M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)

Germania Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Leipzig-Mockau

Foundation:

  The beginnings of Germania-Flugzeugwerke GmbH date back to 1910, when the former director of the Erwin Leiber company in Gohrwihl in the Black Forest undertook experiments with wooden strip tubes for aircraft fuselages and wing spars. In 1912, the company was founded under the name “Rathjen & Co.” in Berlin-Teltow, and on December 17, it was transformed into the above-mentioned company.
  Subsequently, Works II (in Leipzig-Mockau, Leipziger Str. 200b) and Works III in Leipzig-Sellerhausen,Torgauer Strasse, were established as subsidiaries.


Aircraft Development:

  In 1912, a Taube with a round fuselage and with wings made of wooden strip tubes was the first of this design. This design represented a significant advance for the time, as this first “Wickelrumpf” (wounded fuselage) (made of wooden strip) can be considered the forerunner of the later veneer fuselages. With further improvements, two more pigeons of this design were built, equipped with 100 hp Argus engines, which were accepted by the Army Administration and the Navy in 1914 according to the regulations prescribed at that time.
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