Interview with Alexander Steenbeck. I've kept our chat - or at least Alex's replies - in his original German for my German readers and added a quick and rough translation for those readers who don't know German..
" ..
Alexander, could you please tell us a little about yourself as a person, writer and
historian ? I believe you trained as a journalist…"
Ja, ich arbeite seit mehr als 20 Jahren in der Medien-Branche, seit zehn Jahren in einem der größten
Medienhäuser Norddeutschlands. Ich habe in Hamburg Geschichte, Journalistik, Betriebswirtschaftslehre und Politik studiert. Die Kombination aus Beruf und Studium ist für meine Arbeit als Autor sehr vorteilhaft.
"..
Yes, I've been working in the media industry for more than 20 years, for ten years in one of the largest media houses in North Germany. I studied history, journalism, business administration and politics in Hamburg. The combination of work and study is very advantageous for my work as an author..."
"..
What prompted you to want to write books about Luftwaffe history and publish them
yourself ?.."
Ich interessiere mich intensiv für die Fliegerei seit meinem elften Lebensjahr. Bereits im Jahr 2000 hatte ich so viele Unterlagen aus der Luftwaffen-Zeit zusammengetragen, dass ich auf die Idee kam, dieses Material anderen nicht
vorzuenthalten. Es entstand 2002 mein 1. Buch (LBC – Lübeck-Blankensee), das im Lübecker Steintor-Verlag erschienen ist. Später wollte ich Layout und Umfang lieber selbst bestimmen; 2008 und 2012 nahm ich das selbst in die Hand und veröffentlichte Buch 2 (Die dunklen Jahre) und 3
(Die Spur des Löwen).
"..
I have been very interested in aviation and flying since I was eleven years old. As long ago as the year 2000 I had collected so many documents from the Luftwaffe period that I came up with the idea to make this material available to others. My first book (LBC - Lübeck-Blankensee
) was published in 2002 by the Lübeck-based Steintor-Verlag. Later on I decided that I wanted to determine layout and scope myself. In 2008 and 2012, I took matters into my own hands and self- produced and published book 2 Die dunklen Jahre and then book 3 Die Spur des Löwen..."
"Alexander, your book 'Die dunklen Jahre' told the story of Lübeck-Blankensee during the period 1933-1945. For readers who don't know this book what sort of missions were flown from this airfield, especially in the last months of the war? Can you tell us about some of the characters you met during your research ?"
Lübeck-Blankensee war ein Fliegerhorst, der durchweg eine wichtige Rolle in der Luftwaffe gespielt hat. Zu Beginn des Krieges als Drehscheibe für Einsätze gegen England und Skandinavien, 1944/45 war der Platz einer der ersten Plätze im Reich, der für Düsenflugzeuge ausgebaut wurde. In den letzten Kriegswochen nutzten Ar 234-, Me262- und He162-Verbände ihn für Einsätze oder auch als Einsatzbasis. Blankensee war von 1938-45 Heimat des KG 26, zudem dessen Ausbildungsbasis der IV. Gruppe. Außerdem diente der Platz der Flugzeugindustrie - insbesondere den Heinkel-Werken - als Umrüstort.
Und es waren nicht nur bekannte Flieger wie Herbert Altner, Walter Briegleb und Co., mit denen ich für meine Bücher im Austausch stand. Vielfach waren es gerade die weniger oder gar unbekannten Luftwaffenangehörige, die meine Arbeit wesentlich voran gebracht haben. Ironischer Weise habe ich die detailiertesten Schilderungen rund um Blankensee von denen, die nicht geflogen sind; von den Technikern, Zivilangestellten und dem Verwaltungspersonal. In Sachen KG26 verhält es sich ähnlich, zumal nur wenige Besatzungsmitglieder die Flüge überlebt haben.
"....
Lübeck-Blankensee was an airbase that played an important role in the Luftwaffe. At the beginning of the war it was a key airfield for missions against England and Scandinavia. During 1944/45 it was one of the first bases equipped for jet operations. In the last weeks of the war the Ar 234, Me 262 and He 162 all flew from here. The field was also home to KG 26 throughout the war. The German aircraft industry in general - especially the Heinkel factories used the airfield. And it wasn't just well-known fliers like Herbert Altner, Walter Briegleb and co. with whom I was in contact for my books. In many cases it was precisely the 'lesser' or even unknown members of the Luftwaffe who have significantly advanced my work. Ironically, I have the most detailed descriptions around Blankensee from those who were not airmen - from technicians, civilian employees and administrative staff. In terms of KG 26 it was a similar story, especially since only relatively few crew members survived their combat sorties...."
" ..How did your interest in KG 26 develop ? What was your aim in writing the history of this unit ? "
Die Heimat des KG 26 ist auch meine Heimat: die Hansestadt Lübeck. Es gibt sehr viele Verbindungen des Löwengeschwaders zur Luftfahrtgeschichte Lübecks.Das Geschwader prägte die Fliegerei hier mehr als ein halbes Jahrzehnt, viele der ehemaligen Flieger und ihre Familien leben bis heute hier. Die Recherchen zu meinen ersten beiden Büchern brachten insofern sehr viel Material über das KG 26 hervor. Gleichzeitig war das Buch „Achtung Torpedo los!“ von Rudi Schmidt längst überholt. Was lag da näher, als das Material über das KG 26 in einem neuen Buch zu veröffentlichen?
