Vehicle Mobilization at Oranienburg SS Depot

After the departure of Totenkopf elements from the garrison at Sachenhausen in 1940, Oranienburg gradually became the center of the SS vehicular logistics system. The Totenkopf vehicle park was used for vehicle repair and testing, but by 1942 became too small after additional SS vehicle service elements relocated to Oranienburg. What came to be known as the SS Armory and Vehicle Office expanded into a forested area referred to as the Waldlager, which also housed the SS service dog-training facility (Graphic 1). Eventually, the rail-served area contained over 350 buildings (not all shown) including workshops, storage buildings and barracks. Later in the war, the facility was used to manufacture Panzerfausts and other weapons. (1)