IFA W50 fire engine

The IFA W50 fire engine is a fire engine that was produced in the GDR in the 1950s. It was manufactured by the industrial company IFA (Industrieverband Fahrzeugbau) and was the standard vehicle used by fire departments in the GDR.

The W50 was a robust and reliable vehicle designed for use in fires and other emergencies. It had a 4-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 50 hp and was capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h. The vehicle was equipped with a water-carrying pump capable of delivering up to 1000 liters of water per minute. It was also equipped with a 100-liter foam canister that could be used to fight fires with foam.

The vehicle had a length of 4.50 meters and a width of 2.00 meters, making it relatively compact. However, it was also equipped with a boom that allowed the vehicle to be lifted to a height of up to 6 meters. This was particularly useful when reaching high windows or doors.

The W50 fire engine was produced in the 1950s and remained in service until the 1980s. During this time, the vehicle was produced in several versions, including fire truck, rescue vehicle and special vehicle. It was used not only in the GDR, but also in other socialist countries such as Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia.

After the reunification of Germany, the W50 fire engine was successively replaced by modern vehicles by fire departments in the new German states. Today, there are only a few W50 fire engines still in service, but there are a number of museums and collections where you can still see and admire the vehicle.