Heinrich Deichmann, born in 1888, opened a shoemaker's shop, called Schuhreparatur Elektra, in 1913 at the age of 25 on what is now Johannes-Brokamp-Straße in Borbeck,[6] which was incorporated into the city of Essen two years later.

At first, his customers were mainly miners from the then up-and-coming Ruhr area who needed inexpensive shoe repairs, being part of the lower income bracket.

Early on, their son Heinz-Horst Deichmann helped out in the company, opening the first shop outside Essen on Ackerstraße in Düsseldorf in the late 1940s.

Under Heinz-Horst Deichmann's management, the company formed a significant part of the German and European shoe retail trade.

Deichmann introduced display stands and later the rack-room concept in Germany, where shoes are presented in boxes for customers to try on directly.

The Latin name Gallus goes back to the Hahn family of manufacturers in Göttingen, from whom Heinrich Vogels acquired the rights to the brand in the 1930s.

Elefanten (based in Kleve) was closed down by English shoe manufacturer Clarks in late 2004 after failing to find a suitable investor.

[25] They pursue common goals, including improving working conditions in factories, helping suppliers adapt to national laws and international guidelines, and facilitating socially responsible behaviour in the globalised economy.

Deichmann SE is a member of the cads association (cooperation for assuring defined standards for shoe and leather goods production).

These include companies from the footwear and leather goods industry, brands, retailers, test laboratories and chemical manufacturers.

The multi-stakeholder initiative brings together brands, manufacturers, retailers and leading technical experts from the leather industry and non-governmental organisations.

[28] In addition, it aims to bring about sustainable changes to processing in tanneries and via distributors, including by reducing water and energy consumption.

The Sponsorship Award,[30] which was launched by Heinrich Deichmann in 2005, rewards initiatives that develop creative, sustainable efforts to integrate people with an immigrant background into professional life and society.

[32] The projects receiving support in Germany include Stern im Norden e.V., which provides assistance in the socially deprived area of Dortmund's Nordstadt district.

[33] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Deichman Foundation engaged in multiple initiatives, including donating one million face masks to the Caritas organisation in the Archdiocese of Berlin in May 2020.

In collaboration with local partners, people in need receive support in matters relating to education, health, sustainability and emergency aid.