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Industry, Technical Progress and State. The Synthesis of Rubber in Germany 1906–1944/45

  • Conference paper
German Yearbook on Business History 1985

Part of the book series: German Yearbook on Business History 1985 ((BUSINESS,volume 1985))

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Abstract

The synthesis of rubber belongs to the great technical innovations that stamp the industrial developments of this century. Its realisation in Germany in the first half of the 20th century is closely connected with economic and political history. Started in the market economy of the late Kaiserreich; in accelerated use, without being fully technically developed, in the war economy of the First World War, and, after a further interval during the Weimar Republic, realized as a large scale technology in the Third Reich, this synthesis may be used as an example to recreate important stages of the economic history of this period.

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References

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  4. Ibid.

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  9. Calculated from the main books of the Farbenfabriken 1906–1914; BWA.

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  18. Baudis, Kriegswirtschaft, pp. 261ff.; Feldman, Army, p. 49.

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  19. I consider the word State intervention to be slightly misleading because of the institutional connections and the preservation of the entrepreneurial autonomy, and prefer the term co-operation, since industry carried out wartime economic processes of distribution with a sovereign self-administration; cf. also Kocka, Klassengesellschaft, pp. 23 f.; Zunkel, Industrie, p. 21.

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  20. BWA 186 D1 Stellungnahme der BASF/Hüttenmüller zum Stickstoffmonopol, 25.11. 1915; T. P. Hughes, Das “technologische Momentum” in der Geschichte. Zur Entwicklung des Hydrierverfahrens in Deutschland 1898–1933, in: K.Hausen/R.Rürup (Eds.), Moderne Technikgeschichte, Köln 1975, pp. 359ff.

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  21. BWA 151/7 Verfügung des Kriegsministeriums from 19.10.1914.

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  22. BWA 151/7 Schriftwechsel Innenamt-FF, September 1914; Stellungnahme der Kriegschemikalien AG to the rubber problem as seen by Duisberg; BWA 201/3, 1.11. 1914 and BWA 151/7 Duisberg-Denkschrift “Kautschuk”, 3.11.1914: “Under these circumstances synthetic rubber is unlikely to play any role during the present period of the war.”

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  23. BWA 151/7 Schriftwechsel FF-Clouth Gummifabrik 1915.

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  24. BWA 151/7 FF to Clouth from 20.9.1915, FF to Reich Naval Office (= RM A) 27.10.1915, discussion concerning artificial rubber, 8.11.1915, RMA to FF, 27.11.1915.

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  25. BWA 151/7 RMA to FF, 29.1.1916. The contract from the Kriegsrohstoffabteilung in the Prussian Kriegsministerium (= KRA) dated 4.3.1916; cf. also FF to RMA 7.3.1916 and report about the Kautschukkonferenz on 3.11.1915 in Berlin.

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  26. F. K. Steinberger, Die Acetylen-Chemie in Hoechst, Hoechst, no date, pp. 15ff.; cf. also Enquete-commission, Die deutsche chemische Industrie, Berlin 1930, p.40 and pp. 359f.

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  27. BWA 12/4 meeting of the board of directors, 3.12.1915.

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  28. Duisberg, A-Fabrik, p. 195; Schneider-Festschrift, p. 10.

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  29. BWA151/7 FF to KRA, 15.6.1918.

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  30. BWA 151/7 Vertragsentwurf and the accompanying Schriftwechsel with the KRA (Major Nitschmann, Sektion C).

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  31. From Stat. Jb. DR 1914.

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  32. BWA 151/7 FF to KRA, 15.6.1918, Duisberg-Telegramme from Berlin 27.7.1917, FF to KRA 29.7.1918, Vertragsentwurf from 4.7.1918, KRA to FF 9.10.1918.

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  33. BWA 201/9.

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  34. Ibid.

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  35. Ibid. Kautschukvertrag from 2./6.9.1918.

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  36. BWA 271/2 FF to Dr. Gottlob, 13.8.1917.

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  37. BWA 8/7 FF to KRA, 18.11.1918, KRA to FF, 9.10.1918; BWA 151/7 KRA to FF 21.11.1918.

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  38. BWA 151/7 Schriftwechsel between FF and their representatives in Berlin Kloeppel and Beckmann.

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  39. BWA 151/7 documents from Continental AG year 1919.

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  40. Price of rubber from Stat. Jb. DR 1924, 1925. Kloeppel from Berlin reported about the possibilities for methyl-rubber on 12.8.1918, BWA 8/7.

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  41. From the FF main books 1913–1919.

