1918

Event11

Sindelfingen plant, operates independently

Sindelfingen plant, operates independently

1 January 1918
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft's Sindelfingen plant, previously under the management of Untertürkheim, becomes an independent operation.

Military supervision and charges against DMG

6 March 1918
The management of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft is put under military supervision and accused in the civil courts of setting excessively high prices.

Start of aeroengine production in Sindelfingen

March 1918
In the Sindelfingen plant of DMG the first workshops begin production of aeroengines. The necessary test rigs are constructed that autumn. Due to the lack of machinery the first engines do not complete their trials on the test rig until the latter stages of the war.

Hanns Klemm takes over management of the aircraft design office

Hanns Klemm takes over management of the aircraft design office

1 April 1918
Hanns Klemm takes over the management of the aircraft design office at Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in Sindelfingen. He designs the Daimler L 11 fighter plane and the L 14 reconnaissance aircraft, but neither of these see actie service.

Benz-Bräuer Kraftprotze undergoes inspection

Benz-Bräuer Kraftprotze undergoes inspection

20 June 1918
The Benz-Bräuer Kraftprotze, an artillery tractor, is inspected by the military authorities at a demonstration on the Sauberg hill near Gaggenau. Of the 100 vehicles ordered, only 50 are completed by the end of the war, but they do not see any action. This tractor is designed as a halftrack.

AEG G V airplane demonstrates performance potential of supercharger technology

July 1918
A twin-engine AEG G V large airplane reaches the record altitude of 6,100 m in a test flight and demonstrates the performance potential of supercharger technology. The two supercharged Mercedes D IVa aeroengines are fitted with an AEG centrifugal blower, which makes up for the loss of power at high altitudes.

DMG concentrates body production in Sindelfingen

July 1918
The body department at DMG's Untertürkheim plant begins its move to Sindelfingen.

Mercedes D IVa aeroengine is brought to production standard with a Roots blower

Mercedes D IVa aeroengine is brought to production standard with a Roots blower

October 1918
A variant of the Mercedes D IVa aeroengine is brought up to production standard with a Roots blower, but fails to go into production.

Growing workforce

November 1918
At war's end Benz & Cie. has 12,000 employees compared with 7,700 at the end of 1914. At the DMG plants the workforce grows from just under 6,000 to more than 24,000 during the same period.

Military authorities drop charges against DMG

9 December 1918
The military authorities drop their accusations of excessively high prices against Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft.

Staff-friendly: eight-hour working day

1918
The eight-hour working day is introduced at Benz & Cie.