Rudis Ecke
(German language)
Rudi's Corner
My very best friend Rudolf Startiz passed away
on
24th July 2021
At an age of 99
He was born on 11 December 1921, in Ziegenrück (Thuringa)
During the ceremony of Rudi's Funeral, in the small cemetery chapel,
the 'Pastor' spoke about:
Oskar Friedrich Rudolf Staritz
We all, even related family, were astonished about these latter names. As they did not appear on official documents, like his driver licence, HAM licence, and some other as well.
Nevertheless, his hunting licence of the 1960s, carried Rudolf's second name Friedrich thus: Rudolf F. Staritz
Wasn't there a mistake?
No! As it all relied upon his official death certificate.
The route to someone's actually name used - can be, sometimes, quite curious.
Page initiated on 1 October 2021
Current status: 19 October 2021
New pages on:
1: Figl's: Systeme des Chiffrierens
2: Türkel's (Tuerkel): Chieffrieren mit Geräten und Maschienen
Various documents being shown: his driver licence, including a falsification on behalf of Amt Mil, in which was stated that Rudolf passed an examination for driving a motorbike, of late April 1945. This document he necessitated - as he should travel from Lübeck, where he was stationed, in preparation for a "stay behind" operation, he should go to the Abwehrstelle (K.d.M.) Hamburg's W/T station at Wohldorf, code-named: Domäne. But when he arrived - this latter station was rather busy with burning documents and preparing some operation from somewhere in the field. It all went to nothing. Maybe, a good option to prepare, in due course, what Rudi himself told me. I recorded > 34 hours Rudi's telling his life stories.
Also his study pass, HAM licence; and much more, and, some more document copies.
My sound-recorded conversations with Rudi new since 19 October 2021
(2a) New, on 18th October 2021: a photo taken in 1943/44; where he and a small group was evacuated from South Ukraine towards Poland, weeks lasting endeavour in a chaotic times.
(1)
About six to seven weeks before he passed away, he phoned me; and among rather many matters we spoke, he ordered me to collect from his library and home what I consider is making sense. He also suggested, please take among also my Morse-key. He also suggested, that I should make a corner dedicated to him and when possible also showing some devices which were related to his good friend Hannes Bauer (D4ARR), in post war days DL1DX. Whereas, my friend Rudi obtained, after examination, the first moment after the war, his call-sign DL3CS.
He was, internationally, very well known, and up to last year (2019/20) in contact with the Bletchley Park group in England. What bothered or hampered were the quite poor 'communication conditions' on 40 metres between Bletchley Park and his HAM station in Bamberg. But, at different times, it went smooth; communications went regularly, like in wartime days, with more or less low power transmissions.
Rudolf Staritz was the longest living O.K.W. Amt Ausland/Abwehr W/T operator; up to 24th July 2021.
We were so lucky that Rudolf Staritz was able to join the opening of our Secret Communication 3 exhibition, on 16 November 2019
Rudolf Staritz's first visit to our museum premises
Not long thereafter, Covid 19 started becoming a pandemic, and since we all were bound at our homes most of the time.
I am certain, that Corona had, at least, a severe influence on Rudi's earlier death - than it might have been the case without the terrible Covid 19 danger.
The idea of creating a Rudi's corner was his plan.
Why not?
One of Rudi's desires was: that I should also combine Hannes Bauer in a brief exhibition. His thoughts were creating a particular corner in our museum.
But, in my perception, the web if far more effective in creating a world-wide recognition.
I sadly, was unable, finally, to communicate this matter with him, caused by his deteriorating health.
However, it is so much in line with Rudi's desire, that, also Rudi's family is agreeing to this endeavour.
Rudi is touching the most rare SG 41 "Schlüssel" apparatus (nickname "Hitler Mühle")
He operated this, mechanically quite delicate machine himself, occasionally, during the war.
He never could have imagined to 'touch one ever again', since his wartime days.
Maybe one of the most curious photographs taken: The point in the current discussion was, that what is being shown here (the Korfu receiver and the Ju 88 Bord-Rechner BZA1) which once were apparatus so secret that, he, as an ordinary Obergefreiter (Ogfr.), never came in touch with its wartime appearance.
Do you consider that this is a 97 years old man?
These two apparatus he never had seen before!
Why not using this photo as well?
His main aim was - to explain various practical aspects of coding and decoding.
During the opening, quite many Germans joined as well, and for them a good opportunity to discuss matters with him
Let us start to create Rudi's Corner (Rudis Ecke)
Hannes Bauer, already before the war and during, he carried the HAM call-sign D4AAR; in post war days, he obtained the call-sign: DL1DX
Rudolf Staritz's own hand writing
Hannes, was also during the wartime days an active radio HAM.
Wherever possible, he carried a portable W/T set with him - as to maintain his regular HAM contacts.
He travelled a lot abroad, even to Spain, and operated from there when possible, his W/T set. (voice communications were allowed on 10 metres only)
In his function and position as a Hptm. (Captain) and a HF/DF associated expert, and a HAM, he could permit himself this perque.
During a reshuffle of my study room, I encountered two copies, which once Rudi gave me:
Ing. Hannes Bauer
* 9.8.1907 † 11.7.1987
Major a.D.
