The Ruhr drawer was an interest combination of the twelve most influential Ruhr ruhrindustriellen.

History

Establishment and activities

This informal and highly exclusive circle was created in January 1928 by Paul Reusch, who sat in many executive committees and supervisory boards of the rheinischen heavy industry. All large-scale enterprises of the Ruhr district were represented by in or two members. Language pipe was the German general newspaper, which was financed by the Ruhr drawer. As an intermediary to the different political parties Martin blank functioned.

The existence of the Ruhr drawer was kept secret. One met once monthly to economic and political exchange of views in informal round and organized donations at a value of annual up to 1.5 million realm Marks, those to the civil parties went (strip packing, central party, DVP and DNVP). The Ruhr drawer tried several times to unite these parties in a civil collection movement which failed however.

In relation to attitude the NSDAP

During the election campaign 1930 the powerful Industriellen agitated against the NSDAP, which regarded them socialist due to their name components ""and "to labour party "as a left party. They feared even, the NSDAP a coalition with SPD and KPD would be received and linked therefore their financial support for Alfred Hugenbergs DNVP with the condition, them must their co-operation with the Nazis stop.

The distrust shrank however soon. Starting from 1931 donations of the Ruhr drawer flowed to the national socialists, but not to the party as such, but at Walther radio and Gregor Strasser. These personal donations to allegedly "more reasonable "and "more moderate "party members should represent a reinsurance against the further existing socialrevolutionary and radical-anti-Semitic currents in the party, how they showed up for instance in the SA and in the NSBO. Their hopes did not set the Ruhr ruhrindustriellen however on the national socialists, among other things because Paul Silverberg of Jewish descent was. Rather they opted on then in July 1932 surprisingly to the realm chancellor appointed Franz of Papen, which they subsidized already for a long time. Into January 1933 inside one hoped that Papen would succeed to force the Nazis to and into a coalition under its guidance. The Ruhr drawer in these crucial months before the power delivery however no more could not take large influence, since them met due to the internal conflicts caused by the gel church affair since summer 1932 no longer regularly.

This representation of Turner opposite the Marxist research determines:

• Paul Reusch kept already 1923 ago over max of Erwin of Scheubner judge financial contact to the NSDAP
• Albert was with member in the Keppler circle
• Albert Paul Reusch and Friedrich Springorum explained their agreement with the input of some Baniers, Industrieller and farmers at Paul von Hindenburg. This indication, which comes from the National Socialist banker Friedrich pure-hard, was unchecked taken over by the Marxist research. Their truth content is doubted in the newer research - the heavy schwerindustriellen mentioned did not enter afterwards their signature.

Dissolution

In the middle of 1939 the representatives of the Ruhr drawer capitulated then finally before over powerful the influence of the national socialists on the economy (realm works Hermann 2, become. Four-year plan) and dissolved their combination from distrust opposite NSDAP and Gestapo. The caution was justified, because neither wanted one Jew pursuits and nor less the war against the Soviet Union. Fritz Thyssen was the initially strongest proponent of a dictatorship in the Ruhr drawer, dared however 1939 the open break with Hitler and had to therefore emigrieren. He was arrested 1940 after the invasion of the armed forces in France and in several KZs interned.

To the Ruhr drawer therefore as to many other German Industrielle the judgement of a large objective debt at coming off the political crimes of the LV dictatorship applies with at the same time large subjective integrity. To escape, succeeded to this debt connection much too late and too halfheartedly to them with 20 July 1944, which facilitated it for the British military government to dissolve and dismantle the industrial plants of their rheinischen competition.

Members (alphabetical consequence)

• Karl Haniel
• Erich Fickler, Harpener mining industry AG
• Peter
• Arthur Klotzbach, Friedrich Krupp AG
• Gustav Krupp, Friedrich Krupp AG
• Ernst Poensgen, combined steel plants AG
• Paul Reusch, Haniel & lie GmbH and twenty further memberships and preside in executive committees
• Paul Silverberg, Rhein-Braun
• Friedrich Springorum, Hoesch AG
• Fritz Thyssen
• Albert combined steel plants AG
• Fritz sign house, Hoesch AG

Literature

• Luntowski, Gustav: Hitler and the gentlemen at the Ruhr. Economic power and Staatsmacht in the third realm. Thesis. Frankfurt A.M.: Long 2000, 315 S. ISBN 3-631-36825-9--> review
• Mollin, Gerhard Th.: Montankonzerne and "third realm" 1936-1944. The contrast between monopoly industry and command economy in the German armament and expansion 1936 - 1944. Thesis. Goettingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht 1988, 394 S., 51 Tab. ISBN 3-525-35740-0
• Neebe, pure hard: Large-scale industry, state and NSDAP 1930-1933.

See also

• Large-scale industry and NSDAP
• Quadripartite committee

Articles in category "Ruhr drawer"

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