VERIFIED SOURCES

SOURCES &
CITATIONS

Every claim on josefganz.org is grounded in Paul Schilperoord's 20+ years of independent scholarly research, documented in his biography The Extraordinary Life of Josef Ganz. Work is underway to make the complete archive of cited documents publicly available.

THE BOOK
360+

CITED REFERENCES

30+

PATENTS

20+

YEARS OF RESEARCH

Paul Schilperoord with the Maikäfer, 2009

PAUL SCHILPEROORD, 2009

THE AUTHOR

Paul Schilperoord is a Dutch journalist, researcher, engineer, and automotive specialist whose investigative work brought renewed attention to the life and work of Josef Ganz. Combining technical expertise with archival research, he uncovered and assembled a large body of historical material, forming the basis of his documented studies and publications. His research, supported by primary sources and patents, has contributed significantly to the modern reassessment of Ganz's role in early small-car development.

CHAPTER CITATIONS

Below are the complete citations for each chapter of The Extraordinary Life of Josef Ganz, which is the source of all information on josefganz.org. Work is underway to make all original documents publicly available. Click on any chapter to expand its references.

1

Chapter One: From Tropfenwagen to Volkswagen

16 citations

  1. 1. Josef Ganz, "Ein Denkmal für den Erfinder des Benzinautomobils," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 22, mid-November 1932, pp. 21–22.
  2. 2. Letter from Ferdinand Fuchs to the district court in Zürich, June 9, 1944. [author's archive]
  3. 3. Ibid.
  4. 4. "Porträts zur Tagesgeschichte," Stadt Gottes, Illustrierte Zeitschrift für das katholische Volk, 1910, p. 377.
  5. 5. Jakob Feldhammer's biography (work in progress), based on his memoirs (written in 1941–1944). [archive of Meira Shacham]
  6. 6. Ibid.
  7. 7. Letter from Ferdinand Fuchs to the district court in Zürich, June 9, 1944. [author's archive]
  8. 8. Jakob Feldhammer's Biography (work in progress) based on his memoirs (written in 1941–1944). [archive of Meira Shacham]
  9. 9. Letter from Ferdinand Fuchs to the district court in Zürich, June 9, 1944. [author's archive]
  10. 10. Testimonial on Josef Ganz by the directors of Chemische Fabriken Worms AG, December 1, 1920. [author's archive]
  11. 11. Josef Ganz, "Als Pfadfinder auf dem Wege vom Benz-Komfortable zum MB 130 Heckwagen. Ein stück technischer Geschichte, an dem ich teilhatte," in Motor-Kritik 14, no. 1, early January 1934, pp. 3–5.
  12. 12. Testimonial on Josef Ganz by the directors of Chemische Fabriken Worms AG, December 1, 1920. [author's archive]
  13. 13. Patent DRP [DE] 383063 ("Wendeschraube"), property of Josef Ganz, application dated September 13, 1921, granted on October 9, 1923.
  14. 14. Josef Ganz, "Der bei uns vergessene Motorradvagen," in Klein-Motor-Sport 11, no. 8, late April 1922, pp. 119–120.
  15. 15. Josef Ganz, "Als Pfadfinder auf dem Wege vom Benz-Komfortable zum MB 130 Heckwagen. Ein stück technischer Geschichte, an dem ich teilhatte," in Motor-Kritik 14, no. 1, early January 1934, pp. 3–5.
  16. 16. Ibid.
2