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  42. Table from Schneider-Festschrift, p. 10 and Duisberg, A-Fabrik, p. 195 as well as BWA 8/7 for the turnover 1919 and the rubber accounts etc.

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  43. This is clearly and unequivocally shown by a study of the files of the chemical firm from 1918/1919ff. One looked upon the war economy, in particular the “State interference” as a complaint which had to be removed immediately. The struggle against social intervention was meant to last throughout the entire Weimar Republic. As is already known, it was easier for industry to repel collective economics and State socialism early. Concerning the return to “a private enterprise economy” cf. also Kocka, Klassengesellschaft, pp.116f.; Zunkel, Industrie, p.31; F.Fischer, Bündnis der Eliten, Düsseldorf 1979, p. 51.

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  44. For the history of IG Farbenindustrie AG: H.Tammen, Die IG Farben AG 1925–1933, Diss. Berlin 1978, pp.9ff.; F. ter Meer, Die IG Farbenindustrie AG. Ihre Entstehung, Entwicklung und Bedeutung, Düsseldorf 1953, pp. 26ff. De facto the firm had existed since 1916 and no later than 1920 carried out a unified development policy.

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  45. This psychological form of argumentation, as pursued by Hughes, cannot be justified either from the sources or structurally according to the criteria used for decisions in a large capitalist enterprise. Hughes, Das “technologische Momentum”, p.363.

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  46. The processes involved in a decision can be clearly followed thanks to very good sources. The files do not supply an indication of the “primate of technology” or any arms-political motives. The fact that such methods in themselves have a strategic importance is another matter.

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  47. Cf. D. W. F. Hardie/J. D. Pratt, A History of the modern British Chemical Industry, Oxford 1966. In order to prove that economic criteria were predominant, even in the case presented by Hughes, it is pointed out that at the same time work was being done in Great Britain on fuel synthesis and, with an astonishing analogy between the cases, that a fuel tax was demanded and received with the same intentions in England as in Germany, ibid. pp. 242–244. Evidently the “technological momentum” had different results in England and in the German Reich.

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  48. Steinberger, Acetylen, pp.22ff.; HFA ZA 382, Meyer-Report 1.12.1926; BWA 157/1 exposé for the HWA, Kühne, 6.7.1934; BWA 13/16 Technischer Ausschuß of IG Farben AG (= Tea)-Sit-zung Hauptgruppe/Sparte (= HG) 2 1926; F.Hölscher, Kautschuke, Kunststoffe, Fasern, Ludwigshafen 1972, pp. 25 f.

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  49. BWA Schneider-Festschrift; BWA 157/1 Heuck-Gutachten from 4.2.1938.

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  50. About the Stephenson-Plan: George, Kautschuk, pp.33ff.; W.Treue, Gummi in Deutschland, München 1955, pp. 187ff.

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  51. HFA ZA 382 Kautschukkonferenzen of IG 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929.

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  52. BWA Redies-Gutachten, Heuck-Gutachten BWA 157/1 IG. Lev. to IG. Luha 9.2.1929 Meisenberg concerning the priority of the four-stage method.

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  53. HFA ZA 521 Tea-Büro 6.11.1936, a list of the rubber investments 1927–1936. The comparable lists do not contain the plant costs, only the pure research costs. Figures for the mineral oil synthesis, Tammen, p. 52.

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  54. One only has to look at the capital strength of the other large chemical firms e.g. in: Enquete-Ausschuß-Materialien, or in: Nürnberger Prozeß Fall IV, Vereinigte Staaten gegen Carl Krauch u. a. (= IMT/VI) Dok-NI 9052.

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  55. BWA Schneider-Festschrift. HFA ZA 382, ZA 383, ZA 80, ZA 357. Within the framework of this article it is only possible to supply a cursory presentation of the technical developments.

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  56. BWA 186 B 4.2 Ölbesprechung, 25.3. 1938 Baumann-Vortrag; ZA 382, K-Besprechung, 15.5. 1932, ZA 30 Lösungsmittelkommission May 1936, January 1937.

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  57. Concerning co-operation IG-Standard Oil of New Jersey: F. A. Howard, Buna Rubber. The Birth of an Industry, New York 1947. The agreements, the Division of Fields agreement from 9.11. 1929 and the Joint-American-Study-Company-Agreement from 30.9.1930 are also printed here. Appendix.

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  58. HFA ZA382 K-Besprechung, 7.12. 1927, 15.5. 1928 Report Leverkusen; BWA Schneider-Festschrift, pp. 19f.

