344:, doubts had been expressed as to whether a company the size of NSU would have the financial capability properly to develop and produce a car that was such a departure from the industry norm. The Ro80 represented a far more substantial and important investment than the Spider: it seemed the company had not been able to apply sufficient financial resource to developing it ahead of launch. Problems were exacerbated by insufficient training in preparation for the new technology across the company's dealership network. Engine problems were addressed in 1969 when the "soft carbon" used for the rotor-tip seals was replaced with a harder compound, and this development was accompanied with the fitting of a warning device that provided drivers with audible discouragement when they exceeded recommended engine speeds, but the reputational damage and the shortage of technical expertise across the dealership network was not so quickly addressed, and in the end only 37,395 Ro80s were manufactured, which was nothing like enough to recover the massive amounts invested in developing the car. Having gambled massively on the commercial success of the Ro80, Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf's final years at the helm of NSU were spent trying to save the company from bankruptcy.
355:, already famous as a producer of futuristic cars, albeit cars which (less famously) were powered by relatively conventional engines that traced their origins back to the 1930s. In 1967 a partnership was announced whereby Citroën would invest substantially in development of the Wankel engine and, in return, manufacture and install the power units in their own cars. The commercial details of the deal were fearsomely complicated, and Stieler von Heydekampf had to confess that the unequal financial muscle that the two companies brought to the table might, ultimately, threaten NSU's independence. ("Ein finanzielles Übergewicht von Citroën ist natürlich zu befürchten." /
384:: in the highly pressured negotiations the NSU shareholders were keen to avoid passing over to Volkswagen shareholders the potential income stream from future Wankel engine production by licensees. The deal that emerged was described in the press reports of the time as a "Fusion" (merger). Volkswagen had indeed acquired more than 50% of the shares in NSU, but the deal expressly reserved to the existing shareholders the income stream anticipated from the licensing deals for the Wankel engine. Interviewed in March 1969, Stieler von Heydekampf insisted that the deal was "not a sale but a transaction" (
265:
277:
869:"Autocar Road Test NSU Ro80 1,990 c.c. (nominal): German five-seater touring car with twin-rotor Wankel engine and front-sheel-drive. Rather poor petrol and oil consumption. Superb road-holding and stability. Power steering light with excellent "feel". Fine visibility and well-placed controls. Selective automatic transmission gives three wide performance ranges. Very advanced and pleasant car to drive".
436:
to the east of the city. In 1963 Stieler von
Heydekampf hit the headlines nationally when he endowed a chapel with a little bell tower and a small cemetery at Stocksberg. In 1983, after he died, his body was buried in the little cemetery, together with that of his wife who had predeceased him by
257:, becoming an employee in 1948. In 1950 he joined the company's board, with responsibility for purchasing. Three years later, in 1953, he took over as General Director and Chairman. Under his leadership by 1955, with output of almost 300,000 units, NSU had become the world's largest producer of
335:
which caught the attention both of the pundits and of the business press. Unfortunately, however, the ability of the engine to rotate faster, even before the engine had warmed up, than the developers had provided for led to major reliability problems for the Ro80. Massive enthusiasm for the car's
399:
business which they had acquired five years earlier in another convoluted deal. During the next few years, Volkswagen acquired the remaining NSU shares. Gerd
Stieler von Heydekampf stayed on as Chairman of Audi-NSU AG till 1971 when a heart attack triggered his retirement. His successor was
168:(as it was known at the time). Within Opel von Heydekampf was soon promoted, in 1936 joining the board and taking charge of the company's purchasing function. Further promotion followed in October 1938 when he took over as General Manager, in succession to
367:
that acquired the company. NSU still enjoyed a healthy income stream (with the possibility of more to come) from the licensing deals entered into back in 1966 with well over a dozen automakers including
336:
virtues was accompanied by massive warranty costs as the company found itself replacing engines that had lost pressure in their revolutionary combustion chambers. Even in
September 1963, when the
324:, during the 1960s investing lavishly in developing Wankel powered models of their own. Under Stieler von Heydekampf the first Wankel powered car, a small low volume open topped sports car, the
363:
had completely run out of financial options, however, two years later, Citroën's own financial problems had intensified and their enthusiasm for the Wankel project had begun to cool. It was
261:. In 1957 the company was also able to return to automobile production, after a gap of 28 years. Following a pilot run of 150 preproduction cars, volume production began in March 1958.
