In 1871, Hoesch was founded by Leopold Hoesch. In 1938, Hoesch employed 30,000 people.[1]
In 1972, the prominent steel producer merged with the Dutch Hoogovens steel company to form Estel.[2]
It was formerly the largest employer in Dortmund.[2] In 1982, the merger with Dutch company Estel was stopped by Detlev Karsten Rohwedder, and Hoesch became again an independent company.[3] In 1991, German competitor Krupp bought Hoesch.[4]
Friedrich Springorum represented Hoesch AG at the Secret Meeting of 20 February 1933, at which prominent industrialists met with Adolf Hitler to finance the Nazi Party.[5] After the Nazis came to power in 1933, Hoesch served as an armaments company producing Panther and Tiger II tank casings, tank ammunition, gun barrels and armor plate. During World War II, the company made extensive use of forced laborers. In December 1944, over one-third of the workers at Hüttenwerk Hoesch were forced laborers.[6]
The steelworks were later targeted by the Raf on 23rd May 1943 Bomber command launched a major attack on the industrial complex which was supporting the nazi regime.
Of the 826 Aircraft which left England 38 aircraft were lost but the pathfinders marked their targets well resulting in a successful strike.
