Simson (company)

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Current Simson logo
Gate B of the Simson business park

Simson is the short name of a former arms and vehicle manufacturer that has been restructured and renamed several times in the course of its history. The original company was founded in 1856 by the two Jewish brothers Löb and Moses Simson in the Thuringian city ​​of Suhl . Simson became famous today through the two-wheelers manufactured in large numbers in the GDR . With a total of almost 6 million motorcycles manufactured, Simson was Germany's largest two-wheeler manufacturer and has remained so to this day.

history

1856-1933

The company was initially based on a cutting mill, which was converted into a steel hammer at the request of Andreas Bauer from Heinrichs with an electoral license on December 28, 1740. In this steel hammer, the iron ore extracted from the region was forged into steel. The brothers Löb and Moses Simson acquired a third of the company in 1854 and founded the Simson & Co company from it in 1856 , which continued to produce charcoal steel, which was mainly used for the manufacture of hunting and military weapons. The main clients were the Prussian army , which needed weapons for the Prussian-German War in 1866 and the Franco-German War from 1870 to 1871 , and the Saxon Ministry of War.

In 1871 the first steam engine was put into operation. In the following year, the factory received government contracts to manufacture weapons. About 150,000 Model 71 military rifles were manufactured between 1872 and 1876. The production of hunting weapons began in 1880 .

In 1887 Gerson Simson had workshops, an office, revision and storage room added to the house built in Suhl in 1882. In 1893, the production of precision alignment equipment for artillery began. The main customer was Krupp .

From 1896, Simson expanded its product range and manufactured the first bicycles that resembled English models. Simson soon became one of the largest bicycle manufacturers. In 1908 there were strikes among the workforce, demanding the reinstatement of twelve dismissed colleagues and the installation of ovens and fans in some departments. The strike ended with partial success for the employees.

In 1907 the development of passenger cars began . A former furniture factory in Suhl was auctioned for production. The development work was marked by several failures. It was not until 1911 that a model suitable for the market was constructed after the automobile expert Paul Henze had been won over for several months. The engineer Fritz Hattler built a test model of a small car based on his design documents. In 1911 the first car ( Simson A ) with a 4-cylinder engine was built and went into series production. As a result of the under-motorization, however, only a few copies were sold. The development of variants with more power followed.

In 1855 just 20 people were employed, in 1904 Simson, Suhl's largest employer, had 1200 and 1918 around 3500 employees. During the First World War there was strong growth and the company was able to quadruple its production between 1915 and 1917. Simson manufactured parts for machine guns , rifles , small artillery pieces , aircraft engines and medical vehicles.

After the First World War, weapons production had to be stopped. However, on August 25, 1925, Simson was able to conclude a monopoly agreement with the Reichswehr for the delivery of light machine guns, rifles, carbines and pistols. As a result of the Peace Treaty of Versailles , the company had previously been designated by the Allies as the sole supplier. In addition, the company began series production of luxury cars in 1924, particularly the Simson Supra model , which was also successful in racing . From 1930 onwards, strollers were also produced.

The monopoly position as one of the few official arms suppliers of the army allowed Samson, the Great Depression to survive from 1929 well as the local competition was affected by many corporate failures. This led to complaints and lawsuits about the state subsidies as well as the demands of the Association of Suhler Gun Manufacturers e. V. not only to award army contracts to Simson. The hostility was picked up by the National Socialists in order to attack and defame the Jewish managing directors Arthur and Julius Simson.

1933-1945

Shortly after the National Socialists came to power , the Thuringian Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel launched an investigation on the grounds that the German Reich had been defrauded by the Jewish company in accounting for state contracts. Although the Reich Audit Office was unable to determine excessive profits, on Sauckel's initiative in 1934 there was a show trial of Arthur Simson and some executives in Meiningen for “taking advantage of the Reich”. However, the detained defendants had to be acquitted on all counts a year later for lack of evidence.

Even earlier, on September 19, 1933, Simson & Co KG had leased the company to the newly founded Berlin-Suhler Waffen- und Fahrzeugwerke GmbH in order to remove the family name from the company name. Herbert Hoffmann, a Berlin businessman and NSDAP member, was appointed trustee . Control of their company was thereby withdrawn from the Simson family and passed on to the trustee Hoffmann. For the purpose of Aryanization , the company was offered to Friedrich Flick with a value of around 18 million Reichsmarks and an annual profit of around 1.6 million Reichsmarks in 1934 for a price of 8 to 9 million Reichsmarks. Flick refused this after lengthy negotiations.

On September 1, 1934, automobile production was stopped in favor of arms production.

