HN 2: The British and their Works

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SMMT to acquire the factory lock stock and barrel. His suggestion was discussed at the highest ministerial level, provoking a heated altercation with the automotive industry. The main focus of their interest was not the Volkswagen itself, which at its current development stage was less advanced than the top British models and did not meet current British standards with respect to comfort and quality. The factory was a different matter altogether since, under normal economic conditions, its modern production lines would enable mass production with a level of efficiency that could not be equalled by any British motor manufacturer. Ultimately, however, this was the factor that stood in the way of an outright takeover of the Volkswagen plant. Because its production capacity dwarfed that of the English manufacturers, there was no way of acquiring it without severely restricting the domestic automotive industry. Repeated speculations about dividing the Volkswagenwerk between France and Great Britain were refuted by the simple observation that dismantling the plant would eliminate the economic advantages offered by its size. And so the British motor industry was banking on the dismantling programme to hand it the choicest bits on a plate. 22 In the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Supply it found two influential allies who shared its fear of the re-emergence of a direct competitor. There was also a need for action because France had indicated an interest in the Volkswagenwerk. A united front against the call for dismantling was put up by the Foreign Office, the Treasury and the Control Commission for Germany, the latter with the argument that the Military Government’s responsibility was to Germany, and it was not their remit to support the objectives of British industry. The Treasury was primarily concerned with securing additional income in order to relieve the budget of occupation costs. And export of the Volkswagen promised currency earnings. The battle of the ministries was ultimately decided by the start of negotiations for the setting up of the Bizone in the summer of 1946. Whilst the British lost authority, the Americans regained their dominant role. But their occupation policy was now directed at a swift reconstruction of the German economy. In September 1946, the British military government suspended reparations for the Volkswagen plant for four years. One month later the Level of Industry Plan was suspended. 23 For the time being, the survival of the Volkswagenwerk was assured. ■
Workers remove the roof of a saloon car from the press. 14 15 THE LUCK OF THE VANQUISHED
Page 1 and 2: The British and their Works The Vol
Page 3 and 4: 1 2 3 4 PREFACE 4 1. THE LUCK OF TH
Page 5 and 6: This applies as much to the service
Page 7 and 8: Radclyffe, head of the Mechanical E
Page 9 and 10: survived the attacks practically un
Page 11 and 12: British officers inspect a saloon c
Page 13: The Volkswagenwerk also had its own
Page 17 and 18: The laxity of this procedure outrag
Page 19 and 20: Major Hirst (right) in discussion w
Page 21 and 22: However, accommodation in Wolfsburg
Page 23 and 24: individuals in positions of respons
Page 25 and 26: The absence of special tools led to
Page 27 and 28: visional compromise permitted sale
Page 29 and 30: British soldiers take delivery of t
Page 31 and 32: Wing Commander Richard H. Berryman,
Page 33 and 34: Final assembly line at the Wolfsbur
Page 35 and 36: On 17 June 1946, chief trustee Dr.
Page 37 and 38: General manager Münch approached t
Page 39 and 40: Under the pressure of the material
Page 41 and 42: Arrival in Wolfsburg of Displaced P
Page 43 and 44: The factory management deliberated
Page 45 and 46: Owing to the chronic lack of living
Page 47 and 48: A lack of supplies meant that the V
Page 49 and 50: 2.3 Works council in the deficit ec
Page 51 and 52: Due to the works council’s engage
Page 53 and 54: enlistment at a meeting of the prod
Page 55 and 56: After the production restarted in M
Page 57 and 58: Volkswagenwerk. As required by thes
Page 59 and 60: The service school began running co
Page 61 and 62: The Jeep repair workshop celebrates
Page 63 and 64: In spite of all these difficulties,
Page 65 and 66:
corrosion between filler and topcoa
Page 67 and 68:
defects. Josef Kales, the head of t
Page 69 and 70:
that he had rejected to production,
Page 71 and 72:
the adherence to manufacturing tole
Page 73 and 74:
The Ministries of Trade and Supply
Page 75 and 76:
therefore arose as to whether the t
Page 77 and 78:
compared to other manufacturers. Ma
Page 79 and 80:
Minutes for the 11th meeting of the
Page 81 and 82:
Supplies of raw materials still det
Page 83 and 84:
The first press conference of the g
Page 85 and 86:
In the upturn after the currency re
Page 87 and 88:
workforce at the Volkswagenwerk inc
Page 89 and 90:
For all its criticism of the bureau
Page 91 and 92:
Colonel Radclyffe signed the takeov
Page 93 and 94:
fident, since "nowadays when people
Page 95 and 96:
40 Notes by Brörmann dated 12 th A
Page 97 and 98:
162 Kales to Münch, 30 th December
Page 99:
Picture Sources REME Archives and M
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HN 2: The British and their Works

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