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  59. HFA ZA 70 Reifenversuche, ZA 80 ditto, meeting from 7./9.10.1930.

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  60. HFA ZA 80 meeting from 18./19.6.1929.

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  61. Ibid.

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  62. BWA 157/1 letter between IG-Luha/Krauch to Lev., from 8.8.1929.

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  63. BWA Löhr-File, Bericht über die Vermittlungsstelle W, Das Bunaprogramm, p.2; IMT/VI Dok 7668 Vernehmung Ter Meer, 23.4.1947, p. 5.

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  64. Price development, import values from Stat. Jb. DR 1930–1934.

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  65. For the position of I. G. in the economic crisis cf. Tammen, p.72. Personnel development from ibid., pp. 77–79. Employment freeze, HFA ZA 43 Tea-Sitzung from 20.6.1929.

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  66. Data from my own calculations using the Tea-Unterlagen, HFA ZA 43 and the “Basic-Information” about IG, IMT/IV as a basis

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  67. HFA ZA 80 Kautschukkommission 14.10. 1930 Besprechung Synthetischer Kautschuk, Lev., 3.10.1930; BWA 151/7 K-Besprechung, Lev, 12.10.1932.

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  68. Cf. W. M. Meyer-Larsen, Chemiefasern, Reinbeck 1972, p.48.

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  69. Hughes, Das “technologische Momentum”, pp. 368f, mentions that the continuation of the work, but not the research effort, was dramatically reduced during the period 1930/32 compared with 1927/29 by almost 90%; Tammen, p. 52; HFA ZA 85 Stickstoffspartenbesprechung from 7.4.1932.

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  70. IG attempted in particular to influence flanking measures of the government, however never looked for direct State aid, not even for petrol synthesis, Tammen p. 54. Within the framework of a meeting of the nitrogen branch from 7.4.1932 an exhaustive explanation of the possibilities in connection with the synthesis of petrol occurred in which neither self-sufficiency nor State subventions played a role. The main interest lay in the importation of Soviet fuel which came under the jurisdiction of the market agreements of the western petrol suppliers. HFA ZA 85.

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  71. For the political influence of IG: Tammen, pp. 145ff.; A. Sohn-Rethel, Ökonomie und Klassenstruktur des deutschen Faschismus, Frankfurt 19752, pp. 55f.; Nussbaum, Wirtschaft und Staat in Deutschland während der Weimarer Republik, in: Nussbaum/Zumpe, Wirtschaft, Vol.2, pp. 326f. Concerning the tax question HFA ZA 85 Stickstoffspartenbesprechung 7.4. 1932; W. Birkenfeld, Der synthetische Treibstoff, Göttingen 1964, pp. 18–20 to which Hughes also refers, Das “technologische Momentum”, p.370, notes 53 and 54. Since neither of them knew the IG files but both, Hughes via Birkenfeld, rely on explanations of IMT/VI, there are small technical mistakes in both relating to the technology and the costs.

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  72. One can again here refer to the good information sources which document the position of the decisive management boards of the company, the Arbeitsausschuß des Vorstandes, Tea etc. There is a tendency in the literature to overvalue the economic policy statements, plans and considerations of IG representatives or their economic political departments. Their influence on actual business policies should not be overestimated. Cf. Tammen, pp. 145 ff. On the other hand a presentation of such activities as, on the whole, a trifle, as in H.A. Turner, Verhalfen die deutschen “Monopolkapitalisten” Hitler zur Macht? in: the same, Faschismus und Kapitalismus in Deutschland, Göttingen 1972, p. 20 is just as unrealistic as the implications from E. Czichons, Wer verhalf Hitler zur Macht?, Köln 1967, p. 50, which go to the other extreme. That IG had not completed this re-orientation is shown by its business policies after 30.1.1933, which were characterised by careful, spectral waiting. Cf. e.g. Stickstoffspartenbesprechungen HFA ZA 85; BWA 10/3.4 Aufsichtsratsitzung of IG on 14.12.1932. A remonstration of a controlling board member, who demanded a harder course against attacks on IG concerning petrol tax, was commented by H. Schmitz, “that the administration paid a great deal of attention to this affair and continuously underlined that the aspect of the continuation of an important inland product and the employment of German workers were the main reasons behind a petrol tax.”

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  73. Concerning the behaviour of IG to the Weimar cabinet from Brüning: R. Neebe, Großindustrie Staat und NSDAP, Göttingen 1981, pp.51, 85, 96, however more from the political association side, Beteiligung von IG-Vertretern oder ihr nahestehenden, Nussbaum, Wirtschaft, p. 327. Concerning the attacks: BWA Akte RDI, particularly RDI-Versammlung 12.12.1929, which was lead by Duisberg.

