A bit of postwar DWM history

Vlim · 07-23-2007, 09:32 AM

As some of you may know, the history of DWM didn't stop after the transfer of gun manufacture to Mauser in 1930.

DWM remained active in ammunition production, machine/tooling production and production of heavy equipment.

After world war two, the company did it's best to survive and find new markets in order to do so.

The Berlin-branch specialized in the repair of railroad equipment, as the entire public transport system lay in shambles.

The DWM name (which stood for Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken, Germans arms and munitions factories) was cleverly reinvented as Deutsche Waggon- und Maschinenfabriken, German railroad car and machine factories).

Several years ago I bought a folder with original photograph prints from the DWM Berlin company. Some of these photos show the name under which the Berlin branch operated from 1945 until ca. 1952 'Vereinigte Werken Wittenau' (united works Wittenau).

I recently acquired a period advertisement that had one of those photo's in the background. When I put it on the original photo, the image didn't only match, the size was exactly the same. It's clearly the same photograph.

mauro · 07-23-2007, 01:04 PM

Nice find Gerben!!

unspellable · 07-25-2007, 08:03 AM

What ever became of the Lowe family? At some point between the wars being Jewish became VERY politically incorrect.

Vlim · 07-25-2007, 08:30 AM

Hi,

Some of the remaining Loewe family members fled to the USA in the late 1930s. Others made it to Belgium, then France and went into hiding until the end of the war. The fate of other family members is unknown.

The remaining family members returned to Germany after the war and reclaimed their company, 'Loewe-Opta', now 'Loewe AG', in 1949. This company is not the same as the original Loewe company in the early 1900s, but rather a company set up by the offspring of the early Loewes.

The old Ludwig Loewe & Cie merged with the Gesellschaft fur elektrische Unternehmungen on the 18th of november, 1929. The new company name was rather long "Gesellschaft fur elektrische Unternehmungen - Ludw. Loewe & Cie. AG".

This new company, later dubbed 'Gesellschaft fur elektrische Unternehmungen' grew out to be the basis of the German electrical companies today.

In recent years, an heir of the Loewe family successfully claimed the contents of a Loewe company account for the sum of over 162,000 Swiss francs. (A bit over 117,000 US dollars).

ToggleTop · 07-25-2007, 07:50 PM

Hello Gerben,

Thank you for your interesting post. I enjoy reading about the history of large industrial companies in Germany (past and present), and especially the arms manufacturers.

Best Regards,

07-23-2007, 09:32 AM	#1
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	A bit of postwar DWM history As some of you may know, the history of DWM didn't stop after the transfer of gun manufacture to Mauser in 1930. DWM remained active in ammunition production, machine/tooling production and production of heavy equipment. After world war two, the company did it's best to survive and find new markets in order to do so. The Berlin-branch specialized in the repair of railroad equipment, as the entire public transport system lay in shambles. The DWM name (which stood for Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken, Germans arms and munitions factories) was cleverly reinvented as Deutsche Waggon- und Maschinenfabriken, German railroad car and machine factories). Several years ago I bought a folder with original photograph prints from the DWM Berlin company. Some of these photos show the name under which the Berlin branch operated from 1945 until ca. 1952 'Vereinigte Werken Wittenau' (united works Wittenau). I recently acquired a period advertisement that had one of those photo's in the background. When I put it on the original photo, the image didn't only match, the size was exactly the same. It's clearly the same photograph.

07-23-2007, 01:04 PM	#2
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 350 Times in 129 Posts	Nice find Gerben!! __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.

07-25-2007, 07:50 PM	#5
ToggleTop User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 297 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello Gerben, Thank you for your interesting post. I enjoy reading about the history of large industrial companies in Germany (past and present), and especially the arms manufacturers. Best Regards, __________________ *********************** ToggleTop************* JustHappenToLoveLugers *************************

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07-25-2007, 08:03 AM	#3
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	What ever became of the Lowe family? At some point between the wars being Jewish became VERY politically incorrect.

07-25-2007, 08:30 AM	#4
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, Some of the remaining Loewe family members fled to the USA in the late 1930s. Others made it to Belgium, then France and went into hiding until the end of the war. The fate of other family members is unknown. The remaining family members returned to Germany after the war and reclaimed their company, 'Loewe-Opta', now 'Loewe AG', in 1949. This company is not the same as the original Loewe company in the early 1900s, but rather a company set up by the offspring of the early Loewes. The old Ludwig Loewe & Cie merged with the Gesellschaft fur elektrische Unternehmungen on the 18th of november, 1929. The new company name was rather long "Gesellschaft fur elektrische Unternehmungen - Ludw. Loewe & Cie. AG". This new company, later dubbed 'Gesellschaft fur elektrische Unternehmungen' grew out to be the basis of the German electrical companies today. In recent years, an heir of the Loewe family successfully claimed the contents of a Loewe company account for the sum of over 162,000 Swiss francs. (A bit over 117,000 US dollars).