Chapter Two: A New Calling

24 citations

  1. 1. Patent DRP [DE] 130895 ("Untergestell für Motorfahrzeuge"), property of Dr. Georg Klingenberg, application dated July 16, 1901, granted on May 16, 1902.
  2. 2. Letter to Josef Ganz dated February 15, 1923, from the Berlin Patent Office with patent application ("Druckausgleicher für Ansaugleitungen von Verbrennungsmotoren"). [author's archive]
  3. 3. Letter from Ferdinand Fuchs to the district court in Zürich, June 9, 1944. [author's archive]
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Kleinstwagen," in Deutsche Motorsport Zeitung, June 8, 1924.
  5. 5. Patent CH 105267 ("Spielzeug"), property of Josef Ganz, application dated May 17, 1923, granted on June 16, 1924.
  6. 6. Patent DRP [DE] 417427 ("Magnetelektrische Getriebe"), property of Josef Ganz, application dated January 8, 1924, granted on August 12, 1925.
  7. 7. Josef Ganz, "Ist im Kraftfahrzeugbau der Gipfelpunkt erreicht?," in Motor und Sport, nos. 12, 13, & 26, 1926.
  8. 8. S. Lubinski, "Die heroischen 'Narren': Pioniere der Kraftfahrt," in Das Auto Motor und Sport, no. 26, December 22, 1956, pp. 58-61, 63.
  9. 9. Josef Ganz, "Schaden an Körper und Gesundheit," September 19, 1966. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
  10. 10. Josef Ganz, "Kritische Betrachtungen über Konstruktions-Details am Hanomag," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 5, mid-March 1928, pp. 97-102.
  11. 11. Josef Ganz, "Wie wird der zukünftige Kleinwagen aussehen?," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 24, late December 1928, pp. 528-536.
  12. 12. Josef Ganz, "Ist im Kraftfahrzeugbau der Gipfelpunkt erreicht?," in Motor und Sport, nos. 12, 13, & 26, 1926.
  13. 13. Josef Ganz, "Für den deutschen Volkswagen," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 1, mid-January 1928, pp. 1-2.
  14. 14. Josef Ganz, "Nicht einmal den kleinen Finger gibt man uns ganz!," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 1, mid-January 1928, p. 12.
  15. 15. Front page of Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 10, late May 1928.
  16. 16. Letter from G. Schlesinger of the University of Brussels to Ferdinand Fuchs, April 15, 1936. [author's archive]
  17. 17. Josef Ganz, "Der Röhrwagen, ein Zeichen des Wiedererwachens der deutschen Automobilbaukunst," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 12, late June 1928, pp. 239-251.
  18. 18. Josef Ganz, "Mit dem kleinen Dixi kreuz und quer über Schweizer Alpenpässe," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 16, late August 1928, pp. 329-346.
  19. 19. Letter from Josef Ganz to Max J. B. Rauck, custodian of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, March 2, 1962. [author's archive]
  20. 20. Josef Ganz, "Neue 'Tatra'-Modelle," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 8, late April 1928, pp. 160-161.
  21. 21. Josef Ganz, "Bilanz der 'modernen' Automobilkonstruktion. Vor allem: Bautet Schwingachsen ein!," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 19, mid-October 1928, pp. 395-399.
  22. 22. Josef Ganz, "Keine Wagen mehr ohne Schwingachsen!," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 19, mid-October 1928, pp. 399-409.
  23. 23. OW [Oskar Weller], "Kleinwagen—nicht Miniatur-Auto!," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 1, mid-January 1929, pp. 12-13.
  24. 24. Josef Ganz, "Ein Anonymus!," in Klein-Motor-Sport 8, no. 21, mid-November 1928, pp. 458-459.
3

