The bankruptcy of Neue Rohr AG in 1935 opened the door for another of Germany's smaller automakers, Stoewer-Werke AG, to pick up Tatra's German manufacturing license and machinery from the receivers. Stoewer of Stettin was an old industrial concern, being founded in 1858, manufacturing sewing machines, bicycles and typewriters. In 1899, Bernard and Emil Stoewer, son's of the company's founder, Bernard Stoewer Snr, established a new company, the Stoewer Ironworks, to focus on automobile manufacturing. Between 1899 and 1931 Stoewer developed a series of high quality but technically conventional cars. In 1931 they developed the V5, which helped pioneer front-wheel drive (introduced earlier by the DKW F1 in 1930).
In 1934, Stoewer introduced the Greif V8, a technically interesting V8 engined front-wheel drive automobile. Unfortunately, as Rohr had also discovered, there was little market for large, expensive cars at this time. In order to keep the company afloat it was essential to have a smaller, budget car on the market. Securing Rohr's Tatra 75 license along with the bankrupt company's plant and equipment allow Stoewer to put their version, named the Greif Junior, onto the market in a timeframe of less that six months. https://vorkriegs-klassiker-rundschau.blog/2022/07/08/der-letzte-echte-stoewer-greif-v8/
The Greif Junior would become Stoewer's most successful car, selling 4,000 over four years of production. Interestingly, the Greif Junior was not simply a copy of either the Tatra T75 or Rohr Junior. While retaining the engine and running gear, Stoewer's engineers completely redesigned the body, giving the car a streamlined, stylish and modern look. Stoewer were able to design and fit the new body so quickly as they had invested in a modern, steel body pressworks. This meant Stoewer were able to press out self supporting body panels faster and cheaper than other manufacturers, which still used wood-framed construction methods. German Ford even considered buying out Stoewer at one point in order to secure their press facility.
Unlike Rohr, who was never really able to recover from the economic crisis of the Depression, Stoewer were able to weather the economic storm. Although the Greif Junior would go on to become their best selling vehicle, the reorganization and rationalization of the German auto industry under the Schell Plan in 1938, bought production to a halt. Stoewer were instructed to stop manufacturing civilian cars and concentrate solely on military vehicles. The restriction on personal vehicle manufacture wasn't absolute however as they were able to negotiate an exemption for the budget Greif Junior until 1939, when they transitioned entirely to war production. Unlike many smaller manufacturers, Stoewer was not closed down enturely as in 1936 they had developed a light, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering vehicle for the military. Due its excellent cross country performance in trials, Stoewer's LEPKW (Leicher Einheits-PKW, i.e. light standard car), was granted a military supply contract and between 1936 and 1944 more than 11,000 LWPKWs were built.
As an interesting aside, Vidal and Sohn's Tempowerkes also developed a four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering vehicle in an attempt to secure this military contract. The Tempo G1200 Gelanderwagon wasn't successful in that venture but proved to be successful export for the company. See my posts about this interesting vehicle here: http://tempohanseat.blogspot.com/2013/07/tempo-g1200-all-terrain-vehicle.html
Like other military plants, Stoewer would be stripped of its machinery and assets by Soviet engineering crews in 1945. Stettin, itself would be allocated to Poland and her German population expelled in 1946, bringing an end to the company.
Do check out Michael Schlenger's wonderful Pre-war Classic Automobile blog article about the last true Stoewer car, the V8 Greif here: https://vorkriegs-klassiker-rundschau.blog/2022/07/08/der-letzte-echte-stoewer-greif-v8/
German Licensed Tatra manufacturers:
Rohr Junior history - https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2021/09/1933-rohr-junior-tatra-under-license.html
DELTA/DETRA history - https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2021/05/deutsche-license-tatra-automobile-delta.html
NAG-Voran 220 - https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2021/10/1933-nag-voran-220-630-ps-tatra-under.html
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