Franz Pieler (mining engineer, 1869)

Franz Emil Norbert Pieler (born December 11, 1869 in Burbach , † January 24, 1950 in Oberhausen ) was a German mining specialist and general director of Ballestrem's industrial plants and properties.

Life

Pieter was the eldest son of the mining specialist and general director of Ballstrem's industrial works and estates Franz Pieler and grandson of the regional historian Franz Ignatz Pieler .

After graduating from high school in Aachen and studying at the Berlin Mining Academy , technical and economic training followed at various salt pans and mines. In 1901 he went on a one-year trip around the world, studying for three months the large coal and iron operations in Pennsylvania , the copper mines in Anaconda and iron ore areas near Cleveland . From Vancouver he traveled to Japan and to Shantung in China to visit the German coal mines that were being built there. His explorations were particularly supported by the recommendations of his future employer, Count Ballestrem, to the respective embassies. Other destinations were India, Indonesia and Egypt.

After leaving the civil service, in February 1904 he got his first contract of employment as a mining inspector at the Count Ballestrem's property management. In 1908 the count ordered the appointment as mine director. After the death of his father on October 25, 1910, he was appointed as his successor as general representative and head of Ballestrem's industrial administration.

He successfully carried on the work of his father, promoted the mining in the "Castellengogrube", demolished the "Eminence Pit" on a voluntary basis for the Archbishopric in Wroclaw and ensured steady growth of the area thanks to his excellent mining and commercial skills. This was followed by the new shafts of the "Graf-Franz-Grube", construction of the "Wolfgang coke plant" and the "Nikolaus power station", all at Ruda .

He prevented the disintegration of the count's property during the unrest and division of Upper Silesia after 1922 , as a result of which Ruda fell to Poland. In good time he had the property management relocated to Gleiwitz . He acquired considerable shares in the "Schaffgottschen, Obereisen- and Donnersmarck-Hüttenwesen". All three metallurgical companies were then merged to form "Oberhütten AG" and ensured secure and strong sales for the "Castellengo defense pit".

After retiring from service, he lived on his estate in Liebenau / Wroclaw district. During the Second World War he lost three of his sons and was eventually expelled from Silesia. He died on January 24, 1950 in Oberhausen.

Honors

• Honorary Senator of the Technical University in Wroclaw
• Commander of the Order of St. Gregory , awarded by Pope Pius XI.
• Order of the Silesian Eagle
• Commander of the Sovereign Order of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem

literature

• Walter Gerlo: The Prussian Bergassessoren 5th edition Essen 1938.
• Alfons Perlick : Upper Silesian miners and smelters: life pictures from the Upper Silesian industrial area. Holzner, Kitzingen / Main 1953.