Chapter Three: Motor-Kritik

26 citations

  1. 1. Motor-Kritik 9, no. 6, late March 1929, pp. 138-139.
  2. 2. Contract between H. Bechhold Verlagsbuchhandlung and Josef Ganz, February 27, 1929. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
  3. 3. Announcement in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 1, mid-January 1929, p. 11.
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Das Modell zum Europa-Wagen ist da!," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 1, mid-January 1929, pp. 14-16.
  5. 5. "Klein-Motor-Sport—Motor-Kritik," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 1, mid-January 1929, p. 11.
  6. 6. "Rationalisierung der Fachpresse," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 21, mid-November 1929, p. 453.
  7. 7. Josef Ganz, "Die RDA-Blockade gegen die Fachpresse," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 2, mid-January 1931.
  8. 8. Armin Drechsel, "Etwas über das Kreiselautomobil," in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 8, mid-April 1930, pp. 169-174.
  9. 9. Béla Barényi, "Konstruktion eines Zentralträger-Chassis," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 11, mid-June 1929, pp. 240-241.
  10. 10. "Warum keine Schwingachsen bauen," in Steyrer Magazin, no. 3, March 1929.
  11. 11. "Kaleidoskop" column, in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 5, mid-March 1929, p. 116.
  12. 12. Oskar Weller, "Was uns nicht gefällt," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 17, mid-September 1929, pp. 369-370.
  13. 13. "Brennar-Juwel und die Motor-Kritik," in Brennar-Roland, no. 5, October 1929.
  14. 14. "Motor-Kritik-Wettbewerb," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 18, late September 1929, p. 385.
  15. 15. Cover of Motor-Kritik 9, no. 20, late October 1929.
  16. 16. Cover of Motor-Kritik 9, no. 13, mid-July 1929.
  17. 17. Oskar Weller, "Hallo! Wir fahren nach Paris," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 19, mid-October 1929, pp. 407-409.
  18. 18. Oskar Weller, "Man sieht… Man hört… (Impressionen vom Pariser Salon de l'Automobile)," in Motor-Kritik 9, no. 19, mid-October 1929, pp. 414-418.
  19. 19. Patent DRP [DE] 528643 ("Fahrgestell für Kraftfahrzeuge"), property of Josef Ganz, application dated June 18, 1929, granted on June 18, 1931.
  20. 20. Letter from Josef Ganz to Max J. B. Rauck, custodian of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, March 2, 1962. [author's archive]
  21. 21. Josef Ganz, "Röhr-Test," in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 8, mid-April 1930, pp. 155-159.
  22. 22. Cover of Motor-Kritik 10, no. 6, early March 1930.
  23. 23. Advertisement by Daimler-Benz in ADAC-Motorwelt, no. 10, March 7, 1930.
  24. 24. Josef Ganz, "Mercedes-Ethik," in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 6, mid-March 1930, pp. 115-120.
  25. 25. Letter from Josef Ganz to Max J. B. Rauck, custodian of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, February 5, 1962. [Corporate History Department, Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg]
  26. 26. Agreement between H. Bechhold Verlagsbuchhandlung and Daimler-Benz, April 2, 1930. [author's archive]
4

Chapter Four: The Bug Is Born

23 citations

  1. 1. Letter from Carl Hahn of DKW to Josef Ganz, June 26, 1930. [Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich]
  2. 2. Josef Ganz, "Welchen Wagen soll ich mir anschaffen?," in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 12, mid-June 1930, pp. 256-258.
  3. 3. "Kaleidoskop" column, in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 14, mid-July 1930, pp. 289-293.
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Das Ende der Tropfenwagenidee—oder ihre Auferstehung?," in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 13, early June 1930, pp. 263-269.
  5. 5. Letter from Willy Bendit of Ardie to Josef Ganz, March 18, 1932. [author's archive]
  6. 6. Josef Ganz, "Citroën-Test," in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 16, mid-August 1930, pp. 334-338.
  7. 7. Josef Ganz, "How I Invented the Volkswagen," in Australian Motor Sports & Automobiles, June 1965, pp. 6-10.
  8. 8. Walter Ostwald, "Fahrmaschinenversuche. Drei oder vier Räder?," in Allgemeine Automobil Zeitung (AAZ), fall issue 1930, p. 11.
  9. 9. Letter from Josef Ganz to Max J. B. Rauck, curator of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, March 2, 1962. [author's archive]
  10. 10. Josef Ganz, "Der Ardie-Versuchs-Kleinstwagen 1930," in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 18, mid-September 1930, pp. 390-391.
  11. 11. Letter from Ferdinand Fuchs to the district court in Zürich, June 9, 1944. [author's archive]
  12. 12. Letter from Willy Bendit of Ardie to Josef Ganz, March 18, 1932. [author's archive]
  13. 13. Josef Ganz, "Die Führerscheinfreiheit für Kraftvieräder hintreiben," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 3, early February 1931, p. 45.
  14. 14. Josef Ganz, "Eine deutsche Karosserie der Sachlichkeit," in Motor-Kritik 10, no. 20, mid-October 1930, pp. 450-451.
  15. 15. Letter from Josef Ganz to Hans Nibel of Daimler-Benz, December 2, 1930. [author's archive]
  16. 16. Patent DRP [DE] 585116 ("Lenkvorrichtung für einzeln lenkbare Lenkräder von Fahrzeugen, insbesondere Kraftfahrzeugen"), property of Josef Ganz, application dated February 17, 1931, granted on September 14, 1933.
  17. 17. Patent DRP [DE] 728723 ("Anordnung für Fußhebel, insbesondere für Kraftfahrzeuge"), property of Josef Ganz, application dated October 22, 1931, granted on October 29, 1942.
  18. 18. Letter from Josef Ganz to Hans Nibel of Daimler-Benz, December 2, 1930. [author's archive]
  19. 19. Letter from Hans Nibel of Daimler-Benz to Josef Ganz, December 16, 1930. [author's archive]
  20. 20. Letter from Emil Georg von Stauss of Deutsche Bank to Ferdinand Porsche, July 4, 1930. [Bundesarchiv, Berlin]
  21. 21. Letter from Ferdinand Porsche to Emil Georg von Stauss of Deutsche Bank, June 25, 1930. [Bundesarchiv, Berlin]
  22. 22. Letter from Von Lewinski of Deutsche Bank to Emil Georg von Stauss of Deutsche Bank, January 9, 1931. [Bundesarchiv, Berlin]
  23. 23. Letter from Josef Ganz to Hans Nibel of Daimler-Benz, December 17, 1930. [author's archive]
5

