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Volkswagen Survives World War 2

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<html> <head> <title>Volkswagen Survives World War 2</title> </head> <body> <h1>Volkswagen Survives World War 2</h1> <div class="info">Author: <a href="http://ronnietanner.articlealley.com/">Ronnie Tanner</a></div><div class="body">Volkswagen is an auto manufacturer based out of Wolfsburg, Germany. Translated literally, Volkswagen means "People's Car" and has an inauspicious beginning to say the least. Unfortunately for the company it would be linked is people's minds for many years with Adolf Hitler. While it seems to have shed this negative connotation in the years after World War II, it wasn't always that way.<br /> <br /> Ferdinand Porsche was contacted by Hitler because he was interested in a vehicle that was suited for working class people. Several designs were discussed and after working with Han Ledwinka who later designed the KdF-wagen in 1938, Porsche finally agreed to help Hitler create the "peoples car".<br /> <br /> An advertising campaign was developed through which people were encouraged to save five marks per week toward the purchase of their own car. This was an investment program founded by Volkswagen to help people purchase their own vehicles. After World War II, when Germany was divided into East Germany and West Germany, Volkswagen's headquarters and Factory wound up in West Germany. Volkswagen went on to honor savings agreements held by individuals in West Germany only. The Volkswagen Beetle was the first car produced by the company and by 1936 already has the distinctive round shape that would make the car famous. <br /> <br /> The Volkswagen factory was completed in before the war started however, none of the vehicles produced was ever delivered to any of the original savings holders. The only one produced by the factory pre war to find its way into the hands of a driver was the one presented to Hitler for his 49th birthday. It was a type 1 convertible that was presented on April 20, 1938.<br /> <br /> Once Germany entered the war all factories including Volkswagen were switched over to produce military vehicles only. Throughout the war, Volkswagen continued to produce utility vehicles for the war effort. In 1945, the Americans captured the factory and handed it over to the British for utilization and occupation. It was placed into the hands of British Army Major Ivan Hirst. Had not Hirst seen the potential in the former military plant, the factory would have no doubt been reduced to rubble in the intent to see Germany stripped of most of its industrial capabilities. It was Hirst who saw the value of continuing to produce military vehicles at the plant. At one time, to get his point across to high-ranking officers, Major Hirst painted one of factories cars green as a demonstration for the British Army's top brass. The war had caused a shortage of light vehicles all over the planet and Britain was not spared. Immediately, British top army officers saw the potential and ordered 20,000 vehicles immediately. <br /> <br /> The ability to produce this many vehicles was quite a feat considering how much damage had been sustained by the heavy bombing that had occurred near the end of the war. <br /> <br /> Soon both the company and the town had changed its names and production of the round vehicles continued at an increased pace. The factory was actually slated to be dismantled and shipped to Britain for reassembly. Fortunately, for Volkswagen, no one in Britain wanted the German car factory. The Morgenthau Plan called for removal of all German war potential by disassembling all of Germany's heavy industry. This plan was later scrapped when it was eventually realized as an unattainable goal. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br/><br/>Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at SW Engines. He writes about <a href="http://www.swengines.com/Engines/Volkswagen~motors/" >used Volkswagen engines</a> and other industry specific topics.</div> <div class="source">Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlealley.com/http://ronnietanner.articlealley.com/volkswagen-survives-world-war-2-923077.html">http://www.articlealley.com/http://ronnietanner.articlealley.com/volkswagen-survives-world-war-2-923077.html</a></div> <div class="author"> <div class="authorBio"></div> </author> </body> </html>

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Volkswagen Survives World War 2 Author: Ronnie Tanner Volkswagen is an auto manufacturer based out of Wolfsburg, Germany. Translated literally, Volkswagen means "People's Car" and has an inauspicious beginning to say the least. Unfortunately for the company it would be linked is people's minds for many years with Adolf Hitler. While it seems to have shed this negative connotation in the years after World War II, it wasn't always that way. Ferdinand Porsche was contacted by Hitler because he was interested in a vehicle that was suited for working class people. Several designs were discussed and after working with Han Ledwinka who later designed the KdF-wagen in 1938, Porsche finally agreed to help Hitler create the "peoples car". An advertising campaign was developed through which people were encouraged to save five marks per week toward the purchase of their own car. This was an investment program founded by Volkswagen to help people purchase their own vehicles. After World War II, when Germany was divided into East Germany and West Germany, Volkswagen's headquarters and Factory wound up in West Germany. Volkswagen went on to honor savings agreements held by individuals in West Germany only. The Volkswagen Beetle was the first car produced by the company and by 1936 already has the distinctive round shape that would make the car famous. The Volkswagen factory was completed in before the war started however, none of the vehicles produced was ever delivered to any of the original savings holders. The only one produced by the factory pre war to find its way into the hands of a driver was the one presented to Hitler for his 49th birthday. It was a type 1 convertible that was presented on April 20, 1938. Once Germany entered the war all factories including Volkswagen were switched over to produce military vehicles only. Throughout the war, Volkswagen continued to produce utility vehicles for the war effort. In 1945, the Americans captured the factory and handed it over to the British for utilization and occupation. It was placed into the hands of British Army Major Ivan Hirst. Had not Hirst seen the potential in the former military plant, the factory would have no doubt been reduced to rubble in the intent to see Germany stripped of most of its industrial capabilities. It was Hirst who saw the value of continuing to produce military vehicles at the plant. At one time, to get his point across to high-ranking officers, Major Hirst painted one of factories cars green as a demonstration for the British Army's top brass. The war had caused a shortage of light vehicles all over the planet and Britain was not spared. Immediately, British top army officers saw the potential and ordered 20,000 vehicles immediately. The ability to produce this many vehicles was quite a feat considering how much damage had been sustained by the heavy bombing that had occurred near the end of the war. Soon both the company and the town had changed its names and production of the round vehicles continued at an increased pace. The factory was actually slated to be dismantled and shipped to Britain for reassembly. Fortunately, for Volkswagen, no one in Britain wanted the German car factory. The Morgenthau Plan called for removal of all German war potential by disassembling all of Germany's heavy industry. This plan was later scrapped when it was eventually realized as an unattainable goal. Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at SW Engines. He writes about used Volkswagen engines and other industry specific topics. Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/http://ronnietanner.articlealley.com/volkswagen-survives-world-war-2-923077.html About the Author:

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