Wiener Neustädter Lokomotivfabrik
Encyclopedia
The Wiener Neustädter Lokomotivfabrik (Wiener Neustadt locomotive factory) was the largest locomotive and engineering factory in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During the Second World War the company produced armaments as part of Rax-Werk Ges.mbH
which was associated with the Mauthausen concentration camp.
(Wien-Raaber-Eisenbahn or Raaber Bahn) was opened, by 1854 the Semmering railway
was complete. Thus around that time the situation existed favourable for the creation of a locomotive production facility in Austria.
In 1842 in Wiener Neustadt a locomotive works was founded by Günther Wenzel, engineer of the Wien-Raaber-Eisenbahn company, the ironworks-master Josef Sessler, Heinrich Bühler and Fidelius Armbruster. The plant was built on land to the north-east of Wiener Neustadt in part on an abandoned cotton factory, and partly on an rifle and metal finishing plant.
From 1845 the company was wholly owned by Wenzel Gunther; it was sold in 1861 to the Vienna Maschinenfabrik owner Georg Sigl who expanded it into the largest plant in the Empire. By 1870 the 1000th locomotive had been made and the workforce exceeded 4000.
The product line was expanded to included printing presses and other machinery. In 1875 the company became a Aktiengesellschaft
(public company) named Aktien Gesellschaft der Lokomotiv-Fabrik vormals G. Sigl
The Wiener Neustadt Lokomotivfabrik played an early role in the Austrian labor movement; as a result of the March revolution of 1848
(Märzrevolution) a 10 hour day was introduced, but was withdrawn by and for the workers, but they were withdrawn in the course of counter-revolution. In 1865, the first Austrian Workers' Association was established in the locomotive works of Wiener Neustadt.
The tornado of 10 July 1916 destroyed much of the locomotive works. (see Tornado in Wiener Neustadt 1916 german language)
The loss of crown lands by Austria after the First World War caused a great loss of production and as a consequence the workforce was reduced to a few hundred men.
The Great Depression
and the overcapacity of four extant Austrian locomotive works now much reduced domestic market meant that 1930, the company ended in the hands of the Österreichischen Credit-Anstalt
.
After the Austrian Anschluss
in 1938 the factory was taken over by the German company Henschel & Son
. To increase production of locomotives the factory was greatly expanded.
From the 5th of May 1942 the former locomotive factory went by the pseudonym Rax Ges.mbH.
and from 1943 the A4 (V-2) missiles were made at the factory. The facilities were completely destroyed in 1945 by air bombings.
Raxwerke
Raxwerke or Rax-Werke was a facility of the Wiener Neustädter Lokomotivfabrik at Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria. During World War II, the company also produced lamps for Panzer tanks and anti-aircraft guns...
which was associated with the Mauthausen concentration camp.
History
In 1841 the Wiener Neustadt-Vienna railway line was open, and in 1842 the private railway Austrian Eastern RailwayAustrian Eastern Railway
The Austrian Eastern Railway was the name of a former railway company during the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Today, the term is still used to describe certain railway lines which were formerly operated by that company.The Ostbahn was founded as the private Raaber Bahn...
(Wien-Raaber-Eisenbahn or Raaber Bahn) was opened, by 1854 the Semmering railway
Semmering Railway
The Semmering railway, Austria, which starts at Gloggnitz and leads over the Semmering to Mürzzuschlag was the first mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track. It is commonly referred to as the world's first true mountain railway, given the very difficult terrain and the...
was complete. Thus around that time the situation existed favourable for the creation of a locomotive production facility in Austria.
In 1842 in Wiener Neustadt a locomotive works was founded by Günther Wenzel, engineer of the Wien-Raaber-Eisenbahn company, the ironworks-master Josef Sessler, Heinrich Bühler and Fidelius Armbruster. The plant was built on land to the north-east of Wiener Neustadt in part on an abandoned cotton factory, and partly on an rifle and metal finishing plant.
From 1845 the company was wholly owned by Wenzel Gunther; it was sold in 1861 to the Vienna Maschinenfabrik owner Georg Sigl who expanded it into the largest plant in the Empire. By 1870 the 1000th locomotive had been made and the workforce exceeded 4000.
The product line was expanded to included printing presses and other machinery. In 1875 the company became a Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e. owned by shareholders, and may be traded on a stock market. The term is used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...
(public company) named Aktien Gesellschaft der Lokomotiv-Fabrik vormals G. Sigl
The Wiener Neustadt Lokomotivfabrik played an early role in the Austrian labor movement; as a result of the March revolution of 1848
Revolutions of 1848 in the German states
The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, also called the March Revolution – part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many countries of Europe – were a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, including the Austrian Empire...
(Märzrevolution) a 10 hour day was introduced, but was withdrawn by and for the workers, but they were withdrawn in the course of counter-revolution. In 1865, the first Austrian Workers' Association was established in the locomotive works of Wiener Neustadt.
The tornado of 10 July 1916 destroyed much of the locomotive works. (see Tornado in Wiener Neustadt 1916 german language)
The loss of crown lands by Austria after the First World War caused a great loss of production and as a consequence the workforce was reduced to a few hundred men.
The Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the overcapacity of four extant Austrian locomotive works now much reduced domestic market meant that 1930, the company ended in the hands of the Österreichischen Credit-Anstalt
Creditanstalt
The Creditanstalt was an Austrian bank. The Creditanstalt was based in Vienna, founded in 1855 as K. k. priv. Österreichische Credit-Anstalt für Handel und Gewerbe by the Rothschild family...
.
After the Austrian Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
in 1938 the factory was taken over by the German company Henschel & Son
Henschel & Son
Henschel & Son was a German company, situated in Kassel, best known during the 20th century as a maker of transportation equipment, including locomotives, trucks, buses and trolleybuses, and armoured fighting vehicles and weapons....
. To increase production of locomotives the factory was greatly expanded.
From the 5th of May 1942 the former locomotive factory went by the pseudonym Rax Ges.mbH.
Raxwerke
Raxwerke or Rax-Werke was a facility of the Wiener Neustädter Lokomotivfabrik at Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria. During World War II, the company also produced lamps for Panzer tanks and anti-aircraft guns...
and from 1943 the A4 (V-2) missiles were made at the factory. The facilities were completely destroyed in 1945 by air bombings.
See also
- Wiener Neustadt World War II bombings
- Lokomotivfabrik FloridsdorfLokomotivfabrik FloridsdorfLokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf was an Austrian locomotive works founded on 6 September 1869 that achieved a pre-eminent place amongst European locomotive builders thanks to the quality and diversity of its designs....
- Lokomotivfabrik der StEGLokomotivfabrik der StEGIn 1839 the Lokomotivfabrik der StEG became the first Austro-Hungarian locomotive works to be founded and it produced many influential locomotive designs....
Literature
- Franz Pincolits: Die Dampflokomotive. Geschichte der Wiener Neustäder Lokomotivfabrik. Weilburg Verlag, Wiener Neustadt.
- Peter Zumpf, Richard Heinersdorff: Lokomotivfabrik Wiener Neustadt. Album; Verlag für Photographie Helfried Seemann und Christian Lunzer OEG, Wien 2008; ISBN 978-3-85164-151-6.