In August 1935 Sauckel obtained an appeal procedure before the Jena Higher Regional Court , this time in camera. That ended with a guilty verdict and a fine of 9.75 million Reichsmarks against the owners. The alleged excess profit was calculated by the German Revisions- und Treuhand AG. The necessary money could only be paid by the owners Julius and Arthur Simson, who were forced to renounce the work at gunpoint, so that on November 28, 1935 the company was transferred to Fritz Sauckel. The Simson family escaped to Switzerland in 1936 and emigrated to the USA . The name Simson was finally deleted from the company name.

Logo of the Gustloff Works

The assets acquired subsequently formed the basis for the Wilhelm Gustloff Foundation, which was established in 1936 . In the same year, the manufacturer's first motorized two-wheeler rolled off the production line under the name BSW 98 in Suhl, which was then still considered a motorbike. With the beginning of the Second World War , the production of bicycles, strollers and motorcycles was stopped and switched to weapons. The company traded under the name Gustloff-Werke - Waffenwerk Suhl from 1939 . 6000 employees manufactured various war weapons such as carbines , machine guns and light anti-aircraft cannons . In 1940, sales of military products amounted to almost 43 million Reichsmarks, while sales of civilian production, which was discontinued in the following year, were only around 3.3 million Reichsmarks. Among other things, almost 62,000 machine guns 42 and 2,500 mounts for the 2 cm Flak 38 were manufactured in Suhl in 1944 alone . In addition to the main plant, a branch was built in Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig in 1938 for the barrel production of machine guns. The so-called Rennsteigwerk was located directly at the Rennsteig train station . In 1940 the Gustloff factory in Meiningen followed for the production of the Panzerbüchse 39 , the MG 13 and the 2 cm Flak 38 as well as a factory in Greiz for the production of rifle barrels. Finally, in 1942, another branch plant in Litzmannstadt started manufacturing the MG 42 , which was relocated to Suhl in August 1944.

New car registrations in the German Reich from 1933 to 1938

year Registration numbers
1933 27
1934 21st
1935 5
1936 2
1937
1938

Source:

1945–1990

VEB vehicle and equipment factory Simson-Suhl (1959)

After the Second World War , the Allies classified the plant as an armaments factory and largely dismantled in 1946. About 4,300 machines were transported to the Soviet Union as reparations . With the remaining nearly 900 plants, the production of hunting weapons, prams and bicycles began, most of which went to the Soviet Union as further reparations. In 1947 the company was incorporated into the Weimar branch of the Soviet joint stock company SAG Awtowelo (AWO).

At the end of 1948, the factory received an order from the Soviet Military Administration (SMAD) to build a motorcycle with a 250 cc four-stroke engine, later the AWO 425 . Production of the machine, which was similar to the EMW or BMW R 25 , could already be started in 1950, of which around 210,000 units had been manufactured until production was discontinued at the end of 1961. When moped production started up, the production of bicycles was stopped in 1957.

Moped production began in 1955 with the SR1
Simson S350 (1960), a 350 cm³ motorcycle that was not in production in the vehicle museum in Suhl
Simson emblem on the tank of a motorcycle of the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic in the Military History Museum of the Bundeswehr

On May 1, 1952, the now state- owned company was incorporated as VEB Fahrzeug und Gerätewerk Simson Suhl in the later IFA - Industrieverband Fahrzeugbau der DDR . In addition to the AWO 425, mopeds , mokicks and scooters were also produced from 1955 . Due to the decision to have motorcycle production in the GDR carried out exclusively by MZ , only mopeds and other small motorcycles were built from 1962. This division of the market segments remained until the end of the GDR. On September 13, 1962, the one millionth moped left the Simson factory. With the start of production of the Schwalbe in 1964 and the S50 in 1975, the most popular and widespread small motorcycles in the GDR were manufactured.

After the weapons production had meanwhile been outsourced to the "VEB Ernst-Thälmann-Werk Suhl" in order to increase moped production, the factories were merged again at the beginning of 1968, after which the company was called VEB Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffenwerk "Ernst Thälmann" . At the end of the 1980s, the Suhl plant had around 4,000 employees who produced almost 200,000 mopeds per year. From the 1970s onwards, mopeds were primarily sold in the Eastern Bloc, as well as in the Middle East and Africa. According to some authors, they no longer corresponded to the quality and level of development, although modern products such as the SR50 , for which an electric motor was even developed, came onto the market in the 1980s .