Chapter Five: Sabotaged Bug

13 citations

  1. 1. Gedenkschrift betr. Kleinstwagen by Josef Ganz, July 25, 1931. [author's archive]
  2. 2. Oskar Weller, "Ausstellungs-Nachlese. Die Mark hat hundert Pfennige…," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 6, mid-March 1931, pp. 119-123.
  3. 3. Josef Ganz, "Hurra, der erste Großserien-Kleinstwagen ist da!," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 3, early February 1931, pp. 42-43.
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Eine Seite 'Maikäfer'," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 21, early November 1931, pp. 472-473.
  5. 5. Janus [Paul G. Ehrhardt], "Luftwiderstand und Auto Komödie der Irrungen mit ernsthaftem happy end," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 10, mid-May 1931, pp. 211-212.
  6. 6. Draft contract between Zündapp and "B" (Fiedles Böhler), date unknown (probably 1931). [Deutsches Technikmuseum, Berlin]
  7. 7. Josef Ganz, "Ein Zündapp-Hanomag?," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 10, mid-May 1931, pp. 218-219.
  8. 8. "Kaleidoskop" column, in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 19, early October 1931, pp. 426-427.
  9. 9. Janus (Paul G. Ehrhardt), "Quod erat demonstrandum," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 14, mid-July 1931, pp. 299-301.
  10. 10. From a statement to the court by Georg Ising, February 1934. [author's archive]
  11. 11. Letter from Paul G. Ehrhardt to Josef Ganz, November 16, 1931. [author's archive]
  12. 12. Josef Ganz, "Die Schwingachse des Kleinen," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 3, early February 1931, pp. 41-42.
  13. 13. Letter from the directors of BMW to Josef Ganz, July 20, 1931. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
6

