Adlerwerke

From bicycles to Nazi atrocities, the Adlerwerke in Frankfurt has witnessed a tumultuous history. The Adlerwerke, meaning “Eagle Works,” began its life in 1880. Heinrich Kleyer, a true pioneer, founded the company. He began by selling bicycles imported from England. Soon, the Adlerwerke became the first factory in Germany to produce bicycles on an industrial scale. Kleyer’s innovations, like introducing the pneumatic tire to Germany, made cycling a popular pastime. By 1914, the Adlerwerke had grown enormously, employing around 7,000 people. One in five cars on German roads was an Adler. The company expanded beyond bicycles, producing typewriters, motorcycles, and even cars. The Adler Standard 6, introduced in 1926, was a sensation. It was the first German production car with a steel body and hydraulic brakes. In a remarkable feat, Clairenore Stinnes circumnavigated the globe in an Adler Standard 6 in 1929. This was a time when proper roads were a rarity in many parts of the world. The 1930s brought economic hardship. Yet also innovation, with the front-wheel-drive Adler Trumpf and the popular Trumpf Junior. However, the rise of the Nazis cast a dark shadow over the Adlerwerke. During World War II, the factory became entangled in the Nazi war machine. It produced engines and vehicle parts for the Wehrmacht. The Adlerwerke, like many other companies, used forced labor to meet production demands. The factory even housed a subcamp of the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp, known as Katzbach. Over 1,600 prisoners, mostly from Poland, were forced to work in appalling conditions. Tragically, about a third died in Frankfurt. Others were sent to other camps or perished on death marches. The Adlerwerke buildings suffered heavy damage from Allied bombing raids in 1944. After the war, car production never resumed. The Adlerwerke shifted its focus to motorcycles, office equipment, and then solely to typewriters. The company eventually merged with Triumph to form Triumph-Adler. It was later acquired by Grundig, then Olivetti, and finally Litton Industries. Typewriter production ceased in 1998, and the historic factory site was sold. The Adlerwerke’s legacy is complex. It’s a story of innovation and industrial success. But also a grim reminder of the horrors of forced labor and the Nazi regime.