In about 1930, Prof. Ferdinand Porsche began planning a popular tractor ("Volks-Tractor"), parallel to the design of the "popular car", the famous Volkswagen beetle, at the order of Adolf Hitler.
The planning, in those days, was very innovative, even when compared with more advanced designed tractors. One of the innovations in the tractor was a centrifugal-hydraulic clutch, which characterized all models to the end of 1963. The reason for this addition was their belief that farmers were not skilled enough to operate conventional clutches. If you are not a moshavnik / kibbutznik, you know how to do "double-clutch" as his walk? A "urban driver" seems to be gears with a cart loaded with oranges, without proper control of the gearshift and clutch. ..)
Porsche produced three gasoline-powered prototypes in 1934, which led to the serial production of diesel tractors, air cooled at 11-55 hp, with 1-4 independent pistons.
Another interesting detail is that in 1946 there was already a 4X4 tractor planned, long before other tractors had this capability.
After the Second World War, production restrictions were imposed in Germany, and only a group that manufactured tractors before and during the war were allowed to continue production after it. Since Porsche did not meet the criterion, it signed an agreement with the German company Allegra (which manufactured its own tractors) and the Austrian company Hofer Schrantz (which until then had produced short cuts and cuttings of various kinds). Its models were in Palestine, and one of them is included in the collection of tractors) for the production of a tractor from the Porsche design. The latter was a partner in the past with the British company Clayton Shuttlelof, and together they manufactured engines and tractors until this line of production was purchased by Lantz. These tractors were called "green tractors" because of their color (though almost identical to the "red tractors" we know), and were in engine capacity of 11, 17, 22, 33 and 44 hp.
In 1956, production rights were transferred to Mansman, and it continued to produce another 125,000 tractors, painted red, and this was the period of the "red tractors". The models were also changed, resulting in the Junior (14 hp), the Standard (25 hp), the Super (38 hp) and the Master (50 hp). In 1959, other models were added in the capacities of 15, 20, 26, 30, 35 and 55 hp. About 1,000 tractors were sold by their American branch, and in 1963 the production line was finally closed due to the need to switch to the production of diesel engines for NATO tanks. The remainder of the service was transferred to Renault.
Porsche tractors arrived in Israel in the 1950s / 1960s, following the reparations agreement with Germany, and spread in large numbers in the moshavim and kibbutz farms. The paradox is that the tractors, originally designed for the Nazi oppressor, eventually reached the Jews of Eretz Israel, in spite of everything and despite everything!
(The author of these lines deals with research on the history of the railway transport in Palestine, and this article is presented with his consent and courtesy)