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SOLINGEN - THE PEOPLE - THE PLACES & THE COMPANIES

" Which would your men rather be, tired or dead " Erwin Rommel - Date Unknown

THE COMPANIES

While it is going to be impossible to list information for all the German edged weapon producing companies based in Solingen during the war ( over 220 on SA daggers alone ) , there is enough information still available on select companies that makes interesting reading. Many of the smaller companies and indeed several of the larger ones were totally obliterated in the latter stages of WW2, including all records and traceability and little information remains, a lot of these companies never resumed production. Also many of the smaller companies merged or were bought out during the rebuild post-war.

WKC ( Weyersburg & Kirschbaum ) Est 1883, for example who had a major role producing swords and knives, was virtually destroyed in 1944 and production ceased, the company slowly resumed production, including the manufacture of pistols until 1955 when it was acquired by Hans Kolping, a small time manufacturer of army and 1st railway daggers who had previously purchased parts from the larger company. As testament to the quality of the workmanship, several companies exhibited at the World Trade Fayres, many taking top awards some of which are listed below.

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ALCOSO ( ACS ) Alexander Coppel Est - 1821 GUSTAV COPPEL ( 1830-1914 ) CARL GUSTAV COPPEL ( 1857-1941 ) ALEXANDER COPPEL ( 1865-1942 ) SOPHIE COPPEL ( 1875-1947 ) HEINZ COPPEL ( 1898-1947 ) ANNA COPPEL ( ****-1942 )

Alcoso was registered in 1821 and took its name from the son of honorary citizen Gustav Coppel. Alexander Coppel became a prominent dignitary within the Solingen community, he was Bergmeister of the D.D.P from 1914-1929, was on the board of savings and welfare until 1933 and from 1915-1942 he was a senior member of the executive board of Solinger synagogue. The firm producing pen knives, scissors and the typical cutlery wares pre-war also manufactured swords and edged weapons in increasing numbers during the Franco-Prussian war, WW1 & WW2.
The founder of the company ALCOSO Alexander Coppel was of Jewish descent, and as a result the family, although well respected with a high standing within the Solingen community and producing weapons for the German war effort was targeted by the Nazi regime. The family became more aware that they were at risk, with Alexander's sister Sophie emigrating to Switzerland with her son in 1934, the remaining family were forced to sell the company sometime between 1935-1941 for a ridiculous price.
Carl Gustav Coppel born in 1857, who lived in Dusseldorf from 1920 took his own life on September 25th 1941, his daughter Anna died in Ravensbruck concentration camp 1942 and ultimately Alexander Coppel ( ACS ), along with many other Jews were deported on July 21st 1942 to the Theresienstadt ( Terezin ) ghetto.
The Gestapo took control of Terezín and set up a prison in the Small Fortress (Kleine Festung). By 24 November 1941, the Main Fortress (große Festung, ie the town Theresienstadt) was turned into a walled ghetto. The function of Theresienstadt was to provide a front for the extermination operation of Jews. To the outside it was presented by the Nazis as a model Jewish settlement, but in reality it was a concentration camp. Theresienstadt was also used as a transit camp for European Jews en route to Auschwitz and other extermination camps.... he died only 2 weeks later on the 5th August from hunger and exhaustion.
The surviving family received recompense after 1945 and again took control of the family concern, ceasing production of edged weapons and again concentrating on the production of family accoutrements, still in business today the website can be viewed here > ALCOSO .

BOKER Heinrich Est - 1869 HERMAN BOEKER & ROBERT BOEKER INTRODUCE PRODUCTION OF SABERS 1829 HERMAN EMIGRATES TO NEW YORK AND FOUNDED H.BOEKER & Co. ROBERT BOEKER EMIGRATES AND FOUNDED CASA BOEKER IN MEXICO AND A CONCERN IN CANADA 1865 HEINRICH BOEKER REGISTERS TREE BRAND REMSCHEID SOLINGEN 1869

The Boker brand name was originally taken from the founding members Herman and Robert Boeker but was shortened for ease of recognition in the international market, it was also assigned the "tree brand" in 1869 by Heinrich Boeker and was based on a large chestnut tree located close to the Remscheid factory in Solingen. After more than 100 years of existence the old chestnut tree was the victim of lightning. In 1925 a talented artist carved a copy of the majestic tree on a piece of the trunk. This original piece of art decorates the boss' office in the Boeker plant. As early as September 1830, the accounting records indicate a weekly production of 2,000 items, mainly sabers made by 64 smiths, 47 grinders and a large number of unskilled labourers. With production of knives well underway on an international stage, the tree brand was used by all family members although the utensils and knives were produced by different companies in separate countries.
The Solingen based Boker plant was renowned for production of quality blades and daggers produced for the German war effort and SS daggers manufactured between 1933 and 1935 are highly sought by collectors, being arguably the best quality dagger produced at the time by any Solingen manufacturer.
The production was interrupted during WWII. The Solingen factory burned down completely. None of the equipment, tools, catalogues, materials or samples was spared. More importantly the company lost its most valuable asset, the "tree brand" registration. Soon after the war, the destroyed factory was rebuilt. Those loyal skilled workers who had survived the war, returned and helped with the reconstruction of the building as well as the production, gradually regaining the previous high standard of quality. John Boker Jr re-acquired the brand name from America who had confiscated the name pursuant to American law. Production still exists today worldwide, the Solingen based company can be found here > BOKER

WKC - Weyersburg & Kirschbaum Cie Est - 1883 WILHELM WEYERSBURG, MAYOR OF SOLINGEN 1573 KIRSCHBAUM REGISTERS KINGS HEAD LOGO 1774 WEYERSBURG REGISTERS KNIGHTS HEAD LOGO 1854 WEYERSBURG & KIRSCHBAUM MERGE TO FORM WKC 1883 HANS KOLPING BUYS WKC 1955

The Weyersburg and Kirschbaum families have a heritage within the Solingen area that dates back to the formation of the metal working industry. Wilhelm Weyersburg, an ancestor of the founder was elected Mayor of Solingen in 1573 and sword production was well underway as early as the 1600's. Kirschbaum was also a prominent name within Solingen, achieving a worldwide reputation for quality sword production. Both families had a long history of traditional metal working, powered by water mills and employing a modest workforce but with the advent of steam power in the 1850's this led to major changes for both companies and families. Kirschbaum was registered as a trademark in 1774 and used a kings head logo, Weyersburg in 1854 with the knights head and after the introduction of the blade forge roller and drop hammers to the factories from England by Fritz Weyersburg, production increased ten fold. With the merging of both companies in 1883 the WKC firm was established and by the 1900's employed more than 1200 people.
In 1922, WKC was taken over by the "Siegen Solinger Gussstahlverein" and business suffered greatly under the severe economic crisis of the time. Between 1933 and 1945, WKC regained a reputation for outstanding quality swords and knives and became the most important supplier of these items to the German army. During World War II, WKC was the target of Allied bombardments of Solingen and almost all buildings and equipment were destroyed. Production was not possible and operations ceased. In 1955, the recent history of WKC begins. Hans Kolping from Solingen , a successