Felix Mandl
Encyclopedia
Felix Mandl was a prominent Croatia
n businessman and entrepreneur.
as the fourth child of a wealthy Jewish family. He studied agriculture and philosophy in Göttingen
at the University of Göttingen.
, Croatia
. Later that plant was turned from craft into a corporation with headquarters in Zurich
. Mandl was supposed to move to Zurich, but with Adolf Hitler
rise to power, he changed his mind. Plant in Podsused was named "Croatia".
During the World War II
he moved to Zagreb from where he guided the plant in Podsused. Soon he became a victim of political regimes. When the Ustashe
came to power in Croatia, they began to threaten him with a murder because he was a Jew. His plant was taken away from him by NDH
regime. Mandl ended up in jail due to listening the BBC radio
program, which was banned at the time. He was also arrested by the Gestapo
. He was released after five days due to "economic reasons", while other prisoners, that were with Mandl in detention, were sent to Concentration camps. After the war Mandl was tried by the communist regime of SFR Yugoslavia
for alleged collaboration with the fascist government, which was never proven. He was sentenced to ten years of forced labor. Mandl was taken to Lepoglava prison
, from which he was released after two years when it was discovered that during the war he helped a Partisan fighters.
In the nationalization
by the communist regime, Mandl was left without any factory, except the one in Podsused, which was later renamed to "Sloboda", but was soon afterwards destroyed.
In Kenya 1951 Mandl founded Bamburi Cement
, one of largest cement companies in Sub-Saharan Africa
.
, out of a fear that Zagreb is no longer safe for her. Mandl wife returned to Zagreb after a month, although the threat still existed. While in prison in Lepoglava, Mandl had regularly visits from his wife. On December 5, 1950 Mandl and his wife have emigrated to Kenya
.
Mandl wrote the book "Usprkos svemu ostaju sjećanja (In spite of all the memories remain)", in which he described his life.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n businessman and entrepreneur.
Early life, background and education
Mandl was born in WienWien
Wien is the German language name for Vienna, the city and federal state in Austria.* Wien , in Vienna, Austria* Theater an der Wien, a theater in Vienna located at the former river WienWien may also refer to:...
as the fourth child of a wealthy Jewish family. He studied agriculture and philosophy in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
at the University of Göttingen.
Career
Mandl grandfather founded a cement plant in 1867, which had a branch plant in Podsused, district of ZagrebZagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Later that plant was turned from craft into a corporation with headquarters in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. Mandl was supposed to move to Zurich, but with Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
rise to power, he changed his mind. Plant in Podsused was named "Croatia".
During the 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...
he moved to Zagreb from where he guided the plant in Podsused. Soon he became a victim of political regimes. When the Ustashe
Ustaše
The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
came to power in Croatia, they began to threaten him with a murder because he was a Jew. His plant was taken away from him by NDH
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
regime. Mandl ended up in jail due to listening the BBC radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
program, which was banned at the time. He was also arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. He was released after five days due to "economic reasons", while other prisoners, that were with Mandl in detention, were sent to Concentration camps. After the war Mandl was tried by the communist regime of SFR Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
for alleged collaboration with the fascist government, which was never proven. He was sentenced to ten years of forced labor. Mandl was taken to Lepoglava prison
Lepoglava prison
Lepoglava prison is the oldest prison in Croatia. It is located in Lepoglava, Varaždin County, northern Croatia, southwest of Varaždin prison.-History:...
, from which he was released after two years when it was discovered that during the war he helped a Partisan fighters.
In the nationalization
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
by the communist regime, Mandl was left without any factory, except the one in Podsused, which was later renamed to "Sloboda", but was soon afterwards destroyed.
In Kenya 1951 Mandl founded Bamburi Cement
Bamburi Cement
Bamburi Cement is one of sub-saharan Africa's largest cement producers founded by Felix Mandl. The company is listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange and its name is abbreviated to BCC....
, one of largest cement companies in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
.
Personal life
Mandl was married to Ana Bing since 1931. During World War II he had sent his wife to BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, out of a fear that Zagreb is no longer safe for her. Mandl wife returned to Zagreb after a month, although the threat still existed. While in prison in Lepoglava, Mandl had regularly visits from his wife. On December 5, 1950 Mandl and his wife have emigrated to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
Mandl wrote the book "Usprkos svemu ostaju sjećanja (In spite of all the memories remain)", in which he described his life.