The Ekosian newsreel clipping was from an actual, historical German newsreel, apparently shot in the pre-, or very early stages of World War II in Germany itself. Conceived as a propaganda tool by the Nazi Party as the "Kraft durch Freude (KdF)-Wagen" (which translates as "strength by joy-car"), no Beetles were exported before the war. A number of the relatively few pre-war produced Beetles have actually been drafted into German military service during the war. [1] With production started in 1938, but suspended during the war, the as "Volkswagen Käfer, Typ 1 (Peoples car Beetle/Bug, type 1)" rechristened civilian Beetle went on after the war to become one of the most successful vehicles in automotive history.