German Industry and Inventions of the 20th century

German Industry in the 1900s

            I am going to focus on perhaps the main industry one thinks of when they hear German industry, the automobile industry. In 1887 Karl Benz fit his 4 stroke combustion engine onto a coach, which led to the modern car. By 1901 Germans were producing about 900 cars per year. Mercedes Benz was formed in 1926. BMW was founded in 1916 but did not start auto production until 1928. Although Germany was among the first to get into the auto industry, they were slow in developing int. This gave American companies like GM the opportunity to get on top.

            The depression in the 1930s hit Germany as well as the rest of the world. Of eighty six auto companies going into the depression, only twelve made it out. The election of the Nazi party into power brought about a revitalization of the auto industry in Germany, however the destruction of WWII brought it to yet another halt. After WWII, companies recommenced their production.

            Germany continues to be known for their Auto industry world wide. With companies such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volkswagon, and Audi, it is hard to imagine a world without German vehicles. These companies continue to produce quality vehicles and remain successful in our ever struggling economy of the 21^st century.

German Inventions

Melitta Bentz, invented the coffee filter in 1908.

Wernher von Braun, invented the V2 Rocket.

Karlheinz Brandenburg, invented the MP3 player

Heinrich Clobes, invented the first mechanized street sweeper in 1909.

Rudolph Dassler, invented the first sport shoes with screw in spikes in 1949

Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain, invented the modern jet engine in 1933