"..KG 26 and its men had their home in my home so to speak; Lübeck. The 'Lion Geschwader' has so many connections with the aviation history of the town; many of the former Geschwader members and their families still live here. During the research for the my first two books I accumulated so much material on KG 26. At the same time Rudi Schmidt's 'standard' work on the Geschwader „Achtung Torpedo los!“ was in need of revision and an update. It seemed self-evident to publish all this material in a new book.."
"..How much time was devoted to the research and writing of this particular book ? And your other books ?
Die Recherche war und ist nicht kontinuierlich. Forschung hört ja nie auf. Das Zusammentragen, Schreiben und Produzieren des Buches hat rund ein Jahr gedauert und somit ähnlich lange wie bei meinen anderen Büchern. Generell ist die Arbeit aber nicht abgeschlossen. Schade ist nur, dass nachträglich auftauchendes Material nicht in die Chronik(en) eingebunden werden kann, so dass jeder Leser davon partizipieren kann. So etwas funktioniert nur bei Online-Veröffentlichungen wie beispielsweise von Andreas Zapf.
"..
research was and is not continuous. Research never ends. Compiling, writing and producing the book lasted for about one year, which is similar to my other books. Generally work like this is never finished. It is only a pity that material that emerges later can not be included in the chronicle (s), so that every reader can share in it. This is only possible with online publications such as the research undertaken by Andreas Zapf..."
"..How were you received by the veterans themselves and how did they react to the work..?"
“Die Spur des Löwen” ist die erste Chronik, die nicht von und für Veteranen gemacht wurde. Die Ausrichtung konnte so eine andere sein. Die Reaktionen, die ich – auch von Seiten der Ehemaligen – erhielt, waren durchweg positiv. Es gab Lob und Anerkennung für diese neue, umfassende Darstellung der Einsatzgeschichte des KG 26.
"...
"The Trail of the Lion" is the first chronicle not made by and for veterans. The way the book is set out is different. The reactions that I received, including on the part of the vets, were consistently positive. There was praise and appreciation for this new, comprehensive presentation of the combat history of KG 26..."
Below; book extract from Alexander Steenbeck's
Die Spur des Löwen. Decorated rudder of Konrad Hennemann's He 111 H-6. Hennemann and his crew flying He 111 H-6 "1H+GH" went down on Saturday 4 July 1942 after launching an attack against the British freighter Navarino sailing in PQ 17. Hennemann was awarded a posthumous RK and is still listed as missing.
“ You published a long extract –in English – from your KG 26 history in The Aviation Historian (issue 8). How did that come about? Does this mean that your book will be translated one day?”
Der Artikel im Aviation Historian war Material, das mir erst nach der Veröffentlichung von “Die Spur des Löwen” vorlag. Britische Luftfahrtmagazine sind eine sehr gute Alternative zu den deutschen Magazinen, so lag es nahe, die Geschichte vom Bombenunglück der II./KG 26 in Gabbert in England zu veröffentlichen. Eine Übersetzung meines Buches wurde häufig nachgefragt. Doch der Buchmarkt für Luftwaffen-Literatur wird immer schwieriger. Insofern muss man sich allein aus kaufmännischen Gesichtspunkten vorrangig die Frage nach den Käufern stellen. Und die werden, was diese Spezialliteratur angeht, immer weniger.
"..The article that appeared in the Aviation Historian was essentially material that I uncovered after the publication of my book... I'm often asked whether a translation of my book will ever appear but the book market especially for Luftwaffe books is getting ever more difficult. You have to ask yourself purely from the sales point of view who would buy it as such interested readers are growing less and less.."
" Is there any one piece of information or fact that you uncovered in your research that you are especially proud of..? Can you tell us about your proudest and most frustrating moment as a writer ? "
Das Ausmaß der Einsätze gegen Schiffe ist erstmals anders geschildert, als im Buch von Rudi Schmidt oder in der deutschen WK-II-Propaganda, die bis heute noch ihre Wirkung behalten hat, wenn man so manche heutige Veröffentlichung
genauer betrachtet. Die übermäßigen Erfolge des KG 26 konnte ich relativieren, ohne die Einsatzleistungen der Besatzungen zu schmälern. Zudem habe ich sehr viel Bildmaterial zusammengetragen, auf das mich viele Leser angesprochen
haben.
Negativ war während der Vorarbeiten zum Buch der Kontakt zu einigen Sammlern. Manche hüten lieber ihre Schätze, als
sie zu veröffentlichen oder Forschern zugänglich zu machen. Schade war auch der Kontakt zur Familie von Rudi Schmidt. Ich hätte mir auch eine überarbeitete Fassung von „Achtung Torpedo los!“ vorstellen können, aber die Familie blockte
Kontakte ab. Angeblich sei Schmidts Nachlass komplett in den Müll gewandert,
hieß es. Trauriges Ende seiner Recherchen zum KG 26.
