History of origin
Friedrich Krupp (1787-1826), a member of an old Essen merchant family, founds a factory with two partners on 20 November 1811 to manufacture cast steel to English quality standards and the products made from it. Since 1816, he has been producing high-quality cast steel and processing it into tanners’ tools, coin dies and roller blanks, by now as the sole owner. After his early death, his widow, Therese Krupp (1790-1850), continues to run the small business, initially with just a few workers, supported by her then 14-year-old eldest son Alfred (1812-1887). From 1850, Alfred Krupp, by now the sole owner, succeeds in developing the company into a major player in the steel industry. In 1875, Krupp designated three stacked wheel tyres as his company logo, which became world-famous. Friedrich Alfred Krupp (1854-1902), the only son, continues the expansion of the company into a horizontally and vertically organised group. Bertha Krupp (1886-1957), the older daughter of Friedrich Alfred Krupp, is the company’s sole heiress after his death. In accordance with a recommendation in the will, it is converted into a public limited company in 1903. Except for the four shares required by law, the shares remain therefore in the possession of the heiress. After his marriage to Bertha Krupp, Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach (1870-1950) is deputy chairman starting in late 1906, and from 1909 to 1943 chairman of the supervisory board of Fried Krupp AG. In late 1943 the Fried. Krupp AG is converted back into a sole proprietorship and transferred to the eldest son, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach (1907-1967). At the end of 1953, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach appoints Berthold Beitz (1913-2013) as his personal plenipotentiary. Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach dies in July 1967. In execution of his will, after his son Arndt (1938-1986) renounces his inheritance, the non-profit Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation as heiress transfers the company to Fried. Krupp GmbH, which is entered into the commercial register on 2 January 1968. The coal mines are spun off from the Group in 1969 and incorporated into Ruhrkohle AG. In the years that followed, all areas of the company were systematically expanded. During the period from 1980 to 1983, Fried. Krupp GmbH is restructured into a pure management holding company by spinning off all operating activities. Following the acquisition of a majority stake in Hoesch AG in Dortmund, said stake is merged into Fried. Krupp AG which has been operating under this name since March 1992. In December, the new company Fried. Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp is entered into the commercial registers of Essen and Dortmund. The flat steel divisions of Krupp Stahl AG and Thyssen Stahl AG are merged into Thyssen Krupp Stahl AG in 1997. In August 1997, Krupp and Thyssen enter into talks about further co-operations. The strategic opportunities identified, and the operational synergy potential of an overall merger are extraordinarily high. It is completed on 17 March 1999 with the registration of Thyssen Krupp AG in the commercial register.
