Hermann Manske

Hermann Manske

Hermann Manske (born December 26, 1839 in Neu-Preußendorf , Deutsch-Krone district , † November 18, 1918 in Dassel ) was a German industrialist and pioneer in the cement industry .

Life

Hermann Manske was the son of a West Prussian farmer and, after attending primary school, initially also worked in agriculture. He later went to the merchant navy and undertook several trips abroad, most recently as paymaster, which led him to South America, among others. In 1876 he joined the "Stern" cement factory of the Töpfer, Graewitz & Co company in Stettin , which was established in 1855 as the first German Portland cement factory. In 1878 he moved to the Hanoverian Portland cement factory in Misburg near Hanover as operations manager .

In 1881 Manske founded Germania H. Manske & Co KG. With the support of Georg and Ludwig Berkenbusch from Hanover as financiers, the company built the Portland cement factory Germania in Lehrte , which began operations in 1882 and developed into one of the largest industrial companies in the city. As a successful entrepreneur, Manske not only provided social facilities for his own workers (company health insurance fund, canteen, workers' apartments), he also donated the hospital of the city of Lehrte.

In 1886 Germania H. Manske & Co KG set up a second plant near Misburg , which started operations in 1888. The Lehrter facilities were completely destroyed in a major fire in 1892 and then rebuilt on a larger scale. The entire company became the leading German cement manufacturer. In 1893 Manske visited the world exhibition in Chicago to establish business contacts and to find out about the possibilities of exporting to the United States. Although there were already signs of overproduction in Germany, Manske was also involved in the Portland cement factory Germania AG, which was founded in 1899 and is based in Lehrte and in Misburg, where his KG took over half of the share capital. Manske was elected chairman of the supervisory board by the first general assembly. The new plant started production in 1901.

Initially, no projects were carried out on properties that he acquired in Hardegsen and Dassel . Increasing competition and the wrongly assessed sales opportunities overseas ultimately led to financial difficulties. In 1901 Germania H. Manske & Co KG was taken over by the Germania stock corporation. Manske left the company in 1902. A few years later a cement factory was built in Hardegsen and a lime works in Dassel. In 1906 Manske was still involved in founding the "Alemannia" cement factory in Höver . He also worked as an appraiser for domestic and foreign cement producers. But he could not stop the final decline. Bankruptcy proceedings were initiated against his property. Manske had to dissolve his successful horse racing stable and sell the Villa Nordstern he had built . He last lived in Dassel, where he died in November 1918 or 1919.

Awards

Hermann Manske was a Prussian commercial advisor. Manskestrasse was named after him in Lehrte.

See also

• Cement industry near Hanover

literature

• Paul Bode: Kommerzienrat Hermann Manske, a trained economic pioneer . In: Yearbook for the Burgdorf district 1965, pp. 37–44