German Military uniform factory near Hannover

Whilst serving with 7 Sig Regt in 1963-6, I had to draw up some marquee tents and other equipment. The place was a vast building somewhere between Herford and Hannover which had huge plastercast statues of german servicemen from their arm services (Army, Navy, Airforce etc) they were coloured and stood in between columes on the inner court of the building.
Can anyone identify having seen these or been to this large Ordnance Depot in their time in BAOR.
Its been wrangling my memory for years. As I was much younger then I no I had all my marbles which perhaps is more than can be said today. BUT, I do remember it.
Look forward to any input

Regards
Jimsigs1

Hi folks,

I thought I would have another stan at this one, relating to former military uniform factories of the third reich, only because some newer members of the forum might not have seen this post.
As I mentioned, I thought perhaps it was near Hannover or at least an hour and a half drive from herford. We had to collect some marquee tents for the BAOR R Sigs Sports meeting being hosted by 7 Signal Regiment. I would presume it was an RAOC general stores unit which was situated in this wonder looking former german factory. As you drove through an archway or main gate, you arrived at the inner court quadrangle which had very large figures of German service personnel in the uniforms of Army, Navy Airforce and other military organizations, all in colour and they had not been defaced by the allies.
Now, where the hell could this have been ?. Only visited the once as somebody else was on the return trip. It must have been around 1963/4 when I was working for the RQMS (WOII Kennedy) and the QM the late Capt (retired as Major) Fred Pavey.

Can anyone help. Come on all you Ordnance fellas.

jimsigs

This query bugged me for a while too!  A Salvage Unit    was set up to strip out captured / enemy uniforms to recycle what ever could be garnered from them -  they had a line of turning Wehrmacht Battle Bowlers in to saucepans.  They employed local civilians (women) in Hannover.  and apart from photo references in Imperial War Museum haven't been able to trace more about the unit.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205206216    A huge salvage dump of wings from German aircraft at No.12 Field Salvage Unit Depot, Hanover. All useful materials, especially metals were removed and sorted ready for re-use. Much of the salvaged material was shipped to the United Kingdom.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205206237     German women working at No.12 Field Salvage Unit Depot in Hanover, break down army uniforms, sorting cotton from wool lining. The cotton was later pulped for the manufacture of paper

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/6792-battlefield-salvage/page-2


And as  I knew an Engr called Fred Pavey (former MCPG RE Foreman with the "Krefelders"),  Fred was last heard of with Engr TA at Brighton? Late 1980s ! Different Fred to JimSigs - thus 2 x Pavey!

Hi Pborn,
Thanks for your input relating to salvage at the end of the war into the 1950's etc.
But I am still trying to find out more of this camp being used by RAOC (I think) to store all manner of items such as tenting equipment etc. The barracks was an old world war 2 German uniform supply depot and around the inner quadrangle were large figures in the various German military unifors. Quite sight to see into the 1960.s and not defaced etc. This barracks was near Hannover. Come on you ex RAOC types, it must register with someone.
With regard to my mention of Fred Pavey, He was a Royal Signals Quartermaster not Royal Engineers
Regards
Jimsigs

1950

Pborn,

1950 ????

Up to 1945 Vinnhorst Barracks had been a KZ and clothing factory/store
1950   BAOR 5  (BFPO 33)  17 Returned Stores Depot RAOC in Vinnhorst Barracks  Hanover
North of town Alt-Vinnhorst Str.  52°25'25"N 9°42'20"E
became 4 (17 RSD) Sub-Depot
1956  4 Sub Depot had absorbed Returned Stores Group and Camp Stores Group  (purveyors of Marquees and Duckboards) at Vinnhorst and Wemminghausen (Ludenscheid?)
1 Oct 62 5 (Camp Stores) Sub Depot  until at least 1966/67
Aug 69 under comd 15 Adv Base Ord Depot Münster
During 1971/2 Camp Stores Sub Depot at Hanover closed.
Jan 73  merged as Camp Stores and Repair Group at Dülmen (Tower Bks formally opened 1974)

http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-army-ordnance-corps/15-ordnance-group.html

http://baor-locations.org/15BOD.aspx.html       our parent site!

http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/GermanyMaps/id/780/rec/1

lower left quadrant of this map covers Vinnhorst area of Hannover at the A2 Autobahn