Carl Lahusen (entrepreneur)

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Johann Carl Lahusen (born August 18, 1858 in Bremen ; † June 26, 1921 in Löhnhorst ) was a German entrepreneur in the textile industry.

biography

former factory building in Delmenhorst

Carl Lahusen was the son of Christian Lahusen , a merchant for exports of hides and wool from Berne . His mother Anna Gebecka (1824-1893) was the daughter of the Mayor of Bremen Diederich Meier . In 1871 the family moved to Bremen- St. Magnus . In 1873 the father acquired the Neudek wool factory in Bohemia and in 1885 founded the North German wool combing and worsted spinning mill ("North Wool") in Delmenhorst . With the relocation of the company headquarters, the family moved into the new Villa Lahusen building in Delmenhorst. The family also owned an overseas trading company and a shipping companyin Bremen. Lahusen joined the management team in 1885 together with his older brother Gustav (1854–1939). After Gustav's departure in 1887, who took over the management of the family's extensive property in South America, his father handed over management of the company to his son in 1888, who initially continued the company with his cousin Johann Heinrich Volkmann . In 1894 Carl Lahusen became the sole director of Nordwolle. By 1911, under Lahusen’s leadership, the company expanded through mergers , start-ups and the acquisition of majority shares to become a large company with more than 10,000 employees and eleven locations in Bremen, Delmenhorst, Hamburg and Central Germany. The share capital rose from 1.5 million marks (1884) to 22.5 million marks (1907). The raw yarn production was increased from 4 million kilograms (1895) to 12.7 million kilograms. The high demand for labor was met primarily through recruitment in Eastern and Southeastern Europe . In 1911, two thirds of the 3,000 employees in Delmenhorst were of foreign origin.

To accommodate and supply them, the company also built apartments and social facilities for the employees in Delmenhorst: in 1885 the workers 'houses and the officials' houses (for executive employees) at the factory yard, from 1900 onwards 140 apartments, in 1885 a girls 'lodge, 1898 a girls' home, 1889 a pension insurance, from 1897 a chapel and a parsonage of the work community, 1893/1905 a retail store , a 1,905 eating house .

In Lahusen's eyes, the social and welfare institutions also served control and sanctioning purposes. In addition, below-average wages, long working hours and sometimes unreasonable working conditions led to a strike in Delmenhorst in 1897, which, however, was unsuccessful.

During the First World War , the share capital was dispersed and the group suffered considerable losses despite numerous army orders. Production finally sank to 3.1 million kilograms of raw yarn by the end of the war. After the end of the war, the company initially recovered only slowly, but returned to its old size by 1921 with 9.1 million kilograms of raw yarn and 12,500 employees. Until his death, Carl Lahusen sen. the company with a firm hand.

family

The religiously and ecclesiastically minded Lahusen was married to Armine Mathias (1867-1919), who came from a British pastor family and also shaped the "English style" of some new buildings. Together they had two daughters and seven sons. Above the portal of the manufacturer's villa was the inscription: If the master does not build the house, those who build it work for free.

After the death of Carl Lahusen sen. His son Georg Carl Lahusen (1888–1973) took over management of the company, which was then based in Bremen. The brothers Heinz and Friedel Lahusen joined the board a few years later. In 1931, after an unrestrained expansion policy and balance sheet manipulation, Nordwolle fell into spectacular insolvency , which carried away its house bank, the Darmstädter und Nationalbank , and ended with fines and prison sentences for the owners.

Honors

  • In recognition of his achievements, Carl Lahusen was appointed secret councilor of commerce by the Oldenburg Grand Duke Friedrich August II .
  • The Lahusen family's life's work is presented in the Delmenhorst factory museum.
  • The Lahusenstraße in Delmenhorst was named after the family.

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Lahusen, Carl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lahusen, Johann Carl (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German entrepreneur
DATE OF BIRTH August 18, 1858
PLACE OF BIRTH Bremen
DATE OF DEATH June 26, 1921
Place of death Schwanewede-Löhnhorst