- Gustav Otto
but the company mostly license-built Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik designs,(as did
Pfalz Flugzeugwerke ) during the early years ofWorld War I . The designs by Gustav Otto were initially successful, but Otto was continually experiencing problems related to cost-effective production, as well as generating profits. At the start of the war, Otto-Flugzeugwerke was supplying the German Air Force, but the production problems ended up being so great that the government agencies urged the company to solve the issues. [BMW Group Archives www.BMWGroup.com] The stress of wartime seemed to prove too great a burden for Gustov who suffered health issues which led to financial problems with the company. In 1915 he was admitted to a Munich mental hospital for treatment of clinical depression (as it is called today). As he was being treated, the company languished to the edge of bankruptcy. Eventually, Otto was forced to resign from the business and was offered a buyout that would compensate him for the business as well as his medical bills. The assets were finally taken over by a consortium which incorporated them intoBayerische Flugzeugwerke on19 February 1916 . Gustav Otto no longer had a stake in this company. He turned his attention instead to Otto-Werke Flugzeug- und Maschinenfabrik GmbH, which was founded on1 February 1916 , just before Otto-Flugzeugwerke was taken over by the consortium. This new company was not in any way connected with the newly established company.After the First World War, Otto started a new attempt with in the automobile manufacturing area with the
Starnberger Automobilwerke . The luxury "Otto-Mercedes" car built there is alleged to have been well received abroad. During this time, he was divorced from his wife Ada in 1924, an event under which Otto suffered badly. Ada remarried, but in August 1925 died in mysterious circumstances that gave rise to much speculation. Despite the fact he was no longer married to her, Otto took her death most harshly and apparently fell into a deep depression.In 1926, amid failed attempts at business (caused by various reasons), the death of his wife, and health issues, Otto committed suicide at the age of 43.
References
ee also
History of BMW External links
* [http://www.bmw-grouparchives.com BMW Group archives]
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