German Motorway - Autobahn

When I drove down to Prague in '93 the autobahn in the old East Germany must have been original , very small slip lanes though.

 

Now I can't get this out of my head:
YouTube - Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Which is no bad thing.

 

dbf will like the "autobahn" photos on the IWM site, the first few feature the Irish Guards.
BU 4157
BU 4159
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BU 4972

 

Hi GH,

The film clips may be old, but the commentary is not. The start of this clip mentions '38 awards from AH meted out to these men:

1. Fritz Todt
Fritz Todt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2. Dr Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3. and joint award to be shared between
Prof Willy Messerschmidt
Willy Messerschmitt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and
Prof Ernst Heinkel
Ernst Heinkel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Obviously not mentioned, and one who didn't get a prize Hugo Junkers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

The commentary about the Autobahn book also mentions how building provided jobs. Noted also is how many Germans didn't know how use the road, wondering if they had to pay to go on it. Also the first stretches were made by Railway engineers, cut into the landscape and this was stopped, as that sort of engineering was not required for roads.

The clips showing trees and central reservations is accompanied by commentary on how some trees were singled out for saving. Harmony was the watch word and even service buildings were required to be built to local traditions.

Viewed restrospectively this isn't just about the Autobahn network, "motorisation" and tourism and propaganda, it is to my ears, how all was planned centrally with more than economic growth in mind. Hitler's words at the end provides chilling hints of what was to come. [I don't care to translate the words used in that last clip.]

A quote from the start : 'AH stated that "Without cars, planes and loudspeakers the rise of power would not have been possible.'

Interestingly put together clip.

 

Did indeed O,
last time we talked about IWM archives, printed for my Dad - to see if recognises the guys in the first 2 in part. Will see him next weekend.

 

I can't get the link to work ... is it just me?

BTW, my great grandparents lost their old family home and their land, thanks to a compulsory 'purchase' order - no house to see now, just a great big Autobahn ...

 

Galleries - Time to Burn? - Top Gear



Auto Union Streamliner

Built to cleave the air at never-before-witnessed road speeds, the Auto Union Streamliner is a thing of beauty. But this is a form of visual seduction with a killer twist: on January 28 1938, the car was ripped apart as it barrel-rolled off the Frankfurt-Darmstadt autobahn at 270mph, taking one of Germany's great racing heroes, Bernd Rosemeyer, to the grave with it.


Grand Prix Hall of Fame - Bernd Rosemeyer - Biography

At the end of the season Mercedes feeling that their reputation was taking a beating by the upstart Auto Union team and its brash driver decided to undertake an attempt to regain the land speed record from Auto Union. The attempt would take place on the Frankfurt-Darmstadt-Heidelberg autobahn.
Rosemeyer in describing his record setting run stated that "... at about 240 mph the joints in the concrete road surface are felt like blows, setting up a corresponding resonance through the car, but this disappears at a greater speed. Passing under bridges the driver receives a terrific blow to the chest, because the car is pushing air aside, which is trapped by the bridge. When you go under a bridge, for a split second the engine noise completely disappears and then returns like a thunderclap when you are through....
....Traveling at over 270 mph a crosswind caught his car and caused the Auto Union to somersault flinging Rosemeyer to his death.




I liked this bit of anti-Nazism at the German Grand Prix...
As they mounted the victors rostrum they were congratulated by the ranking Nazi, Adolf Huhnlein. Caracciola was presented with a large trophy depicting the Goddess of Speed. Showing his disdain for bureaucrats in general and National Socialism in particular he placed a lighted cigarette between the statues lips while Huhnlein's back was turned. Alerted by the crowds burst of laughter Huhnlein turned back only to see Rosemeyer's feigned innocence.

 

Little bit about the Streamliner at 1 min 50 sec on this bit of footage.
They have a replica on track too.
There is a replica on show at Laguna Seca.

YouTube - Auto Union V16 & V 12


Here too.
See the Wehrmacht are involved in this one.
YouTube - Bernd Rosemeyer und die Auto Union Stromlinie

 

Since this is gradually spreading into covering all German motoring of the period, nice page here on the personalities:

The People

All those Silver Arrow drivers may have had to be members of the NSKK but you can't help feeling fighter pilot would be their military destiny.

 

Another Streamliner of the era.
Wanderer Stromlinie Spezial
Prova Wanderer Stromlinie Spezial Aufbau Ost



Classics.com - Techno Classica 2006