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Vehicle registration numbers of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht
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With rider 2b and 2c of the Verordnung über Kraftfahrzeugverkehr (decree for motor-vehicle traffic) from 15th March 1923, the military districts of the Reichswehr received number ranges for license numbers for their motor-vehicles from RW 1000 – RW 9999. Thereby, the first number indicated the military district and the following three numbers indicated the serial number of the vehicle. For test drive, number ranges from RW 100 – RW 999 were assigned. Until March 1935, additional number range series were assigned. These were five-digit numbers, whereby the numbers of the additional series were placed in front of the military district numbers. These numbers had significance until September 1935.
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Number ranges assigned on 15th March 1923:
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|
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Military district I
|
|
Koenigsberg
|
RW
|
1.000
|
-
|
1.999
|
|
|
|
|
II
|
|
Stettin
|
RW
|
2.000
|
-
|
2.999
|
|
|
|
|
III
|
|
Berlin
|
RW
|
3.000
|
-
|
3.999
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|
|
|
|
IV
|
|
Dresden
|
RW
|
4.000
|
-
|
4.999
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|
|
|
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V
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|
Stuttgart
|
RW
|
5.000
|
-
|
5.999
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|
|
|
|
VI
|
|
Muenster (Westf.)
|
RW
|
6.000
|
-
|
6.999
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|
|
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|
VII
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|
Munich
|
RW
|
7.000
|
-
|
7.999
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|
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Navy base command for the Baltic See
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Kiel
|
RW
|
8.000
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-
|
8.999
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Navy base command for the North See
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Wilhelmshaven
|
RW
|
9.000
|
-
|
9.999
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Following number ranges were assigned to the military districts for test drive number plates (according to §31, section 2 of the decree):
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Military district I
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Koenigsberg
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RW
|
100
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-
|
199
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|
|
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II
|
|
Stettin
|
RW
|
200
|
-
|
299
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|
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III
|
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Berlin
|
RW
|
300
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-
|
399
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IV
|
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Dresden
|
RW
|
400
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-
|
499
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V
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Stuttgart
|
RW
|
500
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-
|
599
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|
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VI
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Muenster (Westf.)
|
RW
|
600
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-
|
699
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VII
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Munich
|
RW
|
700
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-
|
799
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Navy base command for the Baltic See
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Kiel
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RW
|
800
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-
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899
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Navy base command for the Baltic See
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Wilhelmshaven
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RW
|
900
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-
|
999
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Additional number range series assigned until March 1935:
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Military district I
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Koenigsberg
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RW
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11.000
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-
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11.999
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II
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Stettin
|
RW
|
12.000
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-
|
12.999
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III
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Berlin
|
RW
|
13.000
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-
|
13.999
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IV
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Dresden
|
RW
|
14.000
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-
|
14.999
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V
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Stuttgart
|
RW
|
15.000
|
-
|
15.999
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|
|
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VI
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|
Muenster (Westf.)
|
RW
|
16.000
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-
|
16.999
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|
|
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|
VII
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|
Munich
|
RW
|
17.000
|
-
|
17.999
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Army duty station
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Breslau
|
RW
|
18.000
|
-
|
18.999
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Army duty station
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Kassel
|
RW
|
19.000
|
-
|
19.999
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Military district I
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Koenigsberg
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RW
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21.000
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-
|
21.999
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|
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II
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Stettin
|
RW
|
22.000
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-
|
22.999
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III
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Berlin
|
RW
|
23.000
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-
|
23.999
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IV
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Dresden
|
RW
|
24.000
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-
|
24.999
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|
V
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Stuttgart
|
RW
|
25.000
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-
|
25.999
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VII
|
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Munich
|
RW
|
27.000
|
-
|
27.999
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Army duty station
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Breslau
|
RW
|
28.000
|
-
|
28.999
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Army duty station
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Kassel
|
RW
|
29.000
|
-
|
29.999
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Military district III
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Berlin
|
RW
|
33.000
|
-
|
33.999
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IV
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Dresden
|
RW
|
34.000
|
-
|
34.999
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Army duty station
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Kassel
|
RW
|
39.000
|
-
|
39.999
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Military district III
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Berlin
|
RW
|
43.000
|
-
|
43.999
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Additional number range series assigned after March 1935 (by photo evidence):
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Military district IV
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Dresden
|
RW
|
44.000
|
-
|
44.999
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Military district IV
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Dresden
|
RW
|
54.000
|
-
|
54.999
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In some cases, Reichswehr motor vehicles had civilian license numbers. In fact, these vehicles had an official Reichswehr number assigned besides the civilian license number. The civilian license numbers were assigned by the responsible civilian departments. Such civilian license numbers were used for secrecy reasons by higher commanders and soldiers who did not wear an official uniform.
