Ferdinand Porsche’s journey began in Czechoslovakia in 1875. He wasn’t German, nor did he have formal engineering training. What he had was relentless curiosity and unmatched mechanical talent. By the early 1900s, he had co-developed one of the world’s first electric cars. Later, his work with Daimler and Mercedes-Benz would lead him to design record-breaking race cars and prestigious road models like the Mercedes S-Class.

However, things took a sharp turn in the 1930s. Porsche formed a personal connection with Adolf Hitler, who commissioned him to design the Volkswagen Beetle, a fuel-efficient, low-cost vehicle intended for the German people. But this “car for the people” also had military purposes. As World War II broke out, Porsche was tasked with designing tanks and other wartime machinery. Whether by force or choice, his role in supporting the Nazi war machine grew deeper.

After Germany’s defeat, the French moved swiftly to arrest Ferdinand Porsche. He was accused of war crimes, complicity in forced labor, and even direct responsibility for wartime deaths. Many questioned why the French were so determined to bring him down. Some believed it was linked to post-war industrial rivalry. Others pointed to pressure from French car manufacturers like Peugeot and Renault, who feared Volkswagen’s rise.

The arrest was not just symbolic. Porsche and members of his family were imprisoned. He was denied fair access to legal defense, and yet, despite all efforts, no concrete evidence tied him personally to war crimes. His release came only after his son paid a massive bail of one million francsو a move that raised further questions. If he were truly guilty, why was he released without trial?

Documents and testimonies revealed that Porsche’s life had become a battlefield between politics, innovation, and power. Even years after his death, lawsuits, and tensions continued between the Porsche legacy and French automotive institutions.

So was Ferdinand Porsche simply a brilliant engineer swept up in a brutal time, or was he more involved in dark alliances than history wants to admit? Episode 4 lays out the evidence.

This is not just the story of a man who built cars. It is the story of how ambition, war, and politics collided in one of the most dramatic sagas in automotive history.

Watch part one of the Ferdinand Porsche investigation now on Motor283. Discover the facts, the hidden motives, and the legacy that still sparks debate to this day.

Click the video below to watch Episode 4 of Mysteries and Secrets of the Auto World. You’ll never look at the Porsche name the same way again.