Festungjerseymilitaria.com
Stoewer R200s radio car.
(Le.Pkw.Kfz.2.fu).

The Stoewer came to Jersey sometime in 1940 with the German occupying forces.
Unfortunately there is no known history or photographs of the car taken during this time
although the search continues.    
The first know photographs of the car were taken shortly after the end of the
occupation,when along with another Stoewer and numerous other vehicles, it was parked up
at Springfield Stadium in St.Helier.
The Stoewer was sold at auction on the 2nd of November 1945 for the sum of £50.
Immediately after the auction and before it left the Stadium the German registration plates
were removed as per instructions from the auctioneers. It was then driven home by its new
owner Mr.Langlois of St.Brelade's camp site.
It was then totally demilitarised, the front and rear notek (blackout/convoy lights) as well as
the rifle clips, shovel and jack brackets were all removed. The 3rd rear seat was also taken
out to turn it into a pick up truck.    







(1947, the Langlois and Fardon Families on an outing).

It was used around the campsite for a number of years to help ferry visitors luggage around
the site. Sometime in the 1950's the car was acquired by Mr.Leo Harrington of Harringtons
Garage, St.Brelade's. He used it as a tow truck. When it finally packed up it was dumped at
the side of the garage.










(parked up outside the garage).

Many locals who were interested in the German occupation  knew of the existence of the old
German field car which had stood rusting away for years at the side of the garage. Some
had even tried to buy the car from Mr.Harrington, none of them succeeded.
It was not until April 1990 after many years of being out in the open did Mr.Harrington give
the car to me.









(This was how the car looked on the day I was given it).

Restoration began in early 1991, and most of the original fitting that had been removed at
the campsite were found after many hours of searching in the old sheds and out buildings of
the soon to be demolished campsite. Even the jack which had been thrown into a hedge in
the mid 40's was found and has been restored to working condition and is now back on the
car.
The engine from the other Stoewer at the auction sale had also found its way to Harringtons
Garage and was under the work bench, this was also taken in case parts may have been
needed.
Parts that were missing from the car that could not be found here were tracked down from
far and wide, Germany, France, Belgium and Norway to name but a few.
The car was totally wrecked from the years it spent outside, but every piece was
sandblasted, painted and reassembled. All the mechanics were gone through with a fine
tooth comb and repairs made where necessary.
As many of the original car parts were kept and repaired rather than have all new parts. It
was amazing to see how much could be saved and repaired even after all those years of
neglect.
Many hundreds of hours work went into the rebuilding of this the last German made vehicle
from the occupation. The majority of the work was completed in time for it to take part in the
1995 50th Anniversary Liberation Cavalcade, where it won the trophy for "Best Restoration".







Further work continued and now it is almost exactly as it was when it first came to the Island
in 1940. It now has the radios in place along with the antenna.
We have just celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation, and this time the Stoewer
won "Best axis vehicle 2005" at our Military Mania show.
The Stoewer is to be seen on the Islands roads quite often at weekends when taking part in
vehicle runs organised by the Jersey Military Vehicle Club.








(The Stoewer with a fellow workhorse, a Junkers JU.52)

Vehicle details:
Chassis/engine number: 13471.
Chassis/body assembler: Stoewer Werke, Stettin.
Date of manufacture: 28th of June 1940.
Engine type: Stoewer AW 2, 2000cc, Dry sump.
Vehicle usage: Lightweight radio car (Kfz.2.fu).
4 wheel drive with selective 4 wheel steering.
Cable brakes.
Central oiling system








































The four pictures above show Stoewer radio cars in use during the war. I am still looking for
any original photos of my Stoewer in Jersey during the war.

To see what else we have in the way of Military Vehicles on the Island go to :
www.jmvc.co.uk