English Translation

28 Franz Schmelzer,Dipl.-Berging. Karwin, 2 May 1943. To the Minister of Armament and Munition, Prof. A. S p e e r , Berlin. Dear Prof.A.S p e r ! The undersigned cordially invites Mr. Reichsminister Prof.A.Speer to submit the following ideas: Technical proposal to remove the difficulties, especially the supply problem during the mud times in the east,by freezing (iceening) the strategically important connecting roads. Since the undersigned, as a soldier in Ukraine, experienced the difficulties in the movement of vehicles of all kinds in the fall of 1941, it is all the more essential for him to be allowed to present the above mentioned thoughts to your personality for evaluation. The undersigned is thinking of a similar, but new-fast, simple freezing process as in a shaft pit, where holes have to be drilled into hard rock, in order to then press the freezing fluids (ammoniak water,cohlenic acid, etc.) with compressors. Undersigned believes that the process must be possible on muddy roads or fields where there is no rock-hard surface,with considerably less work and mechanical aids, and that, when several and stronger compressors are installed, many kilometres of non-driving terrain could be converted into fixed roadways every day.The consistency of the basic materials there (slurry, i.e. water and earth or sand) cannot be denied an advantage over other freezing methods in the stony ground. The undersigned would be most pleased if his thoughts were already tested beforehand or if he now had a competent assessment and could contribute to the acceleration and achievement of the final victory. Heil-Hitle r! thmeber