Alfried Krupp stands in front of the town hall in Berchtesgaden while the civil wedding of his brother Berthold and Edith von Maltzahn takes place inside.
Alfried wasn't particularly fond of such occasions, so he preferred to spend his time outside next to his brand new Mercedes MB gullwing, smoking his beloved cigarette.
The square was filling up more and more. Word had spread among the people of Berchtesgaden and tourists that Krupp's celebrity wedding was to take place in the town hall.
There, in the centre of the square, they spotted the sensational Mercedes gullwing door car for the 1950s. Next to it was the tall, cigarette-smoking man in the elegant dark suit and chauffeur's cap that Alfried liked to wear in his free time.
No wonder they thought he was the bride and groom's driver.
We quickly struck up a conversation. Alfried was clearly comfortable in his „new role“ as chauffeur. He was happy to provide expert information about the technical features of the gullwing, how to open it, how much horsepower it had, how fast it was and how much it cost.
They also wanted to know details about his supposed boss, including whether he would pay him a „decent“ salary, to which he replied „It could be a bit better“.
When they later found out who they had actually been talking to „on a first-name basis“, they were astonished.
Many have not forgotten this encounter with „the friendly chauffeur“ for a long time.