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  74. One should consider for example the regulation concerning revival of the economy from 4.9. 1932, RGBl I/p.423 and how the businesses which had been subsidised were regarded.

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  75. HFA ZA 80 K-Besprechung 3.10. 1930. Cf. also Anmerkung 76. Kautschukproduktion in der UdSSR BWA 151/5 Report Dr. Wolff über die Kautschukfabrik SK 3 (1941) HFA ZA 23 Kunststoffkommission 16.10. 31,18.11. 32; BWA153/1.2 K-Besprechung 4.12.1930 271/2 ter Meer, Die wirtschaftliche und wehrwirtschaftliche Bedeutung des Kautschuks unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des deutschen synthetischen Kautschuks, p. 10; HFA ZA 351 K-Besprechung 9.7.1931.

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  76. Different but wrong: D.Petzina, Autarkiepolitik im Dritten Reich, Stuttgart 1966, p.84; B.H.Klein, Germany’s economic preparations for war, Cambridge/Mass. 1959, p.33; Treue, Gummi, pp. 256f.

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  77. W.Fischer, Deutsche Wirtschaftspolitik 1918–1945, Opladen 1968, pp.60ff.; A.Barkai, Das Wirtschaftssystem des Nationalsozialismus, Köln 1977, pp. 117ff. Different but not convincing: H.J. Henning, Kraftfahrzeugindustrie und Autobahnbau in der Wirtschaftspolitik des Nationalsozialismus 1933–1936, in: Vierteljahrschrift für Sozial- u. Wirtschaftsgeschichte (= VSWG) 65, 1978, pp. 271ff. or T. Mason, Sozialpolitik im Dritten Reich, Opladen 19782, pp. 124ff. In order to avoid misunderstandings the self-evident fact should be mentioned, that arming was not restricted to increasing the armed forces and expanding the classical arms industries but, especially considering the experiences of the Third Reich, has to be seen as a social and economic mobilisation for the war.

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  78. Concerning conjunctural development: K.Borchardt, Trends, Zyklus, Strukturbrüche, Zufälle: Was bestimmte die deutsche Wirtschaftsgeschichte des 20. Jahrhunderts?, in: VSWG 64, 1977, pp.168ff.

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  79. Cf. R.Erbe, Die nationalsozialistische Wirtschaftspolitik im Lichte der modernen Theorie, Zürich 1958; G. Kroll, Von der Weltwirtschaftskrise zur Staatskonjunktur, Berlin 1958; Barkai, Wirtschaftssystem, pp. 125ff.; G.Schulz, Die Anfänge des totalitären Maßnahmestaates, in: D. Bracher et al., Die nationalsozialistische Machtergreifung, Opladen 19622, pp.627ff.

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  80. Hitler’s statements e.g. in the Reichstag speech from 23.3. 1933, in: Die Reden Hitlers als deutscher Kanzler, München 1934, p.19; J.Kocka, Ursachen des Nationalsozialismus, in: Aus Politik u. Zeitgeschichte B 25/80, 21.6. 1980, p.14; Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, p.198; the same, Zwischenkriegszeit, pp.108 ff.; Fischer, Wirtschaftspolitik, pp. 79f.; K. D. Bracher, Die deutsche Diktatur, Köln 19703, p. 362 and others.

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  81. Klein, Preparations, pp.28ff.; G.Thomas, Geschichte der deutschen Wehr- und Rüstungswirtschaft 1918–1943/45, Boppard 1960, p.51; M.Broszat, Der Staat Hitlers, München 19819, pp.224f.

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  82. Die Rohstofflage des Deutschen Reiches im Frühjahr 1936, in: Tradition H.6, 1969, pp.310–34. Of the eight groups of raw materials which were mentioned by the meeting of experts on 26.5. 1936, six fell more or less completely in the areas worked on by the chemical industry.

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  83. Generally summarising: Kocka, Ursachen; particularly: Tammen, pp.275ff.; W.Ruge, Monopolbourgeoisie, faschistische Massenbasis und NS-Programmatik in Deutschland vor 1933, in: Eichholtz et al. (Eds.), Faschismus in Deutschland, Köln 1980, pp. 62ff., 68, which does not verify a particular role for the monopoly groups Chemicals/Electrical in comparison to heavy industry/agriculture. The “concrete” IG contribution is limited, according to the present state of research (Turner, Tammen, Ruge), on the one hand to the debatable charitable payment and on the other hand to co-operation of an IG-member, the term “representatives” is not applicable, in the economic-political department of the NSDAP, Ruge, p. 58, who via Barkai, Wirtschaftssystem, p.32, from a record of Wagner, had worked there. In addition to this contracts of the economic-political department, in particular from Gattineau to the NSDAP, are mentioned; Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, p. 27.

