1949 AWO 340/2

BMW's automobile and motorcycle plant at Eisenach in Thuringia was taken over by Soviet occupation forces in May 1945. Although the plant was slated for disposal aswar reparations, Soviet Marshall Georgi Zhukov, recognized that there was more value in preserving the plant intact than stripping it for parts. An order was signed converting the company into a Soviet state enterprise, officially called Sowjetische AG Maschinenbau Awtowelo, Werk BMW Eisenach. The plant was authorized to manufacture BMW R75 motorcycles and BMW 321 cars, which were assembled largely from stocks of spare parts.

The Soviet's recognized that BMW could be a valuable export earner for the East German zone and encouraged the company to reestablish connections with its prewar sales network, many of whom were desperate to get their hands on any new vehicles they could sell. Interestingly, the first cars were sold under the brand name AWO, a contraction of the 'Soviet Autowelo.' Shortly thereafter the company reverted back to the BMW name. Between 1949 and 1952 there were discreet negotiations between BMW in Munich and the East German government in an effort to protect the interests of the company, however, after East and West Germany split into opposing regimes in 1952, BMW sued over the use of the BMW name and logo. The former Eisenach plant was renamed VEB Eisenach Motorwerkes and the 340 was rebadged EMW 340. Production of the EMW 340 ceased in 1953 when VEB instructed Eisenach to take over the manufacture of the IFA F9 from Chemnitz.

EMW 340/2 manual:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2020/01/1952-ifa-emw-340-2-owners-manual.html

History of the IFA F9 (covering Eisenach):
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-development-of-ifa-f9.html

1953 East German Personal Cars:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2021/10/1953-deutsche-und-auslander_23.html