Träger der Lebensrettungsmedaille und des Bundesverdienstkreuz Erster Klasse
and down, one more, in the HAM environment
Ing. Hannes Bauer
DL1DX
On behalf of: Die Bamberger Funkamateure
One of Rudi's desires was to implement also a commemorance on his very good friend Hannes Bauer
You may wonder why I have taken this, I guess, 1960s National transmitter
Rudi suggested, that I also should collect his Morse key, but this very key was plugged-in still on the backside of this transmitter.
Secondly, it is most likely: that Hannes Bauer, whom after the war owned a rather well know shop, in Bamberg, for HAM gear, that Rudi once had purchased it from Hannes Bauer.
Then I also found a catalogue of Hannes Bauer in which, among many other means, he also offered a Drake antenna tuner, equal to the type that stood next to Rudi's transmitter and which was connected directly onto by means of a coaxial cable.
The Drake MN-4 matching network
Viewing Rudi's shack (July 2021) The Morse key had already been disconnected from the National 200 TX before (please view the next two pictures)
Photo taken when we were due to dismantle the entire room.
Added on 18-10'21
Rudi's TX now connected as I found it about once on 23rd July 2021 in Rudi's shack; albeit these photos have been taken in our museum premises.
I raised the query what the true meaning of VFDB was - to Thomas Höppe (DJ5RE) and he replied instantly with:
Am 11. Januar 1950 wurde der „Verband der Funkamateure der Deutschen Bundespost (VFDB)“ im FTZ in Darmstadt gegründet. Es gab damals 11 Gründungsmitglieder, aber noch keine Organisation und kein Geld. Alle Oberpostdirektionen, das FTZ* und andere wurden durch ein Schreiben über die Gründung des VFDB informiert mit dem Ziel, dass sich möglichst viele interessierte Funkamateure melden mögen.
Nach zahlreichen Gesprächen mit maßgeblichen Dienststellenleitern im FTZ und BPM wurde durch das Bundespostministerium schon bald eine Förderverfügung erlassen. Durch kostenlose Überlassung von ausgesondertem Funkmaterial konnten die Bezirks- und Ortsverbände des VFDB Klubstationen in ebenfalls kostenlos überlassenen Räumlichkeiten innerhalb der Dienstgebäude aufbauen und natürlich auch Antennen auf den Dächern installieren. Diese Förderverfügung hatte bis zur Auflösung der Deutschen Bundespost Bestand.
* Rudolf Staritz's first engagement was at the FTZ in Darmstadt.
Viewing the rig from a different perspective; but both the Morse key and microphone were genuine found connected onto this set in Rudi's shack on 23rd July 2021
Quite essential, in my perception, was the German wartime magnetron LMS 10 he possessed.
Rudi was engaged at the Bundespost Research Centre in Darmstadt, between about 1950 and, say, 1954.
For what ever reason, they were in the possession of a complete German wartime FuG 224 radar apparatus, with which they did some experiments.
LMS 10
Like all known LMS 10 magnetrons, also this sample, suffered from brittle glass envelopes
The Germans apparently weren't aware of the British secret technique - as to gold-plate the sections where the glass envelopes would touch the copper body.
What is astonishing me, is, its serial number 042 (in my perception, this sample, most likely, must have been manufactured in 1943 or early 1944; though in Berlin, still)
The LMS 10 magnetron is, relatively, quite well known, but viewing what is inside, is - certainly not!
In contrast to Allied practice (CV 64A) the German were bound to add an additional container, in which a getter was placed
Getter materials in respect to vacuum valves, had always the function to 'bind gas atoms' as to improve vacuum.
What, already may have intrigued Rudi already in the 1950s or early 1960s was the way the Germans constructed their means of strapping
Whether NG might indicate into the direction of an involvement of the Getewent (Funkgeschichte 257, of the GFGF issue of Juni/Juli 2021); I don't know, but I tend to doubt it.
Strapping was introduced in Britain, as to improve the operational 'mode' stability.
As, a magnetron, without strapping, could erratically jump onto another resonance mode, implying a frequency jump as well (often with power-loss); which nuisance can cause that the a radar system fails to function.
In a post-war British report - it had been noticed: that the Germans simply copied the CV 64A strapping but without proper strapping adjustment.
But when we view with some care, we notice at least at this section that there existed a form of strapping alignment (bending some of the strapping wires against adjacent ones.
Viewing the internal of the German wartime LMS 10 magnetron from a different perspective
The quite massive rod pointing towards us, is the antenna energy output coupling onto the coaxial output circuit.
Not many of you will ever have seen the actual way the energy-output coupling being maintained within a single cavity of the magnetron
Consider the rod on the left-hand side, the pick up (HF) energy loop is good visible occupying a great deal of the cavity space; consequently pointing at the fact that there the magnetic flux component is predominating. Also of interest, is, that the coil is not placed just in the centre of the cavity but a bit eccentric.
The actual design of the LMS 10 - is more or less - a Chinese copy of the British type CV 64A magnetron; once captured on 2/3 February 1943, near Rotterdam; the Germans, consequently, called it: das Rotterdam-Gerät.
(2a)
On 18th October 2021
Photo taken in 1943/44; where he and a small group was evacuated from South Ukraine towards Poland, weeks lasting endeavour in a chaotic times
Abwehr, like almost all intelligence personnel, they were wearing civil clothing.
Rudolf Staritz with glasses; he is the one wearing the light furred jacket.
To be continued in due course
By Arthur O. Bauer