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  84. Hughes, Das “technologische Momentum”, p.376.

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  85. Thomas, Wehr- u. Rüstungswirtschaft, pp.62ff., 89ff., 111ff.; Sohn-Rethel, Ökonomie, p.143; Fischer, Machteliten, pp. 87 ff.; E. W. Hansen, Reichswehr und Industrie. Rüstungswirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und wirtschaftliche Mobilmachungsvorbereitungen 1923–32, Boppard 1978. Cf. for the conspirative character of the work: Bundesarchiv — Militärarchiv Freiburg (= BA-MA)RH8v983.

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  86. See e.g.BA-MARH 8v985, 914.

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  87. BA-MA WiI F5/3556 Kautschuk-Denkschrift März 1941, p.36; WiI F5/3590. Denkschrift “Die Mitwirkung der Wehrmacht bei der Entwicklung und Erprobung des synthetischen Kautschuk”. Oktober 1938, p.9.

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  88. BWA 151/7 IG-Lev. to Stickstoff-Direktion Ludwigshafen, 16.5. 1933; HFA ZA 1446, Briefwechsel Müller-Cunradi.

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  89. HFA ZA 1446 IG Luha/Stickstoffabteilung to HWA, 15.8.1933.

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  90. BWA 13/16.1 Tea-Sitzung HG 2, 6.7.1933.

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  91. At a meeting on 6.11.1933 the Reichswehr informed the Reichswirtschaftsministerium (= Rei-WiMi) of its complete requirements for economic arming and also demanded support for the rubber project. See: BA-MA Wi I F 5/3556. On 13.11. the Wirtschaftsministerium announced their willingness to do this, IMT/VI Dok 6930. Cf. Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, p.29. At this point there was absolutely no mention of a contract.

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  92. BWA 151/7 Internal K-Besprechung Lev. 31.8. 1933, 151/1 Austausch der Arbeitsberichte Kautschuk Luha/Lev, Report Lev 8.1.1934ff., ZA352/355, K-Besprechungen 9.7.1933, 1.12. 1933.

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  93. HFAZA352/353 K-Besprechung 1.12.1933; BWA151/1 Arbeitsberichte.

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  94. HFA ZA43 Tea, 23.11.1934; ZA 29 Löko 30.1.1935.

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  95. HFA ZA 1446 IG-Luha to HWA, 10.8. 1933; BA-MA WiI F5/2221 Kautschukdenkschrift 1941, p.9.

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  96. HFA ZA 1446 meeting with Keppler in the Reichskanzlei. It is however wrong to conclude from this a basic opposition to the synthesis of rubber. A few days after this meeting, on 10.12.1934, Schacht explained to the IG-director Schmitz that large rubber plants should be built as soon as possible. ZA 1446, Bericht-Hammesfahr-Besuch, 7.1.1935.1 do not know where the legend of Schachts opposition to the rubber project arises. See: J.Borkin, Die unheilige Allianz der IG Farben, Frankfurt 1979, pp.64ff.; Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, p.29.

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  97. BA-MA WiIF/3590 Mitwirkung, pp. 14f. Blomberg did not visit Leverkusen at the end of 1934 as stated there, but was in Leverkusen on 15.2.1935, see: BWA Besuchsbericht.

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  98. BWA 153/1.2 conference 18.9.1934.151/1 Arbeitsbericht Dec. 1934 and BA R25/16 RWA-Tä-tigkeitsbericht 1939. BWA 151/1 Arbeitsbericht Lev. Dec. 1935.

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  99. BWA 151/1 Arbeitsbericht Luha 14.2.1935.

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  100. BWA 13/16.2. Tea HG 2, 16.10.1935.

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  101. ZA 1467 meeting with Keppler/Reichskanzlei 19.9.1935. Here IG followed the wishes of the State and agreed to Piesteritz as a site, planned however, from the onset, to build the plant in Schkopau and achieved this.

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  102. ZA 1467 Besprechung, 19.9.35; ZA 1446 Reichsfinanzminister to Keppler, 11.11.35.

