Bertha Benz

Cecilia Bertha Benz (née Ringer, May 3, 1849 in Pforzheim, † May 5, 1944 in Ladenburg ) was a pioneer of the automobile. Through their business, technical and financial commitment, they set the stage for the invention of the Benz Patent Motor Car by her husband Carl Benz. The first long-distance trip in an automobile, she proved the suitability of the new means of transport.

Life

Bertha was born in 1849 in Pforzheim, the daughter of master carpenter Karl Friedrich Ringer.

In 1871 she settled prematurely pay her dowry to enable this capital her fiance Carl Benz, the continuation of his company. On July 20, 1872, the two married in Pforzheim.

When the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car number 3 did not find the hoped-for recording the paying audience, she took with her two sons August 1888 a 106 km long journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim and drove three days later via a different route back. This first successful long-distance journey by automobile took place in the company of their 15 and 13 year old sons Eugen and Richard, but without the knowledge of her husband. The trip was a major help to dispel the remaining reservations of the customer against the vehicle, and enabled as a result the economic success of the company.

Bertha Benz is considered so as the first car driver and the first man ever to ventured out over shorter test and test drives. Based on the memoirs of Carl Benz was rumored later that not they but their sons were sitting at the wheel.

The city pharmacy in Wiesloch near Heidelberg came thanks to the cross-country trip to unexpected fame: Considered first gas station in the world, because there Bertha Benz bought the necessary fuel ligroin. Until well into the 20th century you could buy gasoline and other fuels only in pharmacies.

Bertha Benz died at the age of 95 years in Ladenburg, the seat of the company C. Benz Söhne. Two days before her death, on her 95th birthday, she was made ​​an honorary citizen of the Technical University of Karlsruhe.

Commemoration

  • Since 1988, every two years the Bertha Benz ride for historic vehicles instead. In this tourist vintage exit, which is organized by the Automobile Museum Dr. Carl Benz and the general Schnauferl Club, located 130 " pre-war vehicles " meet and go the route of the first voyage of the world after.
  • Since 2005, wearing one of the new streets at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof on the grounds ULAP her name, but in the wrong spelling Bertha -Benz-Straße.
  • On 25 February 2008, the Bertha Benz Memorial Route was officially approved and now also signposted. Largely These holiday road follows the historic route of the first drive of Bertha Benz from Mannheim to Pforzheim and back. Since January 2009 the Bertha Benz Memorial Route is a member of the ERIH - European Route of Industrial Heritage Association
  • The Wieslocher junior high school bears since April 25, 2008 the name of the automobile pioneer. At the ceremony the name, the historical tank scene was with a replica of the motor vehicle type 1, and the great-granddaughter of Bertha Benz, Jutta Benz, added to the left of the still existing city pharmacy, which then went to the school through the city with the motor car.
  • The vocational school in Sigmaringen bears since the school year 2013/2014 the name Bertha -Benz - school.
  • As a tribute to the pioneering efforts of Bertha Benz, Daimler and Benz Foundation organized annually since 1987 in Ladenburg a " Bertha Benz Lecture ," speak in women who have distinguished themselves in science, business, politics and society. In July 2009, the Foundation has for the first time awarded the 10,000 Euro " Bertha Benz Award" on this occasion, with the outstanding dissertation of an engineer is excellent.
  • As part of the Automobile Summer 2011, the official event commemorating the invention of the automobile by Carl Benz 125 years ago, the Bertha Benz Challenge took place on 10 and 11 September 2011 held at the Bertha Benz Memorial Route, a globally visible signal for a new automotive departure, since it is only open for future-oriented, sustainable mobility: All vehicles with alternative drive systems - hybrid and electric drive, hydrogen power and fuel cells - but also extremely fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly vehicles. The motto was: "Sustainable mobility on the oldest automobile road in the world! " For Bertha Benz drove no 1888 vintage, but the most innovative car of its time. And at the official opening drive should therefore take our time only the most innovative vehicles.
  • In Auto Museum Dr. Carl Benz in Ladenburg are private exhibits, like the wedding dress of Bertha Benz issued.

Movies

  • In the first broadcast of ZDF series " The great moments of the Germans" on 10 November 2009, the invention and implementation of the automobile was introduced by Carl and Bertha Benz. From 100 Great moments in German viewers had chosen the pioneering journey of Bertha Benz and the invention of the automobile by Carl Benz Baden's to the 20 most important historical moments of the Germans.
  • On 25 January 2011 the German wave beamed worldwide from a TV report on Bertha Benz and Bertha Benz Challenge to not only illuminate in the show " Made in Germany" the invention of the automobile, but also its sustainable future!
  • On 23 May 2011 exuded The first television movie Carl & Bertha.
Benz Patent-Motorwagen Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz Integrated Authority File
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