Chapter Six: Intrigues in Paris

31 citations

  1. 1. Automobiltechnisches Handbuch—Handbuch der Automobiltechnischen Gesellschaft E.V., M. Krayn Technischer Verlag, Berlin, 1931.
  2. 2. Letter from Alex Taub, Membership Committee Chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to Josef Ganz, June 22, 1931. [author's archive]
  3. 3. Letter from Josef Ganz to Max J. B. Rauck, custodian of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, March 2, 1962. [author's archive]
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Probefahrt-Bericht über den Mercedes Typ 170," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 19, early October 1931, pp. 416-419.
  5. 5. Interview with Gerry Harant, an ex-colleague and friend of Josef Ganz in Australia, July 2008. [author's archive]
  6. 6. Kraemer, Neue Pariser Zeitung, October 12, 1931.
  7. 7. From a statement to the court by Georg Ising, February 1934. [author's archive]
  8. 8. Letter from director Ernst Decker of Neuen Röhr-Werke to Josef Ganz, August 24, 1931. [author's archive]
  9. 9. Letter from Hermann Klee, member of the board at Wanderer-Werke AG to Josef Ganz, January 28, 1932. [author's archive]
  10. 10. Paul Friedmann, "Apologie wegen Paris," with a reaction by Frank Arnau, in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 21, early November 1931, pp. 478-484.
  11. 11. Letter from Knappe to Josef Ganz, November 17, 1931. [author's archive]
  12. 12. Josef Ganz, "Mercedes Typ 170," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 19, early October 1931.
  13. 13. Letter from Wilhelm Kissel of Daimler-Benz to Josef Ganz, October 2, 1931. [author's archive]
  14. 14. Letter from Ernst Neumann-Neander to Josef Ganz, October 1, 1931. [author's archive]
  15. 15. Letter from Willy Bendit of Ardie to Josef Ganz, October 6, 1931. [author's archive]
  16. 16. Frank Arnau, "Mercedes-Benz Typ 170—der neue Wagen der Untertürkheimer Werke," in Allgemeine Automobilzeitung, no. 40, October 1931.
  17. 17. Letter from Paul G. Ehrhardt to Josef Ganz, November 16, 1931. [author's archive]
  18. 18. Josef Ganz, "Mercedes Typ 170," in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 19, early October 1931.
  19. 19. Paul Jaray, in Motor-Kritik 11, no. 19, early October 1931.
  20. 20. Letter from Josef Ganz to technical director Hans Nibel of Daimler-Benz, November 19, 1931. [author's archive]
  21. 21. Patent DRP [DE] 642192 ("Kraftfahrzeug mit vier unabhängig abgefederten Rädern"), property of Daimler-Benz, application dated April 22, 1932, granted on February 11, 1937.
  22. 22. Letter from the directors of Daimler-Benz to Josef Ganz, November 19, 1931. [author's archive]
  23. 23. Letter from technical director Hans Nibel of Daimler-Benz to Josef Ganz, November 28, 1931. [author's archive]
  24. 24. Contract between Zündapp and Dr.-Ing. h.c. Ferdinand Porsche GmbH, September 28, 1931. [Deutsches Technikmuseum, Berlin]
  25. 25. Letter from Ferdinand Porsche to director Fritz Neumeyer of Zündapp, September 19, 1931. [Deutsches Technikmuseum, Berlin]
  26. 26. Griffith Borgeson, "In the Name of the People—the True Origins of the VW Beetle," in Automobile Quarterly, no. 4, fourth quarter, 1980, pp. 340-361.
  27. 27. Contract between Zündapp and Dr.-Ing. h.c. Ferdinand Porsche GmbH, September 28, 1931. [Deutsches Technikmuseum, Berlin]
  28. 28. Cover of Motor-Kritik 11, no. 21, early November 1931.
  29. 29. Georg Ising, "Deutsche Rennwagen 1934," in Motor-Kritik 14, no. 3, early February 1934, pp. 60-61.
  30. 30. Letter from Armin Drechsel to Ferdinand Fuchs, April 20, 1944. [author's archive]
  31. 31. Minutes of a meeting at Zündapp, November 6, 1931. [Deutsches Technikmuseum, Berlin]
7

Chapter Seven: Nazi Smear Campaign

6 citations

  1. 1. Josef Ganz, "Die billigste Wagensteuer," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 3, early February 1932, pp. 49-50.
  2. 2. Josef Ganz, "Die Steuerfrage," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 4, late February 1932, pp. 75-76.
  3. 3. Josef Ganz, "Der Fall Steiger," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 5, early March 1932, pp. 97-99.
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Die Affäre Röhr," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 6, mid-March 1932, pp. 115-118.
  5. 5. Josef Ganz, "Der große Bluff," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 8, mid-April 1932, pp. 163-165.
  6. 6. Josef Ganz, "Der Kampf um den Volkswagen," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 9, late April 1932, pp. 187-190.
8

