Roden 723 Opel 3.6-47 Blitz Omnibus Stabswagen 1:72

The Ludewig firm which was engaged in designing the bus, was located in Essen and had great experience in the manufacture of civilian multiseat vehicles. The standard chassis of the three ton truck was extended a little bit (up to 4450 mm), and the frame structure was reinforced. The original all-metal body of the new bus was quite elegant in outline, and only the front part where the engine was hidden, and the classic radiator with its distinctive logo, immediately reminded one of its predecessor, the famous "Blitz". Inside the cabin were several rows of seats which could be easily demounted if necessary (transportation of bulk goods, medical equipment, etc.).

Series production of the bus, officially designated the Opel 3.6-47 type W39, started in the second half of 1939, almost at the same time as the invasion of Poland by Germany and the start of WWII. At first, the number of vehicles produced per month was very small, but already in 1940 about one hundred units per month off were coming off the production line in Essen. Series production lasted until mid-1943, when the situation became worse for Germany at the Front, basic industrial materials were in short supply, and as a result, Ludewig had to seriously simplify the structure of the bus. During this period 2,880 units of the early version were produced overall, which were sent both to the Eastern Front in Russia, and to the Afrika Corps of General Rommel in North Africa.

A small number of early production buses were converted into mobile staff vehicles. For this purpose almost all of the passenger seats were removed and a few tables were fitted, for meetings in field conditions.

In addition, staff vehicles were equipped with various pieces of special equipment like telegraph machines, radios, 'Enigma' encryption machines, etc. A baggage rack of increased capacity was installed on top of the bus due to the need to transport large quantities of staff items. Buses sent to Rommel's Afrika Corps additionally had extra metal shields on the side windows to shield the interior from the intense sunlight in hot desert conditions.