AWE Wartburg 1956 – 1991
VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach, Eisenach (DDR)
Wartburg was an East German automotive brand used for cars manufactured at VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach. However, the brand dates back to 1898. The name derives from Wartburg Castle on one of the hills overlooking the town of Eisenach where the cars were made. The name was revived in 1956 by VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach. The 1956 Wartburg was based on the IFA F9, using the same mechanical design, 2-stroke engine and front-wheel drive, but with a new pontoon-style body.
The DDR (German Democratic Republic, also known as East Germany) had only two major car manufacturers: the Automobilwerk Zwickau (AWZ) and the Automobilwerk Eisenach (AWE).
AWZ made use of the factories of Audi, Horch, and DKW located in Zwickau, which, before World War II, produced both small front-wheel-drive two-stroke engines but also eight-, twelve-, and even sixteen-cylinder cars.
And between 1928 and 1939 Eisenach was where BMW’s were built.