Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation

History

In a speech at a celebration of the company anniversary in the Villa Hügel on 1 April 1967, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach announced the plan to transform the company Fried. Krupp into a capital corporation with the help of a Foundation, claiming that this served as an expression of the company's tradition of commitment to the public interest. He reasons this in the “...Krupp's tradition to never view commercial decisions – regardless of how important they may be – isolated from the social responsibilities of personal wealth.” The transformation appeared to Alfried Krupp to be the best solution, not only to live up to modern economic requirements, but also to secure the company's succession. The idea of transforming the company into a Foundation dates back to discussions between Krupp and his personal chief representative Berthold Beitz in the 1950s. In September 1966, Alfried Krupp drew up his last will and established an incorporated charitable Foundation under civil law, which he appoints as the sole heir to his complete private fortune and company assets. Beitz and Alfried's son Arndt von Bohlen und Halbach, as well as lawyer Dedo von Schenck were the appointed executors of his will. The Foundation was only made possible due to the renunciation of inheritance by his son Arndt.

With Alfried Krupp's death on 30 July 1967, the testament came into force, and the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation launched into business on 1 January 1968. The company Fried. Krupp was transformed into the capital corporation Fried. Krupp GmbH, whose shares were held entirely by the Foundation.

The Foundation serves exclusively and directly charitable purposes and takes action in the fields of science, education, healthcare and sports as well as literature, music and fine arts. Specifically, projects in Essen, in the Ruhr region as well as domestically and abroad are being supported. At the same time, the Foundation is politically and denominationally independent.

The purpose of the Foundation is especially fulfilled by the support of:

scientific institutions, research projects and publications

the education of young people

sports clubs, teams, and sports-related institutions as well as the Germania VI

museums, artistic projects as well as cultural and historical institutions

In 2022 the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation commissioned historian Eckart Conze, Professor of Modern and Recent History at Philipps-Universität Marburg, to conduct a scientific research project of Alfried Krupp's role during the Nazi era. As a result, a study was published in July 2023: The research project has uncovered sources that are being evaluated as part of further research in a second project phase.

The second project phase began in 2024 and is dedicated to in-depth research based on the results and identified sources from the first project phase. The aim is a multi-perspective anthology, which is being compiled by eight authors and will also be published in English. The publication will be edited by the Society for Business History. A digital application is being developed to accompany the publication with the aim of making the topic as accessible and location-independent as possible and to reach young target groups in particular.