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Ferdinand Porsche
The authorities of the Czech town vratislavice nad Nisou have stated about the decision to remove all references to the name of the designer Porsche because of its links with Nazism. As the mayor of the city - will be removed any mention of the fact that it was the birthplace of Ferdinand Porsche.
Ferdinand Porsche was born on 3 September 1875 in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the small town Maffersdorf (now vratislavice, Czech Republic), the son of the Sudeten Germans. The city is now home to 8,400 residents, eight commemorative plaques, which mentioned the name of a famous designer. However, a few hundred people, among them a group of former prisoners of German concentration camps, has long demanded their removal.
The fact is that in addition to the development of the famous cars Ferdinand Porsche became famous for his military developments. For example, even during the First World War for the development of military equipment (trucks with hybrid power plants, as well as engines for airships and airplanes) Porsche, who had no higher education, was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor of the Vienna University of Technology and received from Kaiser Cross "For Merit" . Even louder than his name thundered during World War II, when the Bureau Porsche created ATVs and amphibians on the basis of "Bug" and combat vehicles: heavy tanks «Tiger (P)» and "King Tiger" tank destroyer "Ferdinand (Elefant)" and super-heavy tank "Mouse" (it. Maus).
Ferdinand Porsche questionable activities during the Second World War - namely, a close friendship with Adolf Hitler, a high rank in the organization of the SS and forced labor of concentration camp prisoners at its plants - caused such a reaction of the authorities of a small Czech town - hometown Porsche.
"As the designer and inventor of the Porsche car was brilliant, but during the war he was an honorary member of the Nazi party in power, and this was not mentioned on the plaque, nor in the city museum dedicated to the man," - told reporters the mayor of the city. - "No one would deny that the Porsche was engineering genius, but will be correct to talk about the dark side of his life, is not ignoring the facts. We have nothing against Ferdinand Porsche as an engineer and designer of the legendary car "Volkswagen Beetle", but the name of SS no place on the streets of our city. "
The decision of the city authorities has caused mixed reactions. The Jewish community and the relatives of those who died and suffered during the Second World War, a decision approved. But members of the local "classic Porsche Automobile Club" offended and looking for evidence that Ferdinand "SS man was not active." "We begin a campaign for the good name of Ferdinand Porsche," - said the club chairman Milan Bumba.
Cooperation with the Nazi regime of Ferdinand Porsche was worth 22 months in prison after the war. In December 1945, the father and son Porsche was arrested in the case brought by the French Ministry of Justice. Only August 1, 1947 he was released for health reasons - however, took on parole during the year of the French occupation zone. Legendary designer died in Stuttgart in 1951 at age 75.
Listen if the world community and lovers of vintage cars to the arguments of opponents of Ferdinand Porsche from his hometown ("it would be wrong to show pride towards fellow citizens who during the war used at the factory as slaves of prisoners of war and Jews from the camps") - time will tell.
The inventor next to his creation - Volkswagen Beetle
And was it in reality?
Commemorative plaques
Porsche himself!
Source:
Ferdinand Porsche was born on 3 September 1875 in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the small town Maffersdorf (now vratislavice, Czech Republic), the son of the Sudeten Germans. The city is now home to 8,400 residents, eight commemorative plaques, which mentioned the name of a famous designer. However, a few hundred people, among them a group of former prisoners of German concentration camps, has long demanded their removal.
The fact is that in addition to the development of the famous cars Ferdinand Porsche became famous for his military developments. For example, even during the First World War for the development of military equipment (trucks with hybrid power plants, as well as engines for airships and airplanes) Porsche, who had no higher education, was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor of the Vienna University of Technology and received from Kaiser Cross "For Merit" . Even louder than his name thundered during World War II, when the Bureau Porsche created ATVs and amphibians on the basis of "Bug" and combat vehicles: heavy tanks «Tiger (P)» and "King Tiger" tank destroyer "Ferdinand (Elefant)" and super-heavy tank "Mouse" (it. Maus).
Ferdinand Porsche questionable activities during the Second World War - namely, a close friendship with Adolf Hitler, a high rank in the organization of the SS and forced labor of concentration camp prisoners at its plants - caused such a reaction of the authorities of a small Czech town - hometown Porsche.
"As the designer and inventor of the Porsche car was brilliant, but during the war he was an honorary member of the Nazi party in power, and this was not mentioned on the plaque, nor in the city museum dedicated to the man," - told reporters the mayor of the city. - "No one would deny that the Porsche was engineering genius, but will be correct to talk about the dark side of his life, is not ignoring the facts. We have nothing against Ferdinand Porsche as an engineer and designer of the legendary car "Volkswagen Beetle", but the name of SS no place on the streets of our city. "
The decision of the city authorities has caused mixed reactions. The Jewish community and the relatives of those who died and suffered during the Second World War, a decision approved. But members of the local "classic Porsche Automobile Club" offended and looking for evidence that Ferdinand "SS man was not active." "We begin a campaign for the good name of Ferdinand Porsche," - said the club chairman Milan Bumba.
Cooperation with the Nazi regime of Ferdinand Porsche was worth 22 months in prison after the war. In December 1945, the father and son Porsche was arrested in the case brought by the French Ministry of Justice. Only August 1, 1947 he was released for health reasons - however, took on parole during the year of the French occupation zone. Legendary designer died in Stuttgart in 1951 at age 75.
Listen if the world community and lovers of vintage cars to the arguments of opponents of Ferdinand Porsche from his hometown ("it would be wrong to show pride towards fellow citizens who during the war used at the factory as slaves of prisoners of war and Jews from the camps") - time will tell.
The inventor next to his creation - Volkswagen Beetle
And was it in reality?
Commemorative plaques
Porsche himself!
Source: