VW 1945-49

Germany came out of WWII devastated. The Allies wanted Germany to prosper unlike what happened after WWI. Britain played an important role in assisting Germany to get back on its feet as soon as possible and VW was a beneficiary of that initiative.

An important part of that was getting resources to VW so as to get car production up and running again. Many systems needed to be organised to rebuild a shattered country and reestablish a car company from one producing armaments. Step by step with British support that was being accomplished. 

By 1949, VW was building just under half of all cars made in Germany and was ahead of the others in exporting. Now for a brief breakdown by year:

1945: 1,800 vehicles were made. Parts were made at Braunschweig and cars were assembled at Wolfsburg.

1946: In March, 1,000 vehicles were made in a month which was considered a milestone. 10,000 vehicles are made for the year in total. 

1947: A Works Council is set up to allow workers to have a voice in many matters affecting them. Britain should have done the same back home. Exports commence (an example to the right). 9,000 cars produced, 56 exported. 

1948: Currency reform helped create an environment for economic growth. 19,200 cars are manufactured. As for sales 15,000 were for the domestic market and 4,500 exported.

1949: A convertible model is produced for VW by Karmann with 450 built by year's end. VW was handed over by the British Military Government to the State of Lower Saxony. 46,000 vehicles are made. 38,700 are sold in Germany and 7,100 are exported. 

Source: VW AG. For the second article in the series, simply click here.