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Franz Josef Popp
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Family moved
His family moved to Brno where he completed his university entrance qualification at the local grammar school. -
Degree in engineering
He went on to study mechanical and electrical engineering at the local Technical College and qualified with a degree in engineering in 1909. -
He was dispatched to Munich.
In 1916, he was dispatched to Munich as the representative of the Austrian Navy to supervise production under license at the Rapp Motorenwerke (Rapp Motor Works). -
He worked towards creating a link with Knorr Bremse AG.
With this aim in mind, he worked towards creating a link with Knorr Bremse AG, and from 1919 onwards, the factory started manufacturing Knorr brakes for the Bavarian Railway. -
Popp was responsible for transferring the most important patents.
In 1922, Popp was responsible for transferring the most important patents, machinery and personnel for engine manufacture “to the umbrella of the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG”, together with the company name “Bayerische Motoren Werke AG”. -
BMW AG further expanded its product range.
Under his chairmanship, BMW AG further expanded its product range and know-how in 1928 by purchasing the vehicle manufacturing factoryFahrzeugfabrik Eisenach (FFE). This was the first time that cars bore the BMW brand on the roads. -
Popp also concluded a license agreement.
In 1928, Popp also concluded a license agreement with the US American company Pratt & Whitney, allowing BMW to manufacture two air-cooled radial engines. -
Develop air-cooled radial engines.
The expertise acquired through production under license allowed BMW to develop air-cooled radial engines under its own steam during the 1930s. -
He joined the Nazi Party.
These reservations were not politically motivated. Even though Popp admitted that he joined the Nazi Party on 1 May 1933 under pressure from Gauleiter Wagner. -
Aircraft engine.
Construction of the BMW aircraft engine factory in Allach (1935). -
National Socialist Party.
In February 1936, the local group leader of the National Socialist Party started proceedings to exclude Popp from the party. -
Manufacturing facilities.
Expansion of the manufacturing facilities in Eisenach (1937). -
Brandenburg Motor Works (Bramo).
Acquisition of the Brandenburg Motor Works (Bramo) in Berlin-Spandau enabled BMW to expand capacities for aircraft engine manufacture under Popp’s leadership. -
Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
In June 1940, he wrote to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Emil Georg von Stauss, explaining that the situation could “threaten the very existence of BMW AG if there were any setback to aircraft engine production”. -
He was forced to relinquish.
Franz Josef Popp can lay claim to being the prime force in the development of the mobility company we know today. He was “General Director” of the company from its foundation until he was forced to relinquish his position in 1942. -
Popp was again appointed by the Supervisory Boardю
Directly after the end of the war, at the age of 59, Popp was again appointed by the Supervisory Board to the Board of Management in May 1945. One month later, the Allies arrested him on account of his title Military Economic Leader, which he had been granted in the course of the war.
