English Translation

Excerpted copy. Number: PV 1714/Geh-1941. Report on measures to combat fires in railway wagons. I. Fires of hay, straw, peat and other combustible shipments on trains that repeat each year with the arrival of hot weather appear to a greater extent than ever before this year. This can be explained in part by the large number of such shipments, partly by the fact that they are transported today without places which were previously required for rail transport. The BMB administration has at that time made the military authorities aware of the danger of this mode of transport, but the military posts are not able to attach necessary clearance plates. Experience has also shown that fires from combustible consignments occur more frequently in lignite heating, whereas sporadic fires occur in areas of black coal heating. By letter Py 946/Ver-1941, we have drawn the attention of the commissioner of the Reich Ministry of Transport to frequent fires of uncovered shipments on trains / especially on military transports / and at the same time have announced the plans opened for the maintenance and fight against fires. The same letter also applied for assistance from military guards who would be equipped with fire extinguishers.