Bachem Ba 349 - Operation Krokus Launch Pads at Hasenholz Wood

Operation Krokus Launch Pads At Hasenholz Wood

An operational launch site for the first Ba 349A-1 operational Natters under the code name Operation Krokus was being established in a small wooded area called Hasenholz just south of the Stuttgart to Munich autobahn and just east of Nabern unter Teck. Around the end of February and the beginning of March the Todt Organisation was in action constructing each set of the trios of concrete foundations (or "footings") for the launch towers. These three launch pads and their towers were arranged at the corners of an equilateral triangle, 120 m on a side. The specific locations are said to be 48°37′42.2″N 9°29′57.4″E / 48.628389°N 9.499278°E / 48.628389; 9.499278, 48°37′42″N 9°29′53.5″E / 48.62833°N 9.498194°E / 48.62833; 9.498194 and 48°37′39.8″N 9°29′54″E / 48.627722°N 9.49833°E / 48.627722; 9.49833. In the center of each of the three concrete footings is a square hole approximately 50 centimeters deep, which once served as the foundation for the launch tower. Beside each hole is a pipe, cut off at ground level, which was probably once a cable pit. These three concrete pads were noticed by a surveyor in autumn 1945, but not rediscovered until 1999. In March 1945 eight pilots, who were experienced, mostly highly decorated and volunteers for the first operational flights, started training at the Heuberg. This training continued until the first half of April at which time they moved to the Hasenholz operational area. The first three manned and fully armed A1 Krokus examples were scheduled to be launched from 20 April, which was Hitler’s birthday. But on that day the US 10th Armoured Division drove its tanks into Kirchheim unter Teck to the northwest of Hasenholz wood. The next day it crossed the autobahn and headed straight for the Natter operational area. The Natter group subsequently retreated to Waldsee.