Albert Vögler
Encyclopedia
Albert Vögler was a German
liberal
politician
, industrialist and entrepreneur
. He was a co-founder of the German People's Party
, and an important executive in the munitions industry during the Second World War.
Vögler was born to Karl and Berta Vögler in Essen
. He studied mechanics and engineering at high school
before graduating from the university of Karlsruhe in 1901 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Between 1901 and 1910 he worked as a senior engineer at the Dortmunder Steel Works, and then became a member of the executive committee in the Deutsch-Luxemburgische Bergwerks- und Hütten-AG mining company. Upon the death in 1924 of the founder, Hugo Stinnes
, Vögler became manager. In 1918, he worked alongside Gustav Stresemann
, was involved in the founding of the German People's Party
(DVP) in the Weimar Republic
, criticised the policies of Joseph Wirth
and signed agreements with France in accordance with Germany's submission to the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923, a year later he left the DVP.
Between 1925 and 1927 he was a member of the Dortmunder Chamber of Commerce and president of the Rheinisch Westfäli coal syndicate, and in 1926 he created Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG
and was its chairman until 1935. In 1927 he also became an honourable board member of his old university in Karlsruhe. As a business man, Vögler would have feared the rise of communism
in Germany, and records of dontations from Vögler to the NSDAP from as early as 1931 exist, Vögler having met Adolf Hitler
on September 11 of that year, and from 1932 Vögler openly funded the Nazi party.
On the February 20, 1933, Hitler having become chancellor on January 30, in a meeting with Hitler and Hermann Göring
, Vögler and other industrialists were presented with the Nazi Party's political plans, and donate a total of three million marks
. From 1940 onwards, Vögler was heavily involved with the manufacture of munitions, and serves in increasingly important positions under Albert Speer
in the Ruhr
industrial heartland from 1942 until 1944, and was president of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society (later Max Planck Society
) from 1941 onwards. On April 14, 1945, in order to avoid capture by the US Army, Vögler committed suicide in Haus Ende, Herdecke
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, industrialist and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. He was a co-founder of the German People's Party
German People's Party
The German People's Party was a national liberal party in Weimar Germany and a successor to the National Liberal Party of the German Empire.-Ideology:...
, and an important executive in the munitions industry during the Second World War.
Vögler was born to Karl and Berta Vögler in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
. He studied mechanics and engineering at high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
before graduating from the university of Karlsruhe in 1901 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Between 1901 and 1910 he worked as a senior engineer at the Dortmunder Steel Works, and then became a member of the executive committee in the Deutsch-Luxemburgische Bergwerks- und Hütten-AG mining company. Upon the death in 1924 of the founder, Hugo Stinnes
Hugo Stinnes
-Life and career:Stinnes was born in Mülheim, in the Ruhr Valley, North German Confederation. His father was also named Hugo, and his grandfather Matthias Stinnes had founded a modest enterprise in Mülheim....
, Vögler became manager. In 1918, he worked alongside Gustav Stresemann
Gustav Stresemann
was a German politician and statesman who served as Chancellor and Foreign Minister during the Weimar Republic. He was co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926.Stresemann's politics defy easy categorization...
, was involved in the founding of the German People's Party
German People's Party
The German People's Party was a national liberal party in Weimar Germany and a successor to the National Liberal Party of the German Empire.-Ideology:...
(DVP) in the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
, criticised the policies of Joseph Wirth
Joseph Wirth
Karl Joseph Wirth, known as Joseph Wirth, was a German politician of the Catholic Centre Party who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1921 to 1922.-Biography:...
and signed agreements with France in accordance with Germany's submission to the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923, a year later he left the DVP.
Between 1925 and 1927 he was a member of the Dortmunder Chamber of Commerce and president of the Rheinisch Westfäli coal syndicate, and in 1926 he created Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG
Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG
The Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG was a German industrial conglomerate producing coal, iron, and steel in the interbellum and during World War II....
and was its chairman until 1935. In 1927 he also became an honourable board member of his old university in Karlsruhe. As a business man, Vögler would have feared the rise of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in Germany, and records of dontations from Vögler to the NSDAP from as early as 1931 exist, Vögler having met Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
on September 11 of that year, and from 1932 Vögler openly funded the Nazi party.
On the February 20, 1933, Hitler having become chancellor on January 30, in a meeting with Hitler and Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
, Vögler and other industrialists were presented with the Nazi Party's political plans, and donate a total of three million marks
German mark
The Deutsche Mark |mark]], abbreviated "DM") was the official currency of West Germany and Germany until the adoption of the euro in 2002. It is commonly called the "Deutschmark" in English but not in German. Germans often say "Mark" or "D-Mark"...
. From 1940 onwards, Vögler was heavily involved with the manufacture of munitions, and serves in increasingly important positions under Albert Speer
Albert Speer
Albert Speer, born Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer, was a German architect who was, for a part of World War II, Minister of Armaments and War Production for the Third Reich. Speer was Adolf Hitler's chief architect before assuming ministerial office...
in the Ruhr
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet...
industrial heartland from 1942 until 1944, and was president of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society (later Max Planck Society
Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes publicly funded by the federal and the 16 state governments of Germany....
) from 1941 onwards. On April 14, 1945, in order to avoid capture by the US Army, Vögler committed suicide in Haus Ende, Herdecke
Herdecke
Herdecke is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Its located south of Dortmund in the Ruhr Area and is known as Die Stadt zwischen den Ruhrseen ....
.