408:
itself. In 1975 Audi-NSU AG moved its head office out of the
Neckarsulm building from which Stieler von Heydekampf had directed NSU, to a new head office on the spacious Audi site at
460:
388:). It was nevertheless widely reported that Stieler von Heydekampf had been forced to agree to the "transaction" in order to secure the survival of NSU.
239:
320:
survived with smaller market shares and all three struggled to fund new model investment. NSU had nevertheless acquired a license to develop the
207:, a quasi-military honour given by government to senior industry figures expected to be supportive in any future military rearmament programme.
479:
1126:
661:
351:
was to team up with a larger automobile producer, and in 1967 it appeared that a solution might have presented itself in the shape of
726:
132:
during the economically dynamic first decade of the twentieth century. His father died in 1907. Between 1923 and 1927 he studied
924:
1166:
504:
934:
671:
386:"...handelt es sich nicht um einen Verkauf, sondern um eine Transaktion, bei der die Majorität beim Volkswagenwerk liegt...."
137:
1131:
847:
1048:"Wankel war der Zucker im Kaffee - Gespräch mit NSU-Generaldirektor Dr.-Ing. Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf (interview)"
809:
641:
1146:
242:. In effect this meant that Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf was now in charge of Germany's tank production until the
611:
Rot Fuchs (Gegründet im
Februar 1998 als Zeitung der Gruppe Berlin-Nordost der Deutschen Kommunistischen Partei)
1136:
285:
102:
537:""Das Problem gäbe es nicht..." - Mit dem Retter VW geriet auch das NSU-Werk wieder in große Schwierigkeiten"
603:
1141:
590:
536:
391:
Volkswagen, who were by now encountering unplanned financial headwinds as the world's appetite for the
468:
Audi
Tradition: Firmengeschichtliche Jubiläumsdaten 2013 / Anniversaries in our corporate history 2013
1121:
956:
704:
634:
Working for the Enemy. Ford, General Motors, and forced labor in
Germany during the Second World War
173:
149:
226:
and deputy chairman of the
Henschel Group. Henschel had by this time become a major producer of
204:
973:
656:
565:
404:
who himself would resign from Audi NSU before the year was out in order to take the top job at
140:, emerging with an engineering doctorate in 1929. He then spent several years working in the
133:
693:
246:
ended in May 1945. He presided over
Germany's all-time tank production record year of 1944.
825:
785:
109:
in 1948, becoming the company's chairman in 1953. Following the takeover of the company by
1161:
1156:
1151:
341:
211:
176:
895:"Das ungleiche Paar In zwei Jahren sollen die ersten deutsch – französischen Autos rollen"
264:
61:
8:
723:
Deutschlands Rüstung im
Zweiten Weltkrieg. Hitlers Konferenzen mit Albert Speer 1942–1945
718:
145:
631:
433:
944:
871:
681:
1073:
1047:
1021:
995:
566:"Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf: deutscher Manager; fr. Generaldirektor der NSU; Dr.-Ing"
292:, the volume end of the business was represented by five domestic producers, of which
101:(5 January 1905 – 25 January 1983) was an engineer who became a leading figure in the
930:
805:
740:
667:
637:
392:
297:
231:
223:
215:
508:
164:'s largest automobile manufacturer, which in 1929 had been acquired by the US based
360:
317:
269:
250:
243:
106:
79:
461:"Gerd Stieler v. Heydekampf verstorben (with parallel translated text in English)"
249:
Following the end of the war Stieler von Heydekampf worked as a consultant to the
1100:
Die Martin-Luther-Kirche in Neulautern und die Auferstehungskapelle in Stocksberg
193:
190:
182:
894:
587:
Entry for Stieler von Heydekampf's doctoral dissertation in the online catalogue
401:
373:
305:
169:
165:
114:
762:
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657:
429:
357:"a financial preponderance from Citroën is naturally something that we fear."
321:
141:
43:
666:. Vol. 9: Schmidt-Theyer. K.G.Saur Verlag GmbH, München. p. 545.
369:
313:
235:
186:
65:
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finally appeared to have been satisfied, merged the NSU business with the
1077:
1051:
1025:
999:
613:. Dr. Klaus Steiniger iA RotFuchs-Förderverein e. V., Berlin. p. 20
276:
632:
Reinhold Billstein; Karola Fings; Anita Kugler; Nicholas Levis (2004).
475:
409:
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division till 31 March 1971 when he retired following a heart attack.