The end of VEB Simson Suhl (1990–1991)

In the course of the political change in 1989/1990, the state- owned vehicle and hunting weapons factory "Ernst Thälmann" Simson Suhl was placed under the trust administration and, for formal reasons, transferred to the two companies Simson Fahrzeug GmbH and Jagd- und Sportwaffen GmbH in private ownership. During this time the export market for Samson collapsed as a result of the political changes. Domestic demand also fell sharply. Most of the 4,000 employees were laid off and production was reduced to just 5,000 mopeds in 1991. In March of that year, the management of the Treuhandanstalt initiated the liquidation of the company;

Special market situation after 1990

Simson faced an unusual and difficult market situation in the 1990s. The demand for small and light motorcycles had generally fallen sharply. Many who had used the moped for everyday use until then had switched to the now more readily available car. West German manufacturers such as Hercules , Zündapp and Kreidler had already greatly reduced or even stopped their moped production. The remaining demand was met by imported vehicles from low-wage countries . The biggest competition for Simson, however, came from its own company - the market was flooded with used vehicles from the GDR . The massive oversupply resulted in low prices, and many Simsons were simply given away. On top of that, the attractive 60 km / h exemption was retained for these older vehicles , while new mopeds were only allowed to be a maximum of 50 km / h. Under these conditions, Simson was able to rebuild stable production. The further fate of the traditional brand shows that it ultimately did not succeed in establishing itself in the two-wheeler sector. From 1992 to 2002 a total of around 47,000 mopeds, small motorbikes and light motorcycles were sold. For comparison: in the 1980s, Simson's annual output was just under 200,000 vehicles.

Foundation of Suhler Fahrzeugwerk GmbH and new model names

At the end of 1991, some of the former employees joined forces to form “Suhler Fahrzeugwerk GmbH” and, in early 1992, started production again. The production facilities, extensive know-how and technical documentation could be used. Most of the supplier companies had perished, so it was important to make new contacts.

Initially, the production of the known types was continued with slight modifications. Among other things, the popular 60 km / h version was omitted because the relevant GDR regulation that small motorcycles may drive up to 60 km / h had not been incorporated into federal German law. Nevertheless, it was possible to set up stable production on a small scale. With optical modifications, technical extras and Greek letters as the model name, it was possible from 1993 to make the new Simsons stand out from the crowd of used vehicles and make them appear more modern. However, the innovations brought with them increased costs, which is why the model policy of the alpha-, beta and gamma series could only be pursued for a few years.

During this period there were some innovations at Simson. In 1992 a load tricycle type SD 50 was added to the production, which should fill a market niche. The gamma E small scooter with an electric motor was also innovative . Due to high production costs and not fully developed battery technology, its production was discontinued after a short time.

From 1993 to 1996 the Hotzenblitz was also produced by Hotzenblitz Thüringen Mobile GmbH in the production halls of Suhler Fahrzeugwerk GmbH .

Product variety and decline of Simson (1996-2003)

1996 marked a turning point for Simson. The model range was expanded considerably and various new developments were carried out in series. The name in Greek letters was abandoned, instead the bird names used in GDR times were used. In addition to various upgraded vehicles, the simple basic equipment of the types S53 and SR50 / 1 developed in the GDR were again offered at relatively low prices. At the other end of the scale, a modern scooter with a continuously variable automatic transmission, sporty mokicks with a central spring strut and other types were offered. In 1998 they entered the 125cc class with a new motorcycle development.

The newly developed vehicles sold sluggishly. They had various constructive weaknesses and were not on a par with the old, mature GDR models. The development and market launch of the Simson Schikra motorcycle was also costly and error-prone. It also seems incomprehensible that no efforts have been made to open up export markets. The Suhler Zweirad GmbH , the gradual 1997/98 the previous Suhler vehicle GmbH took over, had in January 2000 Insolvency Register. Even politically motivated support from the state of Thuringia in the form of the TIB (Thuringian Industry Participation Company) could not prevent the failure.

A new investor, the engineering service provider KONTEC , continued production from June 2000 with a further reduction in the number of employees under the name SIMSON MOTORRAD GmbH & Co KG . Innovations in the 125cc motorcycles and later also the small motorcycles should help the company to new success. Numerous, sometimes virtuoso designs such as Simson Insect, Schwalbe II, the Raven kick board and a superbike "Simson Hyper-Bike" bear witness to the great plans of the investor at the time. As ambitious as the designs may appear, they reveal a blatant misjudgment of the real market situation and the possibilities at the production site in Suhl. The demand for simple, robust mopeds was not recognized. 95% of the vehicles sold since 1992 were models based on the GDR types S53 and SR50 / 1. Management errors also led to constant delivery problems. The image of the traditional brand was also severely affected by the sale of cheap imported vehicles under the Simson name. In June 2002, Simson had to file for bankruptcy again. Vehicle production was finally stopped on September 30th. Because no new investor could be found, the foreclosure auction of the entire business assets including the production facilities took place on February 1, 2003.