Chapter Eight: The May Bug Becomes the Superior

6 citations

  1. 1. Josef Ganz, "Der neue BMW," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 7, early April 1932.
  2. 2. Béla Barényi, "Frontdrive 'Standard'-'Streamline' oder Heckmotor Rohrchassis Stromlinie—Experimentum crucis," in Motor-Kritik 12, no. 15, early August 1932, pp. 348-353.
  3. 3. Letter from Hans Nibel of Daimler-Benz to Josef Ganz, June 17, 1932. [author's archive]
  4. 4. Patent DRP [DE] 587409 ("Antriebsblock für Kraftfahrzeuge"), property of Josef Ganz, application dated May 8, 1932, granted on October 19, 1933.
  5. 5. Statement by Wilhelm Gutbrod, June 17, 1941. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
  6. 6. Josef Ganz, "Ein Laune des Schicksals: Der erste 'Maikäfer,' ein 'Standard'-Wagen," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 4, mid-February 1933, pp. 102-103.
9

Chapter Nine: Presentation for Hitler

5 citations

  1. 1. Josef Ganz, "Der Berliner Ausstellung entgegen," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 4, mid-February 1933, pp. 79-86.
  2. 2. Walter Ostwald, "Heckwagen mit Sternmotor. Eine Konstruktion von Dr. Porsche Vorstoß," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 4, mid-February 1933, pp. 104, 106, 108, & 110.
  3. 3. Josef Ganz, "How I Invented the Volkswagen," in Australian Motor Sports & Automobiles, June 1965, pp. 6-10.
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Die Ausstellung der Ausstellungen: Berlin 1933," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 5, early March 1933, pp. 117-137.
  5. 5. Georg Ising, "Der verhinderte Volkswagen," in Motor Rundschau, no. 5, March 1, 1947, pp. 66-67.
10

Chapter Ten: Gestapo Cellar on the Alexanderplatz

5 citations

  1. 1. Letter from Josef Ganz to Max J. B. Rauck, custodian of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, February 5, 1962. [Corporate History Department, Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg]
  2. 2. Frank Arnau, Geliebt, belebt, gehasst: Ein Leben im 20. Jahrhundert, K. Desch, Munich, 1972.
  3. 3. Police report, Hans Panksus, April 27, 1933. [Bundesarchiv, Berlin]
  4. 4. Letter from the directors of BMW to Josef Ganz, May 3, 1933. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
  5. 5. Josef Ganz, "Zehn Jahre," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 9, early May 1933, pp. 219-221.
11

Chapter Eleven: Volkswagens for the Autobahn

4 citations

  1. 1. "Kaleidoskop. Allen Schädigern zum Trotz. Fünf Weltrekorde auf Standard-Superior, Bauart Ganz (Mercedes)," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 14, mid-July 1933.
  2. 2. Reinhard von König-Fachsenfeld, "Warum Rekordversuche?," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 15, early August 1933, pp. 372-374.
  3. 3. Josef Ganz, "Ein Wochenende," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 16, mid-August 1933, pp. 395-397.
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Von kleinsten Fahrzeugen und großen Leistungen. Der erste Kleinstfahrzeugwettbewerb des ADAC, 15.–17. August 1933," in Motor-Kritik 13, no. 17, early September 1933, pp. 422-437.
12

Chapter Twelve: Hitler Sketches the Beetle

5 citations

  1. 1. Nachtrag zur Niederschrift der Fabrikantensitzung betr. Volkswagen, May 28, 1934. [Mercedes-Benz Archives & Collections, Daimler AG, Stuttgart]
  2. 2. "Der Weg zum deutschen Volkswagen!," in Motor, no. 12, December 1933, pp. 23-24.
  3. 3. Autobiography of Jakob Werlin. [manuscript archives, Mercedes-Benz Archives & Collections, Daimler AG, Stuttgart]
  4. 4. Agreement between Josef Ganz and Daimler-Benz AG, January 22, 1935. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
  5. 5. Sketch by Adolf Hitler, December 23, 1933. [author's archive]
13

