction proved to be wrong and in November the International Brigades and aircraft and tanks from the Soviet Union began arriving in Madrid.

Hitler now gave permission for the formation of the Condor Legion. The initial force consisted a Bomber Group of three squadrons of Ju-52 bombers; a Fighter Group with three squadrons of He-51 fighters; a Reconnaissance Group with two squadrons of He-99 and He-70 reconnaissance bombers; and a Seaplane Squadron of He-59 and He-60 floatplanes.

The Condor Legion, under the command of General Hugo Sperrle, was an autonomous unit responsible only to Franco. It was initially equipped with around 100 aircraft and 5,136 men. The legion would eventually total nearly 12,000 men. Sperrle demanded higher performance aircraft from Germany and he eventually received the Heinkel He111, Junkers Stuka and the Messerschmitt Bf109. It participated in all the major engagements including Brunete, Teruel, Aragon and Ebro.

The Condor Legion participated in all the major engagements including Brunete, Teruel, Aragon and Ebro. During the war Werner Moelders was credited with fourteen kills, more than any other German pilot.

In the Asturias campaign in September 1937, Adolf Galland experimented with new bombing tactics. This became known as carpet bombing (dropping all bombs on the enemy from every aircraft at one time for maximum damage). German aircraft dropped 16,953,700 kilos of bombs during the war and air units expended 4,327,949 rounds of machine-gun ammunition.

A total of 19,000 Germans served in the Spanish Civil War. Of these, 298 were lost, with 173 being killed by the enemy. This included 102 aircrew, 27 fighter pilots and 21 anti-aircraft crew. A large number were killed in accidents and others died of illness. The Condor Legion lost 72 aircraft to enemy action. Another 160 were lost in flying accidents.

Source :
https://www.passionmilitaria.com/t51197-la-legion-condor
https://spartacus-educational.com/SPcondor.htm

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Briefing of 355th Fighter Squadron

 

Fighter pilots from the U.S. 355th Fighter Squadron gather around their squadron commander as he briefs them prior to a figher mission, near Ober-Olm, Germany, 1945.


Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=440499133885583&set=gm.1677772582408158

Brigadier General Leonard 'Lee' Gerow

 
Brigadier General Lee Saunders Gerow (March 29, 1891 - May 19, 1982) was a decorated United States Army officer with service in World War I and World War II. He was the younger brother of General Leonard T. Gerow. At the beginning of World War II, Lee Gerow was appointed a commander of the newly activated 338th Infantry Regiment, which was part of the 85th Infantry Division under the command of Major General John B. Coulter. The regiment, which was stationed at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, conducted the Basic infantry training until the end of the year 1943. He was also promoted to the rank of brigadier general in that year and was also appointed Assistant commanding general of the 85th Infantry Division.


Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=440529117215918&set=gm.1677810285737721

Ritterkreuzträger Wilhelm Walther


Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) Wilhelm Walther of the Brandenburger. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 24 June 1940 as Oberleutnant and Stosstruppführer 4.Kompanie / Baulehrbataillon z.b.V. 800. Walther was awarded his Ritterkreuz for capturing a strategic bridge at Gennep during the assault on the Netherlands. Leading an 8-man team disguised as Dutch military police escorting German prisoners, they made their assault seizing the bridge and disabling the detonators.

Unpublished eyewitness interviews and photos of members of the "Brandenburg Division" (Source Agentur Meier zu Hartum). A special unit of the Wehrmacht whose tasks included attacks far behind enemy lines, sabotage and cooperation with opposition groups abroad, is still known today under the name “Brandenburger”. The commander of the 1st regiment of the Brandenburg Division reports in a detailed interview about his war experiences in Holland, France, in the Balkans, in Russia and as a prisoner of war. About 160 private photos (b/w and color) come exclusively from the hand of the first Ritterkreuzträger of the "Brandenburger". The statements of the Ritterkreuzträger are supplemented by his Ordonanzoffizier Heinz D. Heinz D. has written down his personal memories of the war in detail on 120 pages. A very interesting bundle on the history of the German commando force of the 2nd World War that is waiting to be processed or published. We are happy to help colleagues from production companies, as well as book authors and "special-interest" magazines with handpicked photo and film material. More information can be found HERE.

Source :
https://www.brennpunkt-zeitgeschichte.de/neuigkeiten/unveroffentlichte-zeitzeugeninterviews-fotos-von-angehorigen-d-division-brandenburg/?fbclid=IwAR0wGdAoxLzUybefdzayKVugRsfcVSjeUxGmWDAjONMnkArn_fDS5EbaJHw
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1676376285881121/?__cft__[0]=AZXcZGt2RqqpjxzvRzDznAUsmpaO4hLbZAPXvoQzQVPGm9ofqGLQmdmdKDEnh-BZNtab7aGep7cfgmrrzALbJ9z72rWVrp2-ejRQfLpWdypAfTtyLR-X8su1uVvJQ5qeSe2WpwXJHc47bBJXgSYa2Cuc&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Mustang Pilots Returned from a Training Mission

Pilots of North American A-36A Mustangs, return from a gunnery training mission, 1943. Behind we can see a A-36A Mustang aircraft of a training squadron at Harding Field, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The new Harding Army Air Field were opened on 27 September 1941, in the last days before World War II. It was used by the United States Army Air Forces Technical Service Command as a maintenance and supply base, and during the war, hundreds of flyers received flight training in the city. Harding Field Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius O'Connor was credited with the first official landing at Harding Field. In reality, the first plane had landed there the day before when foggy conditions at the Downtown Airport on Goodwood Blvd. forced Lt. J. B. Thomas to divert to Harding Field. The Harding Army Air Field would be renamed Ryan Airport in 1954.


