The establishment of the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe (NavTecMisEu) was originally approved by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on December 4, 1944, officially established by directive on December 26, and commenced operation on January 20, 1945. Composed of a Chief of Mission, technical officers, and civilian technicians, the Mission's goal was the procurement of German scientific and technical intelligence for use by the U.S. Navy's technical bureaus.
Led for most of its existence by Captain Henry A. Schade, the Mission also counted among its members future Rear Admiral Albert G. Mumma. On October 1, 1945, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Ernest J. King ordered the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe decommissioned. Eleven days later, Captain Schade was detached as Chief of Mission, leaving Acting Chief of Mission Captain Leroy V. Honsinger to complete the decommissioning of the Mission on November 1, 1945.
The History of the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe, comprising 0.21 linear feet of documentation, spans from 1942 to 1949, with the historical narrative itself having been written in 1949. Compiled by Captain Henry A. Schade, the history, with its appendixes and attachments, details the origin, composition, and operations of the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe and its role in the acquisition of German scientific and technological intelligence during and after World War II.
Included in the collection are historical narratives, rosters, memorandums, orders, dispatches, and photographs.
The History of the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe is arranged by volume, chapter and document type into a single series with no subdivisions. Roughly two-thirds of the collection consists of a typescript of Captain Schade's narrative report of the history and organization of the Technical Mission. Volume 1 of the history consists of seven chapters: Directive, Narrative, Internal Organization, Relations with Other Organization, Operation Subjects, and Critical Summary. Volume 2 consists of 26 appendixes (a 27th appendix is missing) pertaining to subjects such as personnel, the establishment of Mission sub-sections, the handling of German documents, Mission casualties, and the Mission's decommissioning.
The remaining one-third of the collection consists primarily of memoranda sent and received by Captain Schade, as well as several orders. Included are lists of topics to be investigated by the Mission, including German radar, guided missiles, radio navigation, signaling systems, and aircraft engines. Also discussed are Navy representation on the Army's ALSOS Mission, personnel requests, and the Mission's decommissioning.
Also included in the collection are four photographs of the German aerial attacks on Convoy PQ 17 in the summer of 1942.
The History of the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe is arranged by volume, chapter, and document type.
Access to any potentially classified material is restricted.
The History of the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe is the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.
Gift of R. J. Schade in
Additional records of the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe can be found at the National Archives and Records Administration in the following series: Reports and Papers, 1945 - 1947, NAID 23889302; Letters and Technical Reports, 1944 - 1945, NAID 23857313; German Ship Propulsion Plans, 12/26/1944 - 11/1/1945, NAID 12518092; Reports and Office Files, 1944 - 1945, NAID 2842709; and German Naval Machinery Plans, 12/26/1944 - 11/1/1945, NAID 12503872.
No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.
The materials referred to as Volume 1 and Volume 2 were disbound prior to donation. Volume 1 was further subdivided by chapter during processing.
History of the U.S. Naval Technical Mission in Europe, MS 37
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
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Copy of the 1944 directive establishing the Technical Mission. Also includes the table of contents and appendix list.
Subdivided into Introductory, Origin, Pre-Activation Period, Preparatory Period, Full-Scale Operations, and Decommissioning.
Subdivided into Plan, Technical Branch (Ordnance Section, Ships Section, Air Section, Yards and Docks Section, Electronics Section, and Hydrogen-Peroxide Section), and Service Branch (Intelligence, Operations, Administration, and Supply).
Subdivided into Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (ComNavEu, ComNavForFrance, ComNavForGer, and ComNavGroFrance), Naval Target Subdivision, Combined Intelligence Objectives Sub-committee, Consolidated Advance Field Teams, Target-Force, ALSOS, Admiralty, and Field Information Agency Technical.
Subdivided into Reports, Documents and Equipment, Interrogation Centers, Russian-Occupied Territory, Neutral Countries, Casualties, and Personnel.
Subdivided into Deficiencies and Mission's Strength.
Subdivided into Roster of Officers, Roster of Civilian Technicians, and List of Letter Reports and Technical Reports.
Primarily memoranda from and to Captain H. A. Schade regarding technical mission operations.