FRIED. KRUPP MOTOREN- UND KRAFTWAGEN FABRIKEN / ESSEN GERMANY (1919 - 1968)
FRIEDRICH KRUPP MOTOREN- UND KRAFTWAGEN FABRIKEN was founded in 1919, immediately after World War I. This was due to the fact that, following Germany’s defeat in the war, the KRUPP company was no longer permitted to manufacture military equipment. Like many other affected arms manufacturers, the company turned to vehicle manufacturing. KRUPP became known for its air-cooled diesel engines. In 1968, KRUPP’s truck division was shut down because demand had fallen far too low.
The KRUPP brand emblem consisted of three rings arranged in the shape of a triangle, representing the seamless steel railroad wheels invented by Alfred Krupp.
Since the KRUPP company had once again become one of Germany's largest arms manufacturers before and during World War II, the brand was renamed SÜDWERKE after 1945, as the old name carried a strong negative connotation.
Although the KRUPP company existed for nearly 50 years, there are very few emblems. In most cases, only the three rings were used as a badge on the front or as a hood ornament.
Here's the only enameled KRUPP emblem I could find. It is unclear whether the emblem was mounted on a truck, a machine, or somewhere else. But a 1927 advertisement shows the triangular emblem, and perhaps it was also on the radiator.
 |
| Size | unknown |
|---|---|
| Year | may be 1927 |
| Estimate |  |
 |
| 1927 advertisement with triangle emblem |
The KRUPP company logo—the three rings—was patented as early as 1875:
 |
| Long before the first truck was built, the emblem had already been patented |
Advertisements show that a hood ornament has been in use since 1931:
 |
| Original KRUPP radiator ornament on a bakelite lid |
| Size | 10.3 cm x 14.0 cm (with bakelite base) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1931 - 1938 |
| Estimate |  |
After the commercial vehicle manufacturer KOMNICK, based in Elbing (now Elbląg, Poland), went bankrupt, KRUPP trucks were sold there under the KOMNICK-KRUPP name:
 |
| This 1928 advertisement shows the three rings in a triangle with a circle in the background—an emblem that, in any case, was not found on any vehicle, but only in advertisements. |
 |
| This 1932 advertisement clearly shows the hood ornament shown above |
A cooperation with the engine manufacturer JUNKERS in Dessau was also established in 1931 to source diesel engines from them. The following emblem was used on these vehicles, which simply combined the KRUPP and JUNKERS emblems:
| Size | 25.5 cm x 37 cm |
|---|---|
| Year | 1931- 1938 |
| Estimate | |
 |
| There are clear traces of the radiator core on the back of the emblem. |
 |
| Contemporary photo of the KRUPP JUNKERS truck |
The Hungarian brand RABA also acquired a license to manufacture KRUPP trucks. A round logo was used on these trucks, as shown in the next advertisement. Find the RABA KRUPP.....
 |
| A little fun fact on the side: In this ad, the graphic designer turned the three KRUPP rings upside down! |
Since I haven't been able to find a real RABA KRUPP emblem yet, I reconstructed it with a little help from AI:
After World War II ended and Krupp was allowed to resume truck production, the company changed its name to “Südwerke,” as the name Krupp was heavily contaminated due to its involvement in arms production.
Three rings were also used on SÜDWERKE vehicles, and starting in the early 1950s, the name KRUPP was used again.
 |
| In 1952, on the KRUPP TIGER, the hood ornament no longer had a cap as its base; instead, the trim strip had become the mounting device for the ornament. |
For more emblems see older posts or top right (list of car makers).
When using a smartphone please use the button webview.
