Ferdinand Porsche

Ferdinand Porsche (born in Vratislavice nad Nisou, the September 3rd 1875 - January 30th 1951), Austrian Engineer, founder-creator of the German automobile research department Porsche.

Biography

Its childhood

Ferdinand Porsche was born on September 3rd, 1875 in Vratislavice nad Nisou/Maffersdorf (Czech Republic), a village of Bohemia forming part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire then. Early child, it impassions himself very early for the technique and is interested in particular in work on the electricity (still stammering at that time) carried out by Thomas Edison. His/her father, Anton, a tinman, see of an evil eye the tastes of his son and wish that this last take again the family business. However, while returning of work one evening, Anton with the surprise to discover its enlightened house, Ferdinand having built an electric generator in the cellar of the house of his/her parents. Fascinated by the talent of his/her son, Anton then decides to let it try its chance in Vienna.

Its studies in Vienna

Having finished its studies at the vocational school of Liberec, Ferdinand Porsche thus settles in Vienna and wishes to be registered at the university. However, it cannot finance its inscription and thus follows clandestinely of the courses to the establishment of higher technical education of Vienna. Finally, it is as an autodidact that Ferdinand acquires the majority of its knowledge in Mécanique.

Being interested in the Automobile , he is engaged by the imperial manufacture of fits with body ( Hofwagenfabrik ) Jacob Lohner , a manufacturer who opens in 1898 a section of production of electrical motors. Representing this company at the time of the World Fair of Paris in 1900, it gains a price thanks to a car with electric traction of its design which rolls to 40 km/h. This car, Lohner-Porsche, will take part in several rallys and will gain speed records.

Its reputation not ceasing growing, Ferdinand Porsche is recruited in 1906 by Austro-Daimler. He becomes managing director of the company during the First World War and develops tractors intended to fire the guns on the rough ground from the Tranchées. In 1923 it works at DMG. In the two companies, it continues to draw racing racing cars which gain each time of the victories. In 1931 it founds its own company.

Its meeting with Adolf Hitler

Since its exploits in the automobile competition, Porsche fascine Hitler, who in addition wishes to democratize the car and to make of it an object of Propagande. The autumn 1933, Ferdinand Porsche will answer the invitation to tender of the Führer which requires future Volkswagen (car of the people) of the precise technical criteria: the car will have to transport four people to 100 km/h and to consume less than 8 liters to the 100 kilometers. With regard to the price, Hitler would have said to Porsche: " At any price, Doctor Porsche… At any price in lower part of 1.000 marks! " . Thus, starting from 1934 Porsche prepares the car of the people. It is sent to the the United States to study the work methods of Ford and General Motors. After the presentation of three prototypes on October 12th 1936, the engineer proposes in 1938 the final version of its vehicle in Führer, which will name it KdF-Wagen (car " KdF" , according to the organization of framing of the leisures Kraft durch Freude, the " force by the joie"). The KdF-Wagen will be renamed Coccinelle after the war. To produce the vehicle, Porsche obtains the construction of a factory with Wolfsburg. However, during the war only 1.100 KdF-Wagen will be produced against 65.000 specimens of a military version of the machine, the Kübelwagen.

In parallel, the racing racing cars which it develops for Auto Union gain a great number of victories. The Flèche of Money ( Silberpfeil ) controlled by Bernd Rosemeyer will be illustrated in all the races, of which the Vanderbilt Cup with the the United States gained in 1937.

When the war bursts, it draws tanks of which the Jagdpanzer Elefant, a frightening armoured tank tank destroyer. It will have less success with the tank (Panzerkampfwagen) '' Maus '' (mouse), a gigantic tank which will remain with the state of prototype.

Post-war period

After war, it continues to work for Volkswagen but will be stopped with his son Ferry Porsche in December 1945 by the French authorities for its membership of the German forces. It will not have a lawsuit and one will ask for 500.000 Francs of guarantee to him and as much for his son. Being able to pay only one guarantee, it is his/her son who will be slackened. Ferdinand will be held during nearly two years in a prison with Dijon, under difficult conditions, and during this time it will be forced to work on the Renault 4 CV. Ferry Porsche will ensure the changing during the imprisonment of Ferdinand and he will manage to join together the sum requested in August 1947.

The news Porsche 356 and 360 gains as much success at the time of the prices than near the public. Ferdinand Porsche continues to draw cars until its death in 1951. Ferry Porsche then deals with the automobile firm Porsche which always markets these famous sport scars.

See too

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