Federation of Industrialists

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The Federation of Industrialists (BdI), founded on November 7th, 1895 , was brought into being to represent the interests of the manufacturing industry vis-à-vis politics and competing associations.

Its emergence belongs in the context of a wave of association and club foundations that changed social life in Germany in the 19th century, but especially since the founding of the empire in 1871. According to its statutes, it aims “to safeguard the common interests of German industry, as well as cooperation in all questions relating to German industry.” One motive for the establishment was to oppose the influential “ Federation of Farmers ” with a powerful representation of the interests of the industry. He also distinguished himself from the " Central Association of German Industrialists " (CDI), which united the coal and steel industry and supported the government's customs protection policy.

The BdI, whose presidium included Gustav Stresemann and Arthur von Studnitz at times , expressly made the small and medium-sized enterprises of the light and finished industry - as well as the up-and-coming electrotechnical and chemical industries - heard. He advocated an explicitly free trade course .

After the First World War , the CDI and BdI merged in 1919 in the Reich Association of German Industry .

literature

  • Toni Pierenkemper: Trade and Industry in the 19th and 20th Centuries . In: Encyclopedia of German History . No. 29 . Oldenbourg, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-486-55015-2 .
  • Hans-Peter Ullmann: The Federation of Industrialists. Organization, influence and politics of small and medium-sized industrialists in the German Empire 1895–1914 (=  Critical Studies in History . Volume 21 ). Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht, Göttingen 1976, ISBN 3-525-35972-1 .
  • Wilhelm Wendlandt (Ed.): The German Industry 1888–1913: Commemoration for the 25th anniversary of the reign of His Majesty the Emperor and King Wilhelm II. Leopold Weiß, Berlin 1913.