Accumulatoren-Fabrik AFA
Encyclopedia
The Accumulatoren-Fabrik Hagen (AFA) was a large industrial company located first in Austria and then Nazi Germany. Established in 1888 and led by Adolph Müller, with time it became the leading supplier of batteries in Austria and Germany. In 1890 it became a part of the Deutsche Bank
holding, along with Siemens AG
and AEG
companies.
Initially based in Hagen
, during World War II
the company acquired a number of other factories, mostly confiscated by the Nazis from their previous owners. Among such factories were the modern Hannover plant (built in 1938), Mülhausen, Vienna
and the factory in Poznań
(1943), Herbst
(1944). AFA's factory in Viennese
borough of Schwechat
was one of the sub-camps of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
. The factory was destroyed by an RAF Bomber Command
air raid on December 2, 1944http://www.historisches-centrum.de/index.php?id=293. It provided batteries for, among others, the German U-Boat
s and Panzer
tanks.
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
holding, along with Siemens AG
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
and AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
companies.
Initially based in Hagen
Hagen
Hagen is the 39th-largest city in Germany, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area, 15 km south of Dortmund, where the rivers Lenne, Volme and Ennepe meet the river Ruhr...
, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the company acquired a number of other factories, mostly confiscated by the Nazis from their previous owners. Among such factories were the modern Hannover plant (built in 1938), Mülhausen, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and the factory in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
(1943), Herbst
Herbst
Herbst is the German word for autumn or fall.It may also refer to:Surnames* Christoph Maria Herbst, German actor and comedian* Eduard Herbst , Austrian jurist and statesman* Johann Andreas Herbst , German composer...
(1944). AFA's factory in Viennese
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
borough of Schwechat
Schwechat
Schwechat is a city south-east of Vienna known for the Vienna International Airport and Schwechater beer. It is also home to the refineries belonging to the Austrian national oil company OMV.- Geography :...
was one of the sub-camps of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen Concentration Camp grew to become a large group of Nazi concentration camps that was built around the villages of Mauthausen and Gusen in Upper Austria, roughly east of the city of Linz.Initially a single camp at Mauthausen, it expanded over time and by the summer of 1940, the...
. The factory was destroyed by an RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
air raid on December 2, 1944http://www.historisches-centrum.de/index.php?id=293. It provided batteries for, among others, the German U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s and Panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
tanks.