Country: Germany (Russian Zone)
Date: 7 January 1947
Subject: Automobile Industry in Saxony
Pages: 2
[redacted]
[Introduction redacted]
1. The Chemnitz factory of the Auto-Union employs 1,755 and 532 pieces of machinery. At present it is producing spare parts, repairing Russian vehicles, and building stationary, one-cylinder motors. This factory is scheduled to produce the DW 900 motor and the electrical equipment for the truck types F-8 and H-3.
2. The Siegmar factory of the Auto-Union is producing spare parts and doing repair work on Russian vehicles. It is not scheduled to produce anything for the F-8 and H-3.
3. Horch, Zwickau, has 2,027 employees and 570 units of machinery. It is building the H-3, a three-ton truck with a Maybach HL 242 motor and an Opel rear axles. As of 31 October 110 had been completed and delivered to the Russians at 18,000 RM each. Horch has requested an increase to 27,000 RM. Repair work is being done for the Russians and spare parts for the Horch cars are being produced.
4. Audi, Zwichau, (873 employees, 183 machines) is assembling Steyr trucks for the Saxon police, producing spare parts for DKW's, repairing Russian vehicles, and finishing pistons. For the F-8 Audi will build complete motors with drive shaft and chassis.
5. The Auto-Union plant in Wilischthal i. Sa. (309 employees, 51 machines) is building stationary motors for fire-fighting outfits. Later Auto-Union Chemnitz will take over this job and the Wilischthal plant will concentrate on motorcycles. Wilischthal is doing finishing work on pistons and is scheduled to supply pistons for the F-8.
6. Foundaries in Annaberg and Chemnitz are producing castings for pistons and other parts and will supply castings for the F-8 and H-3.
7. DKW*, Scharfenstein, (410 employees, 169 machines) is producing 50 compressors K-902 per month and 40 K-1202. SMA has demanded 50 diesel motors per month, types 2HK-108 and 4HK-108; 47 pieces of machinery will be needed to reach this production rate.
* Deutsche Kuhl-und Kraftmaschinen G.m.b.H.
8. A Sebnite Plant (134 employees, 93 machines) is operating as a daughter-plant of Chemnitz producing electrical equipment for DKW's, F-8, and H-3.
9. DKW, Brand-Erbisdorf, (365 employees, 91 machines) makes sheet metal and die-punch parts. It is producting frame-parts for F-8 and is scheduled to produce check absorbers for H-3.
10. Metallwerk Limbach (142 employees, 68 machines) cannibalises useful parts from wrecks. It is expected to provide hydraulic brakes for H-3.
11. Flader, Johstadt i. Erageb., produce fire extinguishers.
12. Facius and schober, annaberg. (175 employees) produces packing and will supply it for the F-8 and H-3.
13. One hundred and eighteen additional pieces of machinery are needed for production of the F-8 motor, 98 for the chassis, 19 for the electrical equipment, and 42 for the body. It is reported that Auto-Union, Berlin-Spandau is able to build all the truck bodies needed in the F-8 program.
[redacted] Comment: This factory in the British sector of Berlin.
14. The H-3 is not satisfactory. Horch is developing a four-cylinder motor of its own for this three-ton truck. Horch is also developing a new rear axles for this type.
Comment: at point 7 the author incorrectly identifies DKW as being the German refridgerator and radiator company. Rasmussen did own a kuhler (refridgerator) company that did sell DKW fridges through the DKW network, but this was never part of Auto-Union. Despite expectations, Berlin-Spandau never was able to build DKW F8 bodies for either the IFA or DKW F8 after the war due to the political situation being problematic. Berlin-Spandau would eventually manufacture electrical components for Auto-Union GmbH but would primarily be a sales office. IFA F8 body manufacture was taken over by Glaser, renamed VEB Karosserie Dresden. The photos of F8 bodies in this post are from the VEB factory.
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