Chapter Thirteen: Kaiserhof Hotel, Berlin

4 citations

  1. 1. Josef Ganz, "Volkskanzler—Volksfahrzeug—Volksausstellung. Auftakt," in Motor-Kritik 14, no. 6, mid-March 1934, pp. 129-134.
  2. 2. Brochure describing the Tatra 77, 1934.
  3. 3. Ivan Margolius and John G. Henry, Tatra—The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka, SAF Publishing Ltd, Harrow, 1990.
  4. 4. Josef Ganz, "Übersicht," in Motor-Kritik 14, no. 6, mid-March 1934, pp. 135-148 & 150.
14

Chapter Fourteen: Arisierung

6 citations

  1. 1. Letter from Josef Ganz to Dr. Gustav Röder, January 15, 1934. [author's archive]
  2. 2. Letter from Dr. Gustav Röder to Josef Ganz, January 16, 1934. [author's archive]
  3. 3. Report on the case of Josef Ganz by police inspector Johann Wiebel, March 19, 1934. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
  4. 4. Georg Ising, "Die Arisierung," in Motor-Kritik, June 1934. [author's archive]
  5. 5. Letter from Josef Ganz to H. Bechhold Verlagsbuchhandlung, April 5, 1934. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
  6. 6. Josef Ganz, "Die Zukunft des deutschen Volkswagens," in Motor-Kritik 14, no. 8, mid-April 1934, pp. 177-179.
15

Chapter Fifteen: Exile in Switzerland

5 citations

  1. 1. Letter from Josef Ganz to Ferdinand Fuchs, September 22, 1934. [author's archive]
  2. 2. Letter from Ferdinand Fuchs to Josef Ganz, September 23, 1934. [author's archive]
  3. 3. Agreement between Josef Ganz and Daimler-Benz AG, January 22, 1935. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
  4. 4. Patent CH 173862 ("Fahrzeug, insbesondere Kraftfahrzeug"), property of Josef Ganz, application dated January 23, 1934, granted on December 31, 1934.
  5. 5. Josef Ganz, "How I Invented the Volkswagen," in Australian Motor Sports & Automobiles, June 1965, pp. 6-10.
16

Chapter Sixteen: Sanctuary in Australia

6 citations

  1. 1. Jonathan E. Helmreich, "The Bombing of Zürich," in Aerospace Power Journal, summer 2000.
  2. 2. Statement by Alfred Bloch, employee of the Economic Intelligence Division United States Group Control Council, September 1, 1945. [author's archive]
  3. 3. Georg Ising, "Stromlinie und Volkswagen," in Motor Rundschau, no. 5, March 1, 1947, p. 65.
  4. 4. Georg Ising, "Der verhinderte Volkswagen," in Motor Rundschau, no. 5, March 1, 1947, pp. 66–67.
  5. 5. Frank A. E. Martin, "Der GANZ-Kleinwagen," in Das Auto 4, January 1949, pp. 6–7 & 22.
  6. 6. Agreement between Josef Ganz and the German state of Hesse, January 22, 1959. [Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Wiesbaden]
The Extraordinary Life of Josef Ganz by Paul Schilperoord — book cover

THE BOOK

The Extraordinary Life of Josef Ganz: The Jewish Engineer Behind Hitler's Volkswagen is a comprehensive biography by Paul Schilperoord, based on more than two decades of independent research in archives in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other countries.

Drawing on documented primary sources, the book examines Ganz's technical ideas, patents, prototypes, and professional network, including his involvement with projects such as the Ardie-Ganz prototype, the Adler Maikäfer, the Standard Superior, and the Swiss Rapid. It also traces how political circumstances after 1933 affected his career and historical recognition. The information presented on josefganz.org is derived from the documented sources cited in this work.

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Josef Ganz's ideas and patents contributed to the development of several innovative small-car designs of the early 1930s, including the Ardie-Ganz prototype, the Adler Maikäfer, the Standard Superior, and the Swiss Rapid prototype. He also collaborated with major German manufacturers and maintained professional contacts within the automotive industry. After the Nazis came to power, Ganz — who was Jewish — was arrested by the Gestapo and forced to leave Germany in 1934. During the Nazi period, his career in Germany was cut short and his role in early small-car development received little recognition in contemporary automotive histories.

JOSEFGANZ.ORG WATCH DOCUMENTARY