At the same time, on July 1, 1996, the liquidation of Suhler Fahrzeugwerk GmbH was lifted again in accordance with Section 2 (3) TreuhLÜV and founded with a completely new structure as Simson Gewerbepark GmbH . It was later renamed TLG Gewerbepark Simson GmbH . This company, a subsidiary of TLG Immobilien GmbH , still exists today (as of 2016), maintains the properties of the former production facilities and manages the trademark rights.

MZA in Meininger "IG Rohrer Berg"

From 2003

MZA (Meyer-Zweiradtechnik-Ahnatal) GmbH , which has existed since 1993, acquired the majority of the assets, such as goods and stocks, production facilities as well as drawing rights and copyrights from Simson, for foreclosure in February 2003. Furthermore, an agreement on the use of the Simson brand name was concluded with TLG Gewerbepark Simson GmbH . In contrast to all previous Simson companies, MZA does not produce any new vehicles. The company produces spare parts for almost all Simson models built to date and, since 2009, new M541 (50 cm³) and M741 (70 cm³) engines . Initially located in the Simson business park in Suhl , MZA GmbH has been producing at the newly built location in the industrial area "IG Rohrer Berg" in Meiningen since 2019 . MZA products can be purchased by end consumers through dealers or after ordering online in so-called pick-up shops.

Manufactured products and vehicles

Under the leadership of the Simson family

  • Starting products for the manufacture of axes, chisels, halberds and pipes for the people of Suhl
  • from 1896 bicycles with pneumatic tires
  • from 1911 first cars
  • during the First World War weapons production (carbines, machine guns, pistols, light artillery, aircraft engines and medical vehicles)
  • After the First World War, series production of luxury class automobiles, especially the Simson Supra model , and prams

Automobiles 1914–1934

Type Construction period cylinder Displacement power Top
speed
Type A (6/12 HP) 1914-1915 4 row 1462 cc 22 hp (16.2 kW) 55 km / h
Type C (10/28 hp) 1914-1915 4 row 2614 cc 28 hp (20.5 kW) 65 km / h
Type D (14/45 hp) 1919-1923 4 row 3538 cc 45 hp (33 kW) 90 km / h
Type Bo (6/22 HP) 1919-1924 4 row 1570 cc 22 hp (16.2 kW) 65 km / h
Type Co (10/40 HP) 1919-1924 4 row. 1613 cc 40 hp (29 kW) 80 km / h
Type F (14/65 hp) 1923-1924 4 row 3613 cc 65 hp (48 kW) 100 km / h
Supra Type S (8/50 HP) 1924-1926 4 row 1970 cc 50–60 hp (37–44 kW) 120-140 km / h
Supra type J (12/60 hp) 1925-1926 6 row 3120 cc 60 hp (44 kW) 95 km / h
Supra type So (8/40 hp) 1925-1929 4 row 1970 cc 40 hp (29 kW) 100 km / h
Supra Type R (12/60 HP) 1926-1931 6 row 3130 cc 60 hp (44 kW) 95 km / h
Supra type RJ (13/70 HP) 1931-1934 6 row 3358 cc 70 hp (51 kW) 95 km / h
Supra Type A (18/90 hp) 1931-1934 8 row 4673 cc 90 hp (66 kW) 120 km / h

During the National Socialism

Automobile production was stopped in September 1934. With the BSW 98, the first motorized two-wheeler to be driven free of tax and driving licenses was manufactured from 1936. After the beginning of the Second World War, the production of bicycles and strollers was given up in favor of carbines, machine guns, 2 cm and 3.7 cm anti-aircraft guns and command devices for aircraft.

After 1945

Timeline of Simson vehicles from 1950 to 2002 (excluding imported vehicles)
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2
bicycle various models
moped SR1 SR2 sparrow SL1
Moped star S50 S51 S53
hawk Sparrowhawk 50
Sparrow 50
Small scooter KR50 swallow SR50 / 80
Star 50
Light motorcycle Sparrowhawk S70 S83
Simson 125
motorcycle AWO 425
Cargo tricycle SD 50

Incorrectly, the three-wheeled duo is often also added to the Simson family, as many parts come from the modular system of the so-called Simson bird series. However, this was never made by Simson.