Source :
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/world-war-2-color-part2
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=438757517393078&set=gm.1675666759285407
https://www.wbrz.com/news/happy-birthday-btr-historic-baton-rouge-airport-turns-77/
https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=14159

No. 5 Squadron Sunderland NZ4113 'M' in Flight

 


Some nice air to air views of a No. 5 Squadron Sunderland NZ4113 'M' in flight over the Waitemata Harbour and the Auckland harbour bridge in 1944.

No. 5 Squadron RNZAF is a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force formed during November 1941 in Fiji. It remains on active duty and logged 2,300 hours flight time in 2007.

Initially, the squadron was equipped with Vickers Vincents. From the outbreak of hostilities with Japan, the squadron operated the Short Singapore Mk.IIIs (transferred in October 1941 from No. 205 Squadron RAF) mainly on maritime patrol and anti-submarine duties, rescuing more than fifty survivors of ditched aircraft and successfully attacking a Japanese submarine in the process with the elderly Singapores. These types were superseded by Consolidated PBY Catalinas, which aided the air-sea rescue capability. The squadron moved from Fiji in late 1944 to operate between Espiritu Santo and the Admiralty Islands. During this time the later conqueror of Mount Everest, Edmund Hillary, served with the squadron. In November 1944, the squadron moved to Luganville Seaplane Base on Espiritu Santo to carry out anti-submarine patrols and escort duty. In August 1945, the squadron was withdrawn to Fiji.




Source :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1675710325947717/?__cft__[0]=AZV6AaZA39GQ6sgMEarWLAWJyAEAXlLunSv1LPgYwPT7wJlD1HX72gjhxaYaAHdKusJJ-oQQaOP_3i0NaLdWlD6HP0I54NAaKO-JhTuc2zU3OlfRYkk5Pm48GLpGVgl1XFHYbktB2zVXtKqv0a9dhm29Y8tCgIBLqMKxXGdESjfMhgeWu0TJQncjLUWHbiR3qt4&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Monday, February 15, 2021

Captain Charles S. Hudson in the Nose of a B-17

 

 
Captain Charles S. Hudson, the most decorated bombardier of the US Army Air Corps' 8th Air Force, in the nose of a B-17 bomber at a base in England, mid-1940s.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3838202466266538&set=gm.1674090432776373
https://www.gettyimages.ie/detail/news-photo/capt-charles-s-hudson-the-most-decorated-bombardier-of-the-news-photo/103327701

Abandoned French Char B1 tank

Capitaine Brueneau’s Char B1 tank “Verdun II” of 37e Bataillon de Chars de Combat (BCC). At Solre le Château on the evening of 16th May 1940, one of their tracks was hit by a shell during fighting against the 7th Panzer Division, immobilising the tank and forcing Brueneau and his crew to abandoned the vehicle.
 

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3791552004234357&set=gm.1673956792789737

Sunday, February 14, 2021

US Pilot Adjusts His Oxygen Mask

 

 
While still the ground at an unspecified base, American Captain Louis Detoni adjusts his oxygen mask as he sits in front of what appears to the bombardier's position in the nose of heavy bomber, England, 1940s.


Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3828235250596593&set=gm.1671348413050575

Mechanic Strips the Engine of a B-17

 
'Little Miss Mischief', a Boeing B-17 of the 8Th Air Force, made a belly landing at the home base after a mission over Germany. Cpl. Irving Flechner of Bronx, N.Y., salvage mechanic, strips the engine of useable parts.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3824562110963907&set=gm.1670429193142497

B-17s of the 381st Bomb Group

 

B-17 Flying Fortresses, (VP-S, serial number 42-97059) nicknamed "Marsha Sue", (GD-P, serial number 44-6163) and (VP-V, serial number 43-37791), of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. They are Heading towards Bury St Edmunds, approx 10 miles away, Village of Kentford Suffolk behind the last B-17 VP-V.


Source :
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2755
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3825469810873137&set=gm.1670678796450870

North American P-82 Twin Mustang


North American P-82 Twin Mustang, 1947. Photos by Rudy Arnold. View of the U.S. Army Air Forces North American P-82B Mustang "Betty Jo" (s/n 44-65168) with Lt. Col. Robert Thacker and Lt. John Ard in the cockpits upon arrival at LaGuardia Field, New York after making its record setting flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to New York, February 28, 1947.