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With a statutory order, the Reich and Prussian minister of transport changed the RGBl. 34, Part 1, S. 869 in 1935. The specification “Wehrmacht – RW” was replaced by “Wehrmacht: Heer – WH, Kriegsmarine – WM, Luftwaffe – WL”.
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Heer (Army):
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Subsequently, the command in chief of the army (AHA/In 6 III d) ordered on 10th September 1935 for the section of the army to replace the Reichswehr license numbers by the new WH license numbers to the effective date 1st October 1935. The changeover to the new license numbers had to be executed until 31st December 1935 and had to be reported by the command of the military districts by 10th January 1935. The four- and five-digit numbers of the Reichswehr had to be transferred to the new five-digit numbers of the Wehrmacht. Therefore, an additional 0 was placed behind the military district number in the case of the four-digit RW numbers (example: RW-7111 = WH-70111). In the case of the five-digit RW numbers, the first two numbers were interchanged (example: RW-17111 = WH-71111).
With the regulation of 10th September 1935, number range series were assigned for the military districts I to X. With the expansion of the Wehrmacht, additional military districts were created, which caused the creation of additional number ranges. Therefore, also six-digit license numbers appeared. With reference date 19th June 1939, this military district based numbering system was abolished for the army. All vehicles got new license numbers starting with WH-1. After the up to six-digit number range series were used up, seven-digit license numbers were used first on 26th August 1941 (A.H.M. 1941, Blatt 27 from 7th November 1941, No. 1081 (O.K.H. (Ch H Rüst u. BdE), 30th October 1941 - 46.g - AHA/Ag K/M (VIIc)). Because the size of the number plates was not changed, the spacing between the letters and numbers as well as the borders had to be reduced. A visible grouping of the numbers (e. g. WH – 1 234 567) into three groups had to be maintained for better readability of the number plates.
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Number range series assigned to effective date 1st October 1935:
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|
Military district I
|
|
Koenigsberg (Pr.)
|
WH
|
10.000
|
-
|
19.999
|
|
|
|
|
II
|
|
Stettin
|
WH
|
20.000
|
-
|
29.999
|
|
|
|
|
III
|
|
Berlin
|
WH
|
30.000
|
-
|
39.999
|
|
|
|
|
IV
|
|
Dresden
|
WH
|
40.000
|
-
|
49.999
|
|
|
|
|
V
|
|
Stuttgart
|
WH
|
50.000
|
-
|
59.999
|
|
|
|
|
VI
|
|
Muenster (Westf.)
|
WH
|
60.000
|
-
|
69.999
|
|
|
|
|
VII
|
|
Munich
|
WH
|
70.000
|
-
|
79.999
|
|
|
|
|
VIII
|
|
Breslau
|
WH
|
80.000
|
-
|
89.999
|
|
|
|
|
IX
|
|
Kassel
|
WH
|
90.000
|
-
|
99.999
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Hamburg
|
WH
|
100.000
|
-
|
109.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Number range series assigned after October 1935:
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|
XI
|
|
Hannover
|
WH
|
110.000
|
-
|
119.999
|
|
|
|
|
XII
|
|
Wiesbaden
|
WH
|
120.000
|
-
|
129.999
|
|
|
|
|
XIII
|
|
Nuremberg
|
WH
|
130.000
|
-
|
139.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Additions intimated with AHM No. 522 from 22nd August 1938:
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|
XIV
|
|
Magdeburg
|
WH
|
140.000
|
-
|
149.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
WH
|
240.000
|
-
|
249.999
|
|
|
|
|
XV
|
|
Jena
|
WH
|
150.000
|
-
|
159.999
|
|
|
|
|
XVI
|
|
Berlin
|
WH
|
160.000
|
-
|
169.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
WH
|
260.000
|
-
|
269.000
|
|
|
|
|
XVII
|
|
Linz (Donau)
|
WH
|
170.000
|
-
|
179.999
|
|
|
|
|
XVIII
|
|
Salzburg
|
WH
|
180.000
|
-
|
189.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Further number range series assigned after August 1938:
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|
XV
|
|
Jena
|
WH
|
250.000
|
-
|
259.999
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Kriegsmarine (Navy):
|
|
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|
Already during the Reichswehr period, the Kriegsmarine had own number range series. If these number ranges were transferred to the new standard introduced in 1935 in an equal way like the army did, is not known. The Kriegsmarine maintained the military district based numbering system and expanded it during war.