Logo on late GDR models

A Simson Mokick (moped) that was first put on the market in the former GDR by February 28, 1992 may drive at 60 km / h according to Section 76 No. 8 lit c) of the FEV, with other mopeds mostly only up to 50 km / h or from 2001 up to 45 km / h. The supply of spare parts for almost all Simson models is ensured by MZA in Vellmar and the Suhl branch via a nationwide dealer network.

A maximum speed of 40 km / h is permitted when towing a trailer (trailer must be marked with a 40 km / h sign and have a rear or brake light). The maximum trailer load is 60 kg.

The Hotzenblitz , invented in Ibach / Black Forest , was developed for series production in the Thuringian vehicle plant in Suhl. Before production had to be stopped due to financing problems, around 140 test vehicles, mainly of the Hotzenblitz EL-Sport (buggy) type, were manufactured in a pilot series.

literature

Movie

Web links

Commons : Simson  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Erhard Werner: Simson vehicles from the turn to the end. P. 17.
  2. ^ The concession certificate of the Schleusingen supervisory authority was issued on February 20, 1741, cf. A 33, B XXII No. 3 sheet 25
  3. ↑ a b c Vehicle Museum Suhl: History ( Memento from June 12, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  4. ↑ a b Erhard Werner: Simson vehicles from the turn to the end. P. 9.
  5. ^ A b State Center for Political Education Thuringia (ed.), Ulrike Schulz: The expropriation of the company "Simson & Co" 1929–1935. In: Thuringian sheets for regional studies. 60, Erfurt 2006.
  6. ↑ Ulrike Schulz: The expropriation of the company Simson & Co, Suhl / Thuringia from 1927–1935. In: Sources on the history of Thuringia, ed. from the State Center for Civic Education Thuringia, Erfurt 2011, p. 19.
  7. ↑ Ulrike Schulz: The expropriation of the company Simson & Co, Suhl / Thuringia from 1927–1935. In: Sources on the history of Thuringia, ed. from the State Center for Civic Education Thuringia, Erfurt 2011, p. 20.
  8. ↑ Wolf Gruner (edit.): The persecution and murder of European Jews by National Socialist Germany 1933–1945 . Vol. 1., German Empire 1933–1937. Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-486-58480-6 , No. 165 / p. 435ff.
  9. ↑ Monika Gibas (Hrsg.): Sources on the history of Thuringia “Aryanization” in Thuringia Disenfranchisement, expropriation and annihilation of the Jewish citizens of Thuringia 1933–1945. (2 half volumes); 2nd revised edition Erfurt 2008, ISBN 978-3-937967-06-6 , p. 34 ff.
  10. ^ Hans Christoph von Seherr-Thoss : The German automobile industry. Documentation from 1886 until today . Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart 1974, ISBN 3-421-02284-4 , p. 328 .
  11. ↑ Erhard Werner: Simson vehicles from the turn to the end. P. 10.
  12. ↑ Briefly noted . In: Motor vehicle technology 11/1962, p. 482.
  13. ↑ Norbert Moczarski et al .: Thuringian State Archives Meiningen. Department of the Regional Economic Archive South Thuringia in Suhl . A brief inventory overview. Ed .: Thuringian State Archives Meiningen. 1st edition. Druckhaus Offizin Hildburghausen, 1994, Development of traditional industrial areas in South Thuringia until 1990, p. 16-24 .
  14. ↑ Ulrike Schulz: The expropriation of the company Simson & Co, Suhl / Thuringia from 1927–1935. In: Sources on the history of Thuringia, ed. from the State Center for Civic Education Thuringia, Erfurt 2011, p. 385.
  15. ↑ http://www.verfassungen.de/de/ddr/umwandlungsverordnung90.htm
  16. ↑ Erhard Werner: Simson vehicles from the turn to the end , p. 17. MZA-Verlag, 1st edition 2006
  17. ^ The story of Simson: MZA portal, 1991-2000
  18. ↑ Stuttgarter Kontec takes over the traditional Suhl company Simson ( Memento from February 12, 2013 in the web archive archive.today )
  19. ↑ Erhard Werner: Simson vehicles from the turn to the end , p. 18. MZA-Verlag, 1st edition 2006
  20. ^ History ( Memento from August 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Simson Gewerbepark
  21. ↑ Juliane Czierpka: Ulrike Schulz: Simson From the improbable survival of a company 1856–1993, 2nd edition, Göttingen: Wallstein 2013, in: sehepunkte 15 (2015), No. 3 from March 15, 2015

Coordinates: 50 ° 36 '12.6 "  N , 10 ° 38' 34.2"  E