" .
.the extent of anti-shipping operations is probably portrayed somewhat differently from how they have been in Rudi Schmidt's book or in war-time German propaganda which even today has retained its impact, as a close look at certain publications demonstrates. I was able to put the supposed great successes of KG 26 into some sort of context without besmirching the reputations of the crews that flew these sorties. In addition, I compiled a lot of picture material, which many readers have been pleased with. One not so positive outcome was during the preliminary work for the book - contact to some collectors. Some prefer to keep their treasures for themselves rather than publish them or make them accessible to researchers. Also a disappointment was the contact I had with the family of Rudi Schmidt. I could have imagined maybe writing a revised version of "Achtung Torpedo los!", but the family blocked all communication. Supposedly Schmidt's estate had been disposed of, thrown out with the rubbish I was told. If that was indeed the case then it was a sad end to his research on KG 26.."
"..Do you have any projects that you are working on currently?.."
..Ja, Ich habe gerade mein neues Buch veröffentlicht, das sich mit der 100-jährigen Geschichte des Lübecker Flughafens beschäftigt. Es ist
immer wieder erstaunlich, was nach vielen Jahrzehnten aus privater Hand oder aus Archiven noch an Material auftaucht. Man darf also gespannt sein!
"..
Yes, I've been working on a new book - which is just published - dealing with the history of Lübeck Airport, which will be 100 years old in 2017. It is always surprising, even after many decades, how much material from private hands or from archives still appears. Plenty of reasons to be excited !.."
"...Alexander, thank you for answering my questions, thank you for your superb books and good luck with sales of the new book which is now available. More about "100 Jahre Blankensee" can be found here: www.100-jahre-blankensee.de
Training centre, operational base for torpedo and jet bombers during WWII, regional airport and several times threatened with closure, Lübeck Airport has had a turbulent history. Aircraft have been taking off and landing in Blankensee, one of the oldest airfields in Germany for 100 years. The first buildings were built in 1916 but up to the late 1940s the present airport served purely military purposes. Only after the fall of the Iron Curtain did civilian use really come to the fore, but even then new developments proved controversial with the coming and going of private investors at the beginning of the new millennium.
With what is now his fourth book, Alexander Steenbeck describes the ups and downs of Lübeck Airport, reveals its developmental history, and summarises his years-long, meticulous research into Lübeck's aviation history. More than 500 unpublished photos, plans, tables and documents illustrate a century of aviation in the Hansestadt.
The book "100 years of Blankensee" supplements and completes the author's works, published so far on the history of Lübeck Airport (see above).
Units based in Lübeck Blankensee during WWII include the
Immelmann-Geschwader (II./StG 162 und I./StG 167) as well as the
Löwengeschader (KG 257, later KG 26 ), but also the Ju 88 nightfighters of
Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (principally III./NJG 5 ). Blankensee was also developed for jet deployments, in particular the Messerschmitt Me 262s of
"Kommando Welter", 10./NJG 11, and the Ar 234 jets of KG 76. Late on elements of
Nachtschlachtkommando 9 flying Bücker Bü 181 training machines carrying
Panzerfauste and
Splitterbomben also flew from Blankeesee as the British closed in around the Elbe bridgehead around Hamburg. Some of the last sorties of the war were flown by He 111s of KG 4 launched on re-supply missions over Berlin on 4 May 1945.
Probably the last movements of the war saw three Ju 188 and 11 Ju 88 torpedo bombers belonging to KG 26 land at Lübeck-Blankensee on 8 May 1945 after their flight to the Kurland pocket from where they had helped to evacuate German soldiers. Evading three Russian fighters by letting down to wave top height after crossing the coastline, Ju 88 "1H+KM" flown by Lt. Horst Naumann was one of up to forty aircraft from various units that flew from Norway to Courland returning into Lübeck-Blankensee late into the evening of 8 May 1945 with up to eight so-called
'Kurland Flüchtlinge' ('Courland refugees', ie soldiers,
Landser) on board to be greeted by British troops who had taken the airfield on 2 May.
(
" As the British drove across the airfield we stood outside the workshops in our overalls waiting for what was to come - in the end we were greeted in a friendly way, some even waved at us - not at all the reception we would have dreamed of expecting..")
Above and left; Ian Calderwood's father took a series of excellent images at Lübeck-Blankensee in 1945 which have been posted on flickr
here
More author interviews on this blog;
- Jan Forsgren, author of the Fonthill Media title "The Junkers Ju 52 Story"
here
- The story behind the Luftwaffe book - John Vasco's 'Bombsights over England -Erprobungsgruppe 210 in the Battle of Britain'
here
- The story behind the Luftwaffe book(s) - a chat with the doyen of Luftwaffe book authors - Eddie Creek
here
