Krupp steelworks

[2] The Krupp factory was functionally demolished by Allied bombing of Essen in World War II, machines and the scrap metal were sold overseas as part of German reparations.

In 2010, ThyssenKrupp established its new headquarters on the site and launched the Krupp District [de] urban redevelopment project.

Today, some of the Kruppstadt (Krupp city) buildings that survived have been repurposed to house university institutes and schools, another is the parking for an IKEA.

Friedrich Krupp finally mastered crucible steel in 1820 and produced saws and blades but died in 1826 with the company heavily in debt.

Alfred Krupp, son of Friedrich and Therese, developed the seamless train wheel that eventually became the three-ring logo of the company.

His son, Friedrich Alfred Krupp, successfully expanded the lines of the business and at the time of his death in 1902, the company employed 45,000.

World War I saw the business explode from 81,000 to 200,000 employees but the terms of the Treaty of Versailles prohibited weapons production so the company shifted to producing rail cars.

Civilian trucks and locomotive production continued on a smaller scale as capacity was reorganized to feed the war machine.

After being released from Allied detention, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach took over the company management again in March 1953.