Gemini Rising

Researching Reflections - Why Munster was important

After writing some of my reflections on my time in Munster, guarding a munitions depot and being around the British Army (remember there were 10,000 Brits stationed in Munster, only 200 Americans) I decided to research for some photos from the time period because mine aren’t all that and I found out some interesting information that I thought I’d share.

What I do remember is that there a forest around the city. In fact, our munitions depot was about 10-15 mins from the suburb of Telege. In fact, I vaguely remember going to a restaurant near Telege that had a bit of hunter’s theme, authentic German food, deer heads on the walls and long tables for communal eating.

During World War I, Germany built a camp with gas warfare engineers with the intent to make gas munitions just north of Munster. The camp was built in 1916 and by July 1918, there were 3 buildings that made chemical munitions. At “Lostwerk I” they made mustard gas. This area had a power station, camps for 4,500 people, a firing range, and test sites. Regular munitions were made here as well, and they brought captured munitions to this site as well such as Russian chlorine gas.

Believe it or not, there over 47K “long” tons of chemical munitions and 53 “short” tons! (Honestly, I’m not sure what it means but it sounds like a lot of chemical weapons) Shockingly, they destroyed these munitions by sinking them in the Baltic Sea! A train accident on the way north to the Baltic sea, let out a chemical release, threatening the countryside. There were several deaths throughout the following months. By 1925 all the buildings used to create these foul chemicals were destroyed.

Between 1935-1938 the Germans rebuilt the facilities and made them bigger with the intent to create 15% chemical munitions and 85% explosive munitions. Mind you, after World War I, chemical munitions were outlawed in international conflicts.

Some of the chemical munitions built at the new facilities included: arsenic oil, hydrogen cyanide, mustard gas (it’s back!) tabun, sarin, (these 2 are most foul!) cyanogen chloride, phenacyl chloride and more! The new facilities were disguised a simple bunkers.

After 1945, Munster fell into the British zone of occupation and they took over the clean up of chemical munitions. Forces from Operation Market Garden became the British Army of the Rhine (similar to USAREUR) and then smaller units occupied different cities. British infantry, artillery, and calvary units were established in various barracks throughout the city at Oxford, York, Simpson, etc. The British were a big presence in Munster during the Cold War.

Reference:
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/disaster-in-a-bright-blue-sky/

Link to some great World War II pictures in the Rhineland area to include Munster
https://www.littlerock.gov/residents/parks-and-recreation/directory/macarthur-mu...

Summary of the Cold War in British occupied Germany
https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/active-edge-army-germany-during-cold-war

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_occupation_zone_in_Germany

https://www.thenmusa.org/articles/the-army-and-the-cold-war/

Muster Raid