HISTORIE

HISTORY

was wounded on two occasions, first while serving with an unknown unit on May 28,

1915, and then again as a member of the Jasta 15 on February 20, 1917. Of the former, not

much is known, but of the latter, it is known

that it occurred during landing, and was likely very serious, because he did not rejoin

combat unit until fifteen months later, on

May 19, 1918. He joined Jasta 30 as Offizier

zur besondere Verwendung (Deputy Commander), which was generally a flying position. He lasted there until August 23, after

which he was hospitalized, according to one

of the unit members this was the result of

complications from previously sustained injuries. As a result, Ewald ended his combat

career three weeks prior to injuries forcing

his younger brother to do the same.

Unlike Eugen, Ewald returned to flying after

the war. He joined the newly formed Luftwaffe in 1943 as a Major in the reserve at Luftgaukommando (Air County Headquarters)

XII, which included Krefeld area, meaning he

stayed at home and did not participate in any

combat flying.

From Aircraft to Presses

After the war, both brothers involved themselves with their father’s business and

eventually took it over. The main role in the

development of the firm was played by Eugen. His son Dieter recalled in an interview

printed in a Siempelkamp newsletter: “My

father started managing the company at

the age of 25. He was very strong-willed.

He managed the company during the difficult period following the First World War –

through the inflation, the global depression

and the crippling lack of raw materials that

existed during the 1920s. He faced different

challenges than my grandfather had. And

he overcame them with hard work and his

strong will.”

Consular Certificate of Qualification given to Eugen Siempelkamp in January 1951, which was issued to him for his business activities in Brazil.

As an example, Dieter Siempelkamp said:

“Siempelkamp then received an order from

Russia for 20 hot-platen dryers for veneer

production – on condition that the first dryer

was supplied free of charge. My father took

the risk (Ed: his father had experience with

Russian clients in the past but dealing with

Soviets was uncharted territory) and shipped the prototype free of charge after three

months. The total order – for around 400 hot

platens – was placed six months later”. This

order pulled the company out of some very

tough times, and we can only hazard a guess as to whether or not this equipment was

used in the production of plywood twenty

years later for Soviet fighters…

“My father, just like my grandfather, was

also always interested in establishing international contacts to extend the company’s

reach. Furthermore, his innovative capaci-

Siempelkamp’s Pfalz D.IIIa as it appears in accordance with the latest research by historians

26

eduard

ties and foresight resulted in additional Siempelkamp patents (Eugen Siempelkamp

was the holder of several patents, Ed.). His

commitment to his workforce was also remarkable: before the currency reform in the

period following the First World War, it was

often customary for orders to be settled in

kind. When a farmer ordered a screw press for pressing potatoes or apples to produce high-volume spirits, it was frequently paid for in potatoes or apples – and we

often supplied rubber presses in return for

rubber boots and bicycle tyres. Such barter

transactions often benefited the workforce

and were not unusual during the post-war

period,” explained Dieter Siempelkamp while describing how difficult it was to conduct

business for his father and uncle in the inter-war years. In any case, the company

survived and by the latter half of the twenties, virtually all plywood manufacturing

facilities used presses bearing the Siempelkamp name. Development continued in

a wide range of manufacturing equipment

serving the wood, rubber, plastic, and metal working industries, such as vulcanizing

presses for belts and rubber, presses for

plastics, straightening presses for Bakelite

and, later, presses for the production of particleboard and MDF.

In the years immediately following the Second World War, the Siempelkamp company

returned to its roots, producing simple machinery such as hand screw presses, but Eugen was again able to navigate tough times

and ensure expansion despite, for example,

ignoring the American market. “He had bad

experiences with Americans, resulting in

a deep mistrust. He sold a license for the manufacture of one of our presses to the USA.

INFO Eduard - August 2021