Halwart Schrader was born in Braunschweig in 1935 and the war years that followed were not easy. Reconstruction shaped his everyday life. At the age of 18 and having just acquired his driving license, Schrader noticed early on that old vehicles were not held in high esteem by a society striving for something new. It was precisely in the early years of the prosperous Federal Republic of Germany that the throwaway society began, the problems of which we are still struggling with today. He tried to counter the impending loss of some cultural assets with understandable messages.
Automotive historian of the first hour
Schrader wanted to preserve and document the awareness of sustainable technological development. In 1957, he chose the route via a Hamburg publishing house, initially reporting occasionally on motor history and also using the communication channel as a correspondent for several domestic and foreign automobile magazines. The knowledge he gathered early on was soon published in specialist books and, just ten years later, inspired the first groups of veteran vehicle collectors, later also known as classic car collectors, who helped to raise awareness in society for the history of technology, to get involved and thus to preserve the remaining fragments in good time. Many a workshop or mechanics' community thrived on his motivating texts and illustrations.
With his own classic car magazine
In 1974, Schrader became publisher and editor-in-chief of the first German-language automotive history magazine, with which he was able to work against the destruction of knowledge in the trade, in documentation and ultimately for the preservation of technical cultural assets. Many a young person was thus given practical suggestions and guidance at an early stage. Schrader became one of the best-selling authors of technical books and received awards for his publications in several countries. Through his recognized research and highly regarded documentation, Schrader made a significant contribution to the public discovering an interest in the automobile as a technical cultural asset, while at the same time preserving knowledge and experience for future generations.
Still active
Schrader worked as an author, translator and publicist for many decades. The 85-year-old still supports vehicle history working groups, organizations and associations in an honorary capacity. He has been actively involved in the "Forum for Vehicle History" as a co-founder since 2001. Halwart Schrader is considered a "central protagonist of classic car history in Germany" (Auto Bild klassik No. 10/2018).
On 9 March 2020, he was awarded the Medal of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the District Administrator of the Uelzen district, Dr. Heiko Blume, on behalf of the Federal President. After working in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Honfleur, Halwart Schrader lives with his wife Mila in a historic schoolhouse in Hösseringen in the Heidekreis district of Suderburg.