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  103. ZA1392 IG-Denkschrift, Aufbau und Finanzierung der Bunawerke, 8.1. 1940, p.3; ZA 1467 Meeting 19.9.35.

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  104. Bundesarchiv Koblenz (= BA) R 25/16 Arbeitsbericht der Reichsstelle für Wirtschaftsausbau (= RWA) 1939 “Buna-Verarbeitung”, pp.3ff.; BWA 153/7 IG-Teko to IG Lev., 7.2.1935.

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  105. BWA 151/7 IG-Lev. to Tea, 15.9.1937.

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  106. BWA 153/3.4 Commission “K” 14.1.1938, Report Leverkusen: “Die gummitechnische Bedeutung des Abbaus”.

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  107. BAR 25/16 RWA-Report 1939, p.4.

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  108. ZA 1437, Statement from the Tea-office and BWA 4 C 6.

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  109. BWA 186 B 4.2 Ölbesprechung, 25.3.1938; Der Lichtbogen 2.1963, pp. 29ff. ZA 348 Lichtbogen-Lizenzvertrag IG-Chemische Werke Hüls (=CWH) 11./12.11.1938.

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  110. Hölscher, Kautschuke, p.33; ZA 43b, Tea 1.3.1944.

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  111. Hölscher, pp.28f.; O. Nicodemus, Die aliphatischen Chemikalien und Zwischenprodukte, in: Winnacker/Weingaertner (eds.), Chemische Technologie, Vol. 4, München 1952, p.666.

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  112. So e.g. Broszat, Staat Hitlers, pp.224f.; Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, p.29 and also Zumpe, Wirtschaft, p. 234.

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  113. ZA 1471, 1446, 294, 370.

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  114. Petzina, Wirtschaft, p. 129.

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  115. BA-MA Wi IF5/2221 Denkschrift pp.2ff.; Wi IF5/3590 Mitwirkung.

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  116. E.g. ZA 1446 meeting in the Überwachungsstelle für Kautschuk und Asbest (= ÜKA), 23.7. 1934.

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  117. Cf. Barkai, Wirtschaftssystem, pp. 135ff.

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  118. ZA 1446 meeting in the ÜKA, 23.7.1934 also ZA 294 Konrad-Bericht 18.10.1934.

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  119. ZA 1446 meeting in the ÜKA, 30.10.1934.

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  120. ZA 1446 Report-Hagemann/HWA, 10.11.1934.

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  121. BA R43 11–1602; ZA 1446 meeting ÜKA, 30.10.1934.

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  122. ZA 1446 meeting with Keppler/Reichskanzlei, 20.2.1935.

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  123. ZA 1446 meeting, 20.2.1935.

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  124. BA-MA Wi IF5/326, Vol.1 OKH 25.9. 1936, Wi IF5/3590, pp.14–20; ZA1446 HWA-IG, 30.11.1935.

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  125. ZA 1444 IG-Project, 1.12. 1935; ZA 1446 Reichsfinanzministerium — Keppler, 11.11. 35, IG-Keppler, 15.11.1935.

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  126. ZA 23 Kunststoffkommission, 19.11.1934; Gutachter Ausschuß, in: Tradition H. 6, 1969, p. 328.

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  127. BWA 151/5 “USA”-Löhr-Bericht, p.6; BA-MA Wi IF 5/3590, p. 14.

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  128. ZA 370 IG-Luha to Tea, 3.3.1936; ZA 1443 IG-Project-Schkopau, 6.7.1936; ZA 370 Ludwigshafen (= Luha) to Tea, 5.2.1937; IMT/VI Dok NI-8833, p. 5.

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  129. The basis of this change is the increased inclusion of the private economy in the completion of the plan; otherwise the four-year plan “only” represents a concentrated continuation and tightening of the projects already present. Cf. also Sohn-Rethel, Ökonomie, p. 146.

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  130. Apparently this stipulation was not generally applicable, cf. Petzina, Wirtschaft, pp.129f.

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  131. Eichholtz, Kriegswirtschaft, pp. 42, 48f., 39ff., who gives by far the widest interpretation of IG’s involvement and turns it into the Spiritus rector of all connected intentions. Zumpe, Wirtschaft, pp.215ff. supports himself more from Petzina. She attempts to explain the technical basis for this involvement whereby she uses the increasing “chemicalisation” of technology (p. 234); Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, pp.122ff. Cf. also: IMT/VI Dok NI-5821, interrogation of Speer, who, in this context uses the word “the state-incorporated IG” for Krauchs office. IG and self-sufficiency programme cf. also: Dok NI-5178; H. Volkmann, Zum Verhältnis von Großwirtschaft und NS-Regime im Zweiten Weltkrieg, in: W.Dlugoborski (Ed.), Zweiter Weltkrieg und sozialer Wandel, Göttingen 1981, p.91.