425:
332:
57:
898:
604:"Wie USA-Superkonzerne mit den Nazis kooperierten: Hyänen im Rudel"
540:
348:
289:
424:
Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf and his wife lived for many years in
413:
377:
161:
153:
595:
929:. McFarland & Company Inc., Jefferson, NC. pp. 72–79.
219:
129:
39:
1106:. Evangelisches Dekanatamt Weinsberg, Weinsberg 2003, p. 38–39
304:, supported by frequent model changes and the deep pockets of
128:
was born into an old Prussian aristocratic-military family in
660:(editor/compiler); Rudolf Virehaus (editor/compiler) (2005).
586:
381:
205:
Wehrwirtschaftsführer (literally "military economic leader")
471:
396:
301:
227:
157:
331:
However, it was the appearance in 1967 of the futuristic
234:
the chairmanship of the Tanks Commission operating under
818:
776:
636:. Berghahn Books, New York, Oxford 2004. p. 51.
272:
company returned to automobile production in 1957/58.
113:, he stayed on as chairman of the new conglomerate's
968:
966:
888:
886:
884:
882:
840:
717:
560:
558:
505:"Dr.-Ing. Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf: 1905 - 1983"
214:where he was succeeded at the Brandenburg plant by
711:
568:. Munzinger Archiv GmbH, Ravensburg. 21 March 1983
455:
453:
451:
449:
199:. The same year Stieler von Heydekampf became a
963:
918:
916:
530:
528:
526:
308:, dominated the sales charts. The other three,
1113:
879:
741:"Deutsche Rüstungsproduktion nach Waffengattung"
555:
650:
446:
913:
892:
534:
523:
1066:
1040:
1014:
988:
922:
804:(in German). Motorbuch Verlag. p. 392.
601:
288:. Following the bankruptcy in 1960 of the
230:, and on 21 December 1943 he took over from
203:member. He was then, in 1935, appointed a
862:
497:
789:. Heft 13 1996: Seite 58–65. 14 June 1996.
755:
733:
663:Stieler von Heydekamp, Gerd, industrialist
625:
1104:Evangelische Kirchen im Dekanat Weinsberg
763:"A Brief History of NSU and the Supermax"
727:Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Athenaion
347:One answer to the cost of developing the
240:Ministry for Armaments and War Production
875:. 128. (nbr 3755): 11–16. February 1968.
275:
263:
105:during the 1950s and 1960s. He joined
976:. Günter Reichert iA Der-Wankelmotor.de
850:. Günter Reichert iA Der-Wankelmotor.de
828:. Günter Reichert iA Der-Wankelmotor.de
296:, thanks to the runaway success of the
218:. Stieler von Heydekampf relocated to
1114:
799:
428:. They also owned a second house in
419:
268:Under Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf the
783:"Not und Spiele: Die 50er Jahre...".
138:Braunschweig University of Technology
478:. 2013. pp. 4–5. Archived from
185:hit Germany in January 1933 and the
91:(born Elisabeth Heuschen, 1908–1978)
893:Heinz Michaels (1 September 1967).
13:
1022:"Automobile / NSU Freier genommen"
802:Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, volume 4
507:. Internet Archive. Archived from
284:The 1960s were boom years for the
14:
1178:
1127:People in the automobile industry
996:"INDUSTRIE / NSU Nervös geworden"
729:, Frankfurt am Main. p. 321.
89:Elisabeth Stieler von Heydekampf
535:Heinz Michaels (18 April 1975).
340:had first been exhibited at the
1092:
793:
222:, becoming Director General at
602:Eric Grusdat (February 2003).
580:
1:
1167:20th-century German engineers
1074:"Gert Stieler von Heydekampf"
440:
144:. Here he worked first for
7:
1132:Volkswagen Group executives
743:. HISTRASIM LTD., Wakefield
591:Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
126:Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf
99:Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf
20:Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf
10:
1183:
1028:(online). 24 February 1969
286:German automobile industry
166:General Motors Corporation
103:German automobile industry
85:
72:
50:
25:
18:
150:Baldwin Locomotive Works
1147:Economy of Nazi Germany
1080:(online). 27 March 1963
1054:(online). 17 March 1969
800:Oswald, Werner (2001).
120:
1002:(online). 17 July 1967
281:
273:
134:Mechanical engineering
1137:People from Heilbronn
926:Work Continues at NSU
923:John B. Hege (2006).
