Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website A British jump start – Volkswagen remembers the beginning of British trusteeship 75 years ago
june 04, 2020 - Volkswagen

A British jump start – Volkswagen remembers the beginning of British trusteeship 75 years ago

  • In June 1945, the British Military Government assumed trusteeship over Volkswagenwerk GmbH for four years
  • Major Ivan Hirst protected the Wolfsburg plant against dismantling, as well as organizing reconstruction and the start of civilian car production
  • The British laid the foundation for today’s #volkswagen Group
  • Volkswagen honors the British era with the documentary film “My brief was very simple“, in which Ivan Hirst tells his #volkswagen story

75 years ago, from June 5, 1945, the British military entered its zone of occupation, replacing the US troops. In Wolfsburg, the British Military Government assumed trusteeship over Volkswagenwerk GmbH, beginning a unique post-war story. The key figure in this story is 28-year-old Major Ivan Hirst. With a talent for improvisation, organizational capabilities and tremendous farsightedness, he reshaped the armaments plant, which had been largely destroyed and was intended for demolition, into a civilian car factory. This way, the British prepared the ground for the later global success of the Beetle and laid the foundation for today’s #volkswagen Group. #volkswagen honors the British era with the documentary film “My brief was very simple“, in which Ivan Hirst tells his #volkswagen story.

Documentary film “My brief was very simple“
Volkswagen #heritage has taken the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the assumption of British trusteeship to publish the 30-minute documentary film “My brief was very simple” on YouTube for educational, research and media work. Five episodes document the decisive ground-breaking phase of #volkswagen after the Second World War. In one of his last interviews, in 1999, Ivan Hirst tells the story of the British trusteeship over the company in Wolfsburg precisely 50 years after responsibility for Volkswagenwerk GmbH was returned to Germany.

“Initially,” Ivan Hirst begins his #volkswagen story, “my brief was very simple. Go to Wolfsburg, find the factory and sit on it. They didn’t even say it was a #volkswagen factory.” Major Hirst arrived in Wolfsburg in August 1945 and was satisfied when he took his leave four years later in August 1949: “There was a modern factory, ready to go, with a labor force, a German management and a product that was proven,” Hirst remembers. “And when the currency changed in 1948, it took off: #volkswagen went round the world.”

Further information in the press release to download

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