Stuttgart is one of the beating hearts of the Germany automotive industry - and by extension, its military-industrial complex. Situated on the banks of the Neckar, its prime location in Southern Germany and its historic status as the capital of the Kingdom of Württemberg made it a nexus for transport and manufacturing - a reputation cemented as the city became the birthplace of the Volkswagen Beetle and its military derivative, the Kübelwagen, as well as several of Germany's late-war super-heavy tank designs. While some of its industrial capacity has since decamped to Wolfsburg and other cities, Stuttgart remains home to instantly recognizable German industrial brands such as Porsche and Daimler-Benz - and to the thousands of laborers, free or otherwise, required to run their colossal factories.