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  132. IMT/VI Dok NI-5184, p.l5f.; BWA 271/2 Krauch; Dok NI-5187.

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  133. Considering his duties IMT/VI Krauch Dok-87.

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  134. IMT/VI Dok NI-14701; BWA “Vermittlungsstelle W”; Dok NI-8833 Eckell-Bericht.

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  135. BWA “Vermittlungsstelle W”. Estimates for the proportion of IG personnel lie between 9.1/31.2 and 90%; IMT/VI Dok Krauch 67 EE Müller, Dok NI-9945 EE Kügler. IMT/VI Dok NI-5821 Vernehmung Speer, pp. 5 ff.; Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, p. 123.

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  136. ZA 1467 meeting in ADRWSt/RDSt, 2.10.1936.

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  137. BA R 25/14 Gebechem-Report April 1939; Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, p. 126.

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  138. IMT/VI Dok NI-7241, p. 23, Dok NI-11781 ReiWiMi to IG, 8.11.1940; concerning the theme “large area economics”, cf. G.W. F. Hallgarten/J. Radkau, Deutsche Industrie und Politik, Reinbek 1981, pp.399ff.

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  139. ZA 1451 Bunavertrag.

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  140. ZA 1451 Bunavertrag, p. 10; ZA 1392 IG-Denkschrift, Bunaausbau, p.3.

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  141. Petzina, Autarkiepolitik; the same, Wirtschaft, p. 136.

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  142. G. Schulz, Deutschland seit dem Ersten Weltkrieg, Göttingen 1976, p. 160.

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  143. ZA 1396 IG at the Amt für Deutsche Roh- und Werkstoffe (= ADRWSt), 2.12.1937.

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  144. ZA 1396 meeting in ADRWSt, 13.1.1938.

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  145. Already in 1933 the IG had to give 2.3 million RM to the treasury according to § 10 of the Buna-vertrag; ZA 1392 Erfolgsrechnung Schkopau 1939; ZA 1396 meeting in ReiWiMi, 7.10.1938, IG to ADRWSt. 12.2.1938.

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  146. ZA 1396 Darlehensvertrag CWH, 13.3.1939.

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  147. ZA 1456 Schkopau-Darlehensvertrag, July 1940.

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  148. From ZA 1532, Kalkulationen Schkopau.

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  149. ZA 348 Daten über das Werk Hüls, 28.8.42.

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  150. BA R 25/14 Gebechem-Report April 1939, pp.31 ff.; R 25/16 RWA-Report 1939; ZA 370 Luha, 19.1. 1937; ZA1441 ADRWSt, 16.11. 1937; Petzina, Autarkiepolitik, p.102, pp.158ff.; H.Kehrl, Krisenmanager im Dritten Reich, Düsseldorf 1973, p.100; ZA 370, IG-interner Bericht, 7.1.1937; ZA 363 IG Luha to Tea, 22.2.1939; ZA 1392 CWH-Bericht, 28.7.1941; IMT/VI Dok NI-8833, p.9.

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  151. BWA 4D Schk. 1 meeting, 2.12.1938.

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  152. ZA 81 Montagsbesprechung, 13.11. 1939; ZA103a Direktionskonferenz Luha, 16.1. 1940; R 25/13 RWA, Unterlagen für Karinhallbesprechung, 9.2.1940.

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  153. ZA 103 a Direktionskonferenz Luha 22.10.1940.

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  154. BWA 141/5.3.5. Sitzung Kommission “K”, 30.1.1941; IMT/VI Dok NI-11781 ReiWiMi to IG, 8.11.1940.

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  155. BWA 141/5.3./5. Kommission “K”, 6. Kommission “K”, 23.10.1941; IMT/VI Dok NI-7241, Dok NI-4182, p. 1, Dok NI-11113 meeting IG/Krauch 6.2.1941, Dok NI-11785, Dok NI-9442, Dok NI-11785 meeting in Kattowitz 31.1.1941, Dok NI-4033 Affidavit Krauch.

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  156. IMT/VI Dok NI-4182, p.2, Dok NI-9542, pp. 8ff.

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  157. IMT/VI Dok NI-7241, pp. 24–28.

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  158. From ZA 1532 Kalkulationen Schkopau.

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  159. From ZA 1545 Kalkulationen CWH.

