Who Invented the Volkswagen Bug?
The Volkswagen Beetle, or Bug, is a German-made automobile that has found a loyal following around the world. The initial inspiration for the Beetle came from Ferdinand Porsche. Behind the urging of Adolf Hitler, Porsche then changed his invention to a car that could be owned by the common man. The result was the Volkswagen Beetle.
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Urgings From Hitler
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According to Karl Ludvigsen in his book "Battle for the Beetle," Adolf Hitler wanted to create a car that was affordable and economical for the people. Hitler commissioned Ferdinand Porsche to create a "Volkswagen" or car of the people. Porsche used one of his previous prototypes, the NSU, as the basis for this new car.
First Beetles
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In 1936, Porsche's first three inexpensive bug-like prototypes were made. To help with the production of the new cars, Hitler had a town and a factory built. The town, called Kraft durch Freude Stadt, was built to house workers at the Volkswagen factory.
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The KdF-Wagen
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Hitler named Porche's first Beetle the KdF-wagen. According to the Feldgrau Website, a German armed forces research site, the name KdF-wagen derived from the motto "Strength through Joy" and from Kraft durch Freude, a German labor organization.
Name Change
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After World War II, the car was renamed Volkswagen. The factory and the town were also renamed. Their new name, Wolfsburg, came from Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who was forced to give up his land in order for the factory and town to be built.
Production Begins
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According to a 2006 Volkswagen press release, production of the Volkswagen Beetle began in 1945. The first Volkswagen Beetle was shipped to the United States in 1949. By the beginning of the 1970, more than one million Volkswagen Beetles were being made each year.
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