The Nibelungen Werk: tank production in St Valentin * A fascinating
portrait of ‘The Toy Factory’, the biggest and most modern tank production
factory of its time
The village of St.
Valentin, situated in the western part of
Niederösterreich, was a growing and ultimately very important armament
production centre during the Third Reich. The Nibelungenwerk was planned as
the biggest and most modern tank production factory with big housing
facilities for workers under the camouflage name "Toy Factory".
Although the building was hindered by many wartime restrictions
between 1941 and 1945, the Nibelungenwerk grew to be the most important
manufacturer of the Panzerkampfwagen IV. Nowadays, though, tractors are built in
the remaining part of the Nibelungenwerk.
This book will take the reader right to the heart of the factory and
its production. Starting with the planning and construction of the factory and
residential area, it shows then the poor working conditions, the producing of
armament materials (mainly Panzer IVs) and finally the air raids against the
works and the end of the war in St. Valentin. Complete with many photographs and
documents never published before.
Available late 2012
