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which do the actual work. This is only the first of its two basicfunctions. The other is OT personnel administration in its broadestaspect, ranging from the exercise of disciplinary authority to theinvestigation of discrepancies in pay and including such duties as themessing, billeting and clothing of all OT personnel in its sector.The two main sections in an OBLHQ are consequently Referat Technik(Technical Sub-section) and Referat Frontftthrung (Front AreaPersonnel Section). For the other sections and sub-sections of theOBL HQ, see below IIAc 41 and 42 and Chart 6a. For the performance ofits functions, the OBL FrontTtfhrung controls all Lager (Camps andWarehouses) connected in any way with the administration of personnelwithin the OBL sector, such as barracks and food and clothing depots.A detailed discussion of Frontftihrung will be found in III Be. Thechief of an OBL has the rank of either Oberbauleiter (.Lt.-Col.) orHauptbauleiter (Col.)The normal TO/WE for an OBLHQ is (including detached personnelin the field) approximately three percent of the manpower operating inits sector. This percentage figure does not include the clerical andfield Construction firms active in the OBL sector. In order to meet theproblem of manpower shortage, the establishment of the OBL HQ has, 3inceMarch 1944* been cut down to about one half of this normal strength ofJ>%» The saving has been effected by making OT-firms practicallyself-contained and self-operating units, responsible for feeding, clothingand oaring for their men, but remaining accountable for theiractions in these respects, to the OBL FrontfUhrung.Liaison between the OT and other Reich and Party agencies doesnot go below OBL level. (See IIG)Reference has already been made to inconsistencies in the termsdesignating OT echelons. (IA7 & IIAa27). Thus a number of operationalsectors in Russia were designated Einsfitze even though they performedthe basic functions of an OBL. Terms like Oberabschnitte (MainSectors) were, although on a less frequent scale, similarly used on theeastern front. A third term, Linienschef (Line Chief) was also usedthere, to denote theHQ of a sector and it s executive on an OBL orEinsatz level, when specializing in railroad construction.29. "Permanent Organization". Bauleitung (BL: Sub-sector of an OBL)Although the term Bauleitung is used inconsistently in capturedGerman documents, i t was never as loosely employed as "Einsatz"(See II A 27)• Whereas "Einsatz" at one time might have referred toan area of any size, from a local construction site consisting of onlyone OT-Firm, to a sector comprising half of Norway, "Bauleitung 11 onthe other hand always was and still is a sub-division of an OBL. Ithad also been used quite frequent]^ to designate a sub-division ofAbschnittsbauleitung (See, below II A30). The above mentioneddecree* for uniformity of September 1943 (see IIA) ordered, however,the term Bauleitung to be exclusively employed as a sub-division,directly under an OBL« As a matter of fact, the decree was notgenerally effective in remedying the situation in German occupiedterritory. The BL at present, however, may be assumed to be a subsector,directly under an OBL* and controlled by a staff, thestrength of which depends on the size and importance of the BL»Basically that staff consists of an Abteilung Technik (TechnicalSection) and - if the BL is a large one - of a Frontftihrung (FrontArea Personnel Seotion). The chief of the Technical Section is atthe same tiine chief of the entire BL,usually with the rank ofBauleiter (Major). As a rule he is an OT firm executive appointedover all executives of other OT firms operating in the same RL.In this aspect he is also the ranking OT Officer (in a military sense)in his sub-sector. His,main function consists of supervising theadherence on the part of all local OT firms, to building specifications- 30 ­