100 years of Henschel trucks: This is how the truck revolution began in Kassel!

100 years of Henschel trucks: This is how the truck revolution began in Kassel!

On December 21, 2025, the city of Kassel will look back on the remarkable history of its iconic company Henschel. Exactly 100 years ago, in 1925, Henschel presented its first truck at the German Automobile Exhibition in Berlin. This first Henschel truck, the Rex model, was a five-ton truck with an impressive 55 hp. In doing so, the company laid the foundation for a long series of innovations in vehicle construction that quickly made Henschel a leading manufacturer. So reported HNA that Henschel invented the so-called “bird's nest” in 1929, a sleeping cabin above the driver's cab that is now standard in trucks.

But Henschel’s history goes back a long way. Founded in 1810 as a piece foundry by Georg Christian Carl Henschel in Kassel, the company quickly became an important manufacturer of locomotives in Europe. From 1925, Henschel expanded its range and began producing trucks, buses and internal combustion engines, such as Wikipedia notes.

Innovations and challenges

The development of Henschel was characterized by technological milestones. In 1931 the company introduced its first diesel engines with 100 hp. In the following years, the six-pointed star with the H for Henschel was used, which became a distinctive symbol for the brand. But it wasn't just technical advances that shaped history. During the Second World War, Henschel became an important defense company in Germany due to war production, with the factory having to overcome enormous challenges. After the bombing of Kassel in 1943, production was partly maintained using forced labor.

In the post-war period, Henschel was able to resume production and, among other things, brought the HS 140 truck into series production in 1950. However, the company also experienced economic turmoil. From 1957 onwards, the leadership crisis and the arrest of manager Fritz Goergen for fraudulent arms deals led to the company being broken up. The last Henschel truck left the Kassel factory in 1974.

A living legacy

Today, the Henschel Museum in Kassel-Rothenditmold commemorates the company's impressive history. The historic site, which is a listed building, was once Henschel's main factory and is home to numerous remnants of production history. The museum's exhibitions provide insight into the significant role Henschel played in mechanical engineering and vehicle production, from the first locomotive delivered in 1848 to the heavy trucks of the 20th century, such as Henschel Museum documented.

Henschel doesn't just stay alive in history books. The successor companies that emerged from Henschel's history, as well as the preservation of the Henschel Museum, show that the legacy of this traditional company remains unforgettable. A look at Henschel's past is not only a journey through the history of mechanical engineering, but also a discovery of the innovative strength that is still very popular today.