Karl Ludwig Pfeiffer (banker)

Karl Ludwig Pfeiffer (born September 5, 1874 in Cassel ; † June 14, 1952 there ) was a German malacologist , banker and chairman of the Kassel Chamber of Commerce .

banker

Karl Ludwig Pfeiffer was the son of the banker August Ludwig Pfeiffer. After graduating from high school, he studied economics in Berlin and completed an apprenticeship with the discount company . He then worked in various banks in America, London and Paris.

After the death of his uncle Louis Pfeiffer , he joined the L. Pfeiffer bank as owner and sole director . As a member of the board, he managed the house in difficult times. It managed to survive the world war and hyperinflation . During the global economic crisis , however, there was a lack of capital to exist as an independent bank. As one of the last Kassel banks, L. Pfeiffer had to give up and was taken over by Deutsche Bank . Until 1934 Karl Ludwig Pfeiffer was director of the Kassel branch of Deutsche Bank.

Malacologist

Like his great-grandfather Carl Jonas Pfeiffer (1779–1836), he was interested in malacology. His research in this field was recognized, among other things, in the fact that he received an honorary doctorate (Dr. hc) from the University of Marburg . On February 10, 1923, Pfeiffer was made an honorary citizen ( Honorary Senator of the University of Marburg) for "valuable and successful help in the establishment and administration of the University Association" .

Chamber official

In 1913 Karl Ludwig Pfeiffer was elected to the Kassel Chamber of Commerce. In 1921, after Otto Vogt's death, he was elected chairman of the chamber - an office that his grandfather and uncle had held before him. He served as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for twelve years. During his tenure, the chamber district grew strongly through mergers. In 1924 the Free State of Waldeck and in 1932 the chamber in Mühlhausen, Thuringia, became part of the Kassel Chamber of Commerce, which has been called the Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 1924.

After the seizure of power by the Nazis, he was removed from the chairman office. The Nazis used Pfeiffer's vacation trip to Madeira to promote the Nazi functionary Rudolf Braun to the office of chairman in his absence . After Pfeiffer's protests were unsuccessful, Pfeiffer bowed to the facts and announced his resignation.

During the time of National Socialism Pfeiffer stayed away from all public offices. After the Second World War , he was reinstated as President of the Chamber by the occupying forces in April 1945. Due to his age, however, he resigned in July 1945 and Gustav Römer became his successor.

Chairman of the Art Association for Kurhessen

From 1907 to 1935 Karl Ludwig Pfeiffer was chairman of the Art Association for Kurhessen in Kassel. He opened the art association to the avant-garde . In 1935 he left the club as an undesirable person .

literature

• Harm-Hinrich Brandt : The Kassel Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its predecessors 1763–1963. Kassel, 1963, pp. 99-101.

Web links

• Short biography in the directory of honorary senators of the University of Marburg, last accessed on September 4, 2019