The North American F-82 Twin Mustang is the last American piston-engine fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. Based on the North American P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was originally designed as a long-range escort fighter for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress in World War II. The war ended well before the first production units were operational.

In the postwar era, Strategic Air Command used the planes as a long-range escort fighter. Radar-equipped F-82s were used extensively by the Air Defense Command as replacements for the Northrop P-61 Black Widow as all-weather day/night interceptors. During the Korean War, Japan-based F-82s were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. The first three North Korean aircraft destroyed by U.S. forces were shot down by F-82s, the first being a North-Korean Yak-11 downed over Gimpo Airfield by the USAF 68th Fighter Squadron.





 

 

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1671343026384447/?__cft__[0]=AZUMKFJegfM2uXwkONX_ChQShF8unbQSeeyoDEDkt-TUmpF502xYDAZz1q4Q34WH_tb7BpRipR0hTK1ItJt-DO6I15yLPfTbK1n4f_Ya3zKLb5QDzWPQnDtMVp74dGWkA1Dfd22z2GCD2Wj5Eh9QjWp4Ajhme61nv0jkNVgjaoHaX1lWUGWmlvg5JpsPd9I3P5g&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

The 15,000th Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Fighter

 


The 15,000th Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Fighter in flight. Photos by Hans Groenhoff. This was the 15,000th Curtiss fighter built. The P-40N was given a special paint scheme during November of 1944, with the national insignia of all the countries which used Curtiss aircraft, although not necessarily the P-40. Some of the countries visible are Cuba, China, France, England, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Turkey, Columbia, Netherlands East Indies, Free French, Portugal and Columbia, with several repeated.













Source :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1671647593020657/?__cft__[0]=AZVZ-Oa1E-AgBiBrfn3DAVS1NHnekRfcCxnQ6C2qxAnb80xUgFX-rqbv-glpkW3N4aUC-i8y4BeC675bqmKq679e8esD9HcE6EDJXQgoQ4uNCjvxZGe0PcVsE4vxBPMQS9UsNVVpRbysTxWiIw7HKKXNDj-i1oXO_OIi1VfiREj9VVeSgts0smhzr8ye_gGp9Ks&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Ground Crew Of The B-17 'Idiot's Delight'

 

Ground Crew Of The Boeing B-17 'Idiot's Delight' England

Idiot's Delight was the first B-17 of the 94th Bomber group to survive 50 missions; not once turning back due mechanical failure. The first mission was flown July 14th 1943 and the 50th was 22nd March 1944. The 94th suffered huge casualties during this period; 80 B-17s were lost.

19th June 1944: The B-17 was hit by flak flying over the Pas de Calais. The pilot, Theodore A Milton, was forced to ditch the plane in the Channel where nine of the ten crew lost their lives. One crew member survived as a POW.

Delivered Cheyenne 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 25/5/43; Kearney 26/5/43; Dow Fd 2/6/43; Assigned 332BS/94BG [XM-J/B2] Earls Colne 5/6/43; Rougham 13/6/43 MISSY G; Missing in Action Pas de Calais 19/6/44 with Theo Miltoninc 447BG crew, Co-pilot: Dave Gerrits, Navigator: Marvin Stokes, Bombardier: Gene Lightfoot, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Edgar Sikes, Ball turret gunner: Hugh Crimmins, Waist gunner: Dewey Rhoads, Waist gunner: Willard Laney,Tail gunner: Art Gruneisen (9 Killed in Action); Radio Operator: Jim Wolfe (Prisoner of War); flak hit near Alderney, ditched Channel. Missing Air Crew Report 5901. IDIOTS’ DELIGHT.

Source :
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/4284
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3828242037262581&set=gm.1671349726383777

Interior of the KDF Ship Robert Ley

Interior of the KDF Ship Robert Ley on its maiden voyage in the North Sea, 1939. Photos by Hugo Jaeger.




























The Robert Ley was a cruise ship of the Nazi Party leisure organization Kraft durch Freude (Strength Through Joy). It was considered the flagship of the KdF fleet. The ship, which was named after the Nazi politician Robert Ley, was designed exclusively for cruises. The keel was laid on behalf of the Nazi organisation Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labour Front) at Howaldtswerke Hamburg. The Robert Ley was owned by the DAF and was managed, crewed and maintained by the Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (HAPAG). The interior design was commissioned by architect Woldemar Brinkmann. The launch took place on 29 March 1938 in the presence of Adolf Hitler. The commissioning took place on 24 March 1939. The ship was designed for about 1750 passengers in addition to the crew members.

 Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ley_(ship)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1670742463111170/?__cft__[0]=AZWqpDSKpasqmAIqYSXZFXGpnYM50iHfZlXg3NPYmf-F4HwKuUgYttPeoXVWgAGovFVxwTJ-a2zmWTPkAc4ryMvXw8BkbwQjWToo62ezEAZxr1oprOarBZzCjwd-ouHnIdELjY1dlRqzXFWiZtN8LC3dt0QVFagi9hQlKjTiTbqPmxcZc2Y5Xw1BRQLhEgx2iHY&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R