Author n/a
Publisher Post Era Books
Year 1972
ISBN 911160-43-4
Language English
Binding Softback
Pages 148
Size 151x228mm (6x9in)
Price £30
In the post-war years, the VW Beetle made a big impression on the world’s motoring habits as it became as important as the Model T Ford in mobilising the masses. US imports started in 1949 and derivatives such as the Type 181, known as ‘The Thing’ in the USA - Trekker in Europe - added to the model’s coolness rating. However, a fascinating bit of VW military history pre-dates that. On June 6, 1944, the US War Department published a technical manual TM E9-803 dedicated to what it called the ‘German Volkswagen’. I am sure that the D-Day date is a coincidence but the US Army realised that, in the European Theatre of Operations, its soldiers would capture and find Kübelwagens so prepared a workshop manual to allow American troops to keep them running. It stated: “These instructions are published for the information and guidance of the personnel to whom this equipment is assigned. They contain information on the operation and maintenance of the German Volkswagen as well as descriptions of the major units and their functions in relation to the other components of the vehicle.”