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  160. ZA 1392 “Westgas-Vertrag”, 14.9.1942; ZA 1545 Kalkulationen-Rohstoffeinsatz.

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  161. IMT/VI Dok NI-72141, p.24.

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  162. Cf.: The US Strategic Bombing Survey, The Effects of Strategic Bombing on the German War Economy, 1945, pp. 1 ff., in particular pp. 83–85.

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  163. Table from ZA 357 and Effects of Strategic Bombing, p. 83 Table 43. W. Treues Zahlen, Gummi, p. 300, are apparently not relevant.

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  164. ZA357, cf. also the table “Bunaumsatz”.

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  165. Investments calculated from ZA 524.

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  166. Price from IG-Wirtschaftsdienst in ZA 357; Production-costs from: ZA 1532 Kalkulationen Schkopau.

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  167. ZA 1446 meeting at ÜKA on 23.7.1934.

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  168. BWA Löhr-Files, Tea-Büro-Aufstellung.

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  169. ZA 1936 ter Meer to Fimmen (Hibernia), 9.7.1940; ZA 1433 IG to ADRWSt, 17.12.1936; BAR 25/14 Gebechem-Report, April 1939, p. 6.

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  170. ZA 1456 Gesellschaftsvertrag Bunawerke GmbH from 15.2.1937.

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  171. IMT/VI Dok NI-6108 Gesellschaftsvertrag Chemische Werke Hüls GmbH from 9.5.1938.

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  172. BWA from the books of the Buna works and the CWH.

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  173. IMT/VI Dok NI-9479 Dencker EE, Dok NI-882 Buna-Report 16.9.1937, Dok NI-11114 Tea to ReiWiMi, 22.1.1941.

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  174. As note 165.

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  175. From BWA 15 D 4.3 Umsatzstatistik Chemikalien.

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  176. BWA 15 D 4.3 for 1944 estimates.

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  177. Amounts and exports from ZA 357; turnover as note 175.

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  178. Cf. IMT/VI “Fall Ambros”.

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  179. Das Urteil im IG Farben-Prozeß, Krefeld 1948.

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  180. Eichholtz, Faschismus u. Ökonomie, in: the same et al., Faschismus, p.116. Generally concerning this debate: H. A. Winkler, Die “neue Linke” und der Faschismus: zur Kritik neomarxistischer Theorien über den Nationalsozialismus, in: the same, Revolution, Staat, Faschismus, Göttingen 1978.

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  181. Concerning the “Primacy Debate”: T. Mason, Das Primat der Politik-Politik und Wirtschaft im Nationalsozialismus, in: Das Argument 8/1966; D.Eichholtz/K.Gossweiler, Noch einmal: Politik und Wirtschaft 1933–1945, in: Das Argument 10/1968.

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  182. After 1945 Krauch explained: “IG Farben could not be forced into the construction of a Buna factory. The Reichswirtschaftsministerium appeared with a contract in connection with this, the IG Farben board of directors… could agree or refuse to build”. IMT/VI Dok NI-4033 EE Krauch. In order to verify this statement it must be pointed out that in January 1937 Hitler “ordered” by a Führer instruction that a production capacity of 3,000 moto had to be made available by the beginning of 1938. IMT/VI Dokter Meer 205, ADRWSt to IG, 5.1.1937. This order from the Führer was of no practical importance.

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  183. As Volkmann, Das Verhältnis, p. 111. Different but less convincing e. g.: Winkler, die “neue Linke”, pp.99ff. Generally to this: F. Neumann, Behemoth. Struktur und Praxis des Nationalsozialismus 1933–1944, Frankfurt 1977, pp.272ff. Blaich, Verbände, pp.lllf. also comes to this judgement with respect to the associations.

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  184. From the point of view of this project, Volkmann’s thesis, Verhältnis, pp. 88ff. can be fully confirmed.

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Authors
  1. Gottfried Plumpe
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Historisches Seminar, Abt. Verfassungs-, Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Konviktstraße 11, 5300, Bonn 1, Germany

    Hans Pohl

  2. Lehrstuhl für Kreditwirtschaft und Finanzierung, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Mertonstraße 17-25, 6000, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Bernd Rudolph

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© 1986 Gesellschaft für Unternehmensgeschichte e. V., Köln

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Plumpe, G. (1986). Industry, Technical Progress and State. The Synthesis of Rubber in Germany 1906–1944/45. In: Pohl, H., Rudolph, B. (eds) German Yearbook on Business History 1985. German Yearbook on Business History 1985, vol 1985. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71196-1_6

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