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Number range series assigned to effective date 1st October 1935:
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|
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|
Navy base of the Baltic See
|
|
Kiel
|
WM
|
1.000
|
-
|
5.000
|
|
|
|
|
Navy base of the North See
|
|
Wilhelmshafen
|
WM
|
6.000
|
-
|
9.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes intimated with AHM No. 522 from 22nd August 1938:
|
|
|
|
Navy base of the Baltic See
|
|
Kiel
|
WM
|
1.000
|
-
|
5.999
|
|
|
|
|
Navy base of the North See
|
|
Wilhelmshafen
|
WM
|
6.000
|
-
|
9.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions intimated with AHM No. 732 from 21st June 1940:
|
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|
|
Navy base West
|
|
|
WM
|
10.000
|
-
|
11.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions intimated with AHM 1940, Kraftfahrtechn. Anh. No. 70 from 7th September 1940:
|
|
|
|
Marinestationen der Nordsee
|
|
Wilhelmshafen
|
WM
|
12.000
|
-
|
13.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New regulation intimated with AHM 1941, Kraftfahrtechn. Anh. No. 30 from 7th April 1941:
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|
High Command of the Navy
|
|
Berlin
|
WM
|
1
|
-
|
999
|
|
|
|
|
Command of the Navy base of the Baltic See
|
|
Kiel
|
WM
|
1.000
|
-
|
29.999
|
|
|
|
|
Command of the Navy base of the North See
|
|
Wilhelmshafen
|
WM
|
30.000
|
-
|
59.999
|
|
|
|
|
Commanding Admiral France
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|
Paris
|
WM
|
60.000
|
-
|
79.999
|
|
|
|
|
Commanding Admiral Norway
|
|
Oslo
|
WM
|
80.000
|
-
|
99.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions intimated with AHM No. 776 from 7th August 1941:
|
|
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|
Navy Group Command South
|
|
|
WM
|
100.000
|
-
|
109.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Further assigned number range series:
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|
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|
Navy Command Italy
|
|
|
WM
|
110.000
|
-
|
110.999
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luftwaffe (Air Force):
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|
Initially, the new Luftwaffe formed in 1935 had RW-license numbers. If these number ranges were transferred to the new standard introduced in 1935 in an equal way like the army did, is not known. With reference date 19th June 1939, this military district based numbering system was abolished for the Luftwaffe. All vehicles got new license numbers starting with WL-1.
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|
Number range series assigned between 1st October 1935 and 30th March 1938:
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|
|
|
Air-District Command (LKK) I
|
|
|
WL
|
10.000
|
-
|
19.999
|
|
|
|
|
II
|
|
|
WL
|
20.000
|
-
|
29.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
WL
|
220.000
|
-
|
229.999
|
|
|
|
|
III
|
|
|
WL
|
30.000
|
-
|
39.999
|
|
|
|
|
IV
|
|
|
WL
|
40.000
|
-
|
49.999
|
|
|
|
|
V
|
|
|
WL
|
50.000
|
-
|
59.999
|
|
|
|
|
VI
|
|
|
WL
|
60.000
|
-
|
69.999
|
|
|
|
|
VII
|
|
|
WL
|
70.000
|
-
|
79.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A reorganisation took place in mid 1938:
|
|
|
|
Command of the Air Force East Prussia
|
|
|
WL
|
10.000
|
-
|
19.999
|
|
|
|
|
Naval Command of the Air Force
|
|
|
WL
|
60.000
|
-
|
69.999
|
|
|
|
|
Command of the Air Force Austria
|
|
|
WL
|
80.000
|
-
|
89.999
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidation office LKK 2
|
|
|
WL
|
20.000
|
-
|
29.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
WL
|
220.000
|
-
|
229.999
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidation office LKK 3
|
|
|
WL
|
30.000
|
-
|
39.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
WL
|
330.000
|
-
|
339.999
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidation office LKK 4
|
|
|
WL
|
40.000
|
-
|
49.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
WL
|
440.000
|
-
|
449.999
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidation office LKK 5
|
|
|
WL
|
50.000
|
-
|
59.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
WL
|
550.000
|
-
|
559.999
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidation office LKK 7
|
|
|
WL
|
70.000
|
-
|
79.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New regulation intimated with AHM No. 522 from 22nd August 1938:
|
|
|
|
Air Province Command I
|
|
Koenigsberg
|
WL
|
10.000
|
-
|
19.999
|
|
|
|
|
Naval Command of the Air Force
|
|
Kiel
|
WL
|
20.000
|
-
|
29.999
|
|
|
|
|
Air Province Command III
|
|
Berlin
|
WL
|
300.000
|
-
|
319.999
|
|
|
|
|
IV
|
|
Dresden
|
WL
|
400.000
|
-
|
409.999
|
|
|
|
|
VI
|
|
Muenster
|
WL
|
600.000
|
-
|
609.999
|
|
|
|
|
VII
|
|
Munich
|
WL
|
700.000
|
-
|
709.999
|
|
|
|
|
VIII
|
|
Breslau
|
WL
|
800.000
|
-
|
809.999
|
|
|
|
|
XI
|
|
Hannover
|
WL
|
110.000
|
-
|
119.999
|
|
|
|
|
XIII
|
|
Nuremberg
|
WL
|
130.000
|
-
|
139.999
|
|
|
|
|
XVII
|
|
Vienna
|
WL
|
170.000
|
-
|
179.999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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