Hansa-Brandenburg
Encyclopedia
Hansa und Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke (more usually just Hansa-Brandenburg) was a German aircraft manufacturing company that operated during World War I. It was created in May 1914 by the purchase of Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke by Camillo Castiglioni
, who relocated the factory from Libau
to Brandenburg am Havel. Brandenburg's chief designer, Ernst Heinkel
was retained by the new enterprise. By Autumn 1915, it had become the largest aircraft manufacturer in Germany, with a capital of 1,500,000 Marks, 1,000 employees, and two more factories - one in Rummelsburg
, Berlin, and one in Wandsbech, Hamburg
.
Although manufacturing was carried out in Germany, Castiglioni was an Austrian, and many of the firm's military aircraft were produced for the Austro-Hungarian aviation corps. The firm became especially known for a highly-successful series of floatplane fighters and reconnaissance aircraft that were used by the Imperial German Navy during the war. Hansa-Brandenburg did not survive in the post-war market, and ceased operations during 1919. A number of the firm's designs continued to be produced in other countries, however, most notably Finland and Norway.
Camillo Castiglioni
Camillo Castiglioni was an Italian-Austrian financier and banker, and was the wealthiest man in Central Europe during World War I. Nicknamed “Austrian Stinnes”, he was active in aviation's pioneering days and invested in the arts.-Early life:Castiglioni was born in Trieste, then Austria–Hungary...
, who relocated the factory from Libau
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
to Brandenburg am Havel. Brandenburg's chief designer, Ernst Heinkel
Ernst Heinkel
Dr. Ernst Heinkel was a German aircraft designer, manufacturer, Wehrwirtschaftführer in the Third Reich, and member of the Nazi party. His company Heinkel Flugzeugwerke produced the Heinkel He 178, the world's first turbojet aircraft and jet plane, and the Heinkel He 176, the first rocket aircraft...
was retained by the new enterprise. By Autumn 1915, it had become the largest aircraft manufacturer in Germany, with a capital of 1,500,000 Marks, 1,000 employees, and two more factories - one in Rummelsburg
Rummelsburg
Rummelsburg is a German locality in the borough of Lichtenberg, Berlin.-History:The locality was founded in 1669 and on January 30, 1889 became a rural municipality, with the name of Boxhagen-Rummelsburg...
, Berlin, and one in Wandsbech, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
.
Although manufacturing was carried out in Germany, Castiglioni was an Austrian, and many of the firm's military aircraft were produced for the Austro-Hungarian aviation corps. The firm became especially known for a highly-successful series of floatplane fighters and reconnaissance aircraft that were used by the Imperial German Navy during the war. Hansa-Brandenburg did not survive in the post-war market, and ceased operations during 1919. A number of the firm's designs continued to be produced in other countries, however, most notably Finland and Norway.