279:
267:
342:Frankfurt Motor Show
328:, appeared in 1964.
189:lost little time in
146:Babcock & Wilcox
76:Automobile Executive
786:Auto Motor u. Sport
719:Willi Alfred Boelck
420:Burial arrangements
152:. On returning to
1142:Nazi Party members
692:has generic name (
432:, a hamlet in the
382:Toyo Kogyo (Mazda)
282:
274:
224:Henschel & Son
1098:Elfriede Schick:
936:978-0-7864-2905-9
826:"Der Wankelmotor"
673:978-3-598-23299-2
485:on 12 August 2014
232:Ferdinand Porsche
216:Heinrich Nordhoff
187:Hitler government
96:
95:
62:Baden-Württemberg
1174:
1122:NSU Motorenwerke
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511:on April 2, 2009
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359:) By the time
210:In 1942 he left
197:party government
172:, at Opel's new
35:
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848:"Wankel-Spider"
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54:25 January 1983
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21:
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11:
5:
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690:|author1=
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402:Rudolf Leiding
374:General Motors
310:Auto Union-DKW
306:General Motors
290:Borgward Group
170:Hanns Grewenig
148:and then with
122:
119:
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36:5 January 1905
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865:
849:
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811:3-613-02131-5
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742:
736:
728:
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683:
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659:
658:Walther Killy
653:
645:
643:1-84545-013-2
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183:Régime change
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142:United States
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73:Occupation(s)
71:
67:
63:
59:
53:
49:
45:
41:
28:
24:
17:
1103:
1099:
1094:
1082:. Retrieved
1068:
1056:. Retrieved
1042:
1030:. Retrieved
1016:
1004:. Retrieved
990:
978:. Retrieved
925:
903:. Retrieved
870:
864:
852:. Retrieved
842:
830:. Retrieved
820:
801:
795:
784:
778:
766:. Retrieved
757:
745:. Retrieved
735:
722:
713:
662:
652:
633:
627:
615:. Retrieved
610:
597:
582:
570:. Retrieved
545:. Retrieved
513:. Retrieved
509:the original
499:
487:. Retrieved
480:the original
467:
437:five years.
423:
390:
385:
370:Daimler-Benz
356:
346:
330:
283:
248:
236:Albert Speer
209:
181:
158:Adam Opel AG
125:
124:
98:
97:
90:
78:Chairman of
66:West Germany
1162:1983 deaths
1157:1905 births
1152:Opel people
1078:Der Spiegel
1052:Der Spiegel
1026:Der Spiegel
1000:Der Spiegel
953:|work=
701:|work=
259:motorcycles
253:company in
177:truck plant
174:Brandenburg
1116:Categories
1084:6 December
1058:6 December
1032:6 December
1006:6 December
980:6 December
905:6 December
854:6 December
832:6 December
768:6 December
747:6 December
617:6 December
572:6 December
547:6 December
515:6 December
489:6 December
476:Ingolstadt
441:References
430:Stocksberg
410:Ingolstadt
406:Volkswagen
365:Volkswagen
326:NSU Spider
294:Volkswagen
255:Neckarsulm
201:Nazi Party
156:he joined
111:Volkswagen
32:1905-01-05
955:ignored (
945:cite book
703:ignored (
682:cite book
426:Heilbronn
333:NSU Ro 80
58:Heilbronn
901:(online)
899:Die Zeit
721:(1969).
543:(online)
541:Die Zeit
280:NSU Ro80
191:imposing
115:Audi-NSU
872:Autocar
589:of the
472:Audi AG
414:Bavaria
378:Porsche
353:Citroën
162:Germany
154:Germany
136:at the
44:Germany
1102:. In:
933:
808:
670:
640:
393:Beetle
338:Spider
300:, and
298:Beetle
220:Kassel
130:Berlin
86:Spouse
40:Berlin
974:"NSU"
607:(PDF)
483:(PDF)
464:(PDF)
434:hills
228:tanks
1086:2015
1060:2015
1034:2015
1008:2015
982:2015
957:help
931:ISBN
907:2015
856:2015
834:2015
806:ISBN
770:2015
749:2015
705:help
694:help
668:ISBN
638:ISBN
619:2015
574:2015
549:2015
517:2015
491:2015
397:Audi
380:and
349:Ro80
316:and
314:Ford
302:Opel
212:Opel
194:one-
121:Life
51:Died
26:Born
412:in
361:NSU
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