: Rheinisch-Westfälisches Kohlen-Syndikat; abbreviated as RWKS) was a cartel established in 1893 in Essen bringing together the major coal producers in the Ruhr.
Daniël George van Beuningen of the Steenkolen Handels Vereniging was a leading figure in this relationship, greatly increasing the amount of coal imported to Rotterdam and resulting in the cost of using Rhine based barges dropping as their greater use also stimulated technical innovation.
[3] Emil Kirdorf, an early Nazi party member, was one of the main founders of the Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate.
After the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, many members of the coal industry were arrested for their role in the Third Reich.
[4] [5][6] The RWKS was founded in February 1893 by Emil Kirdorf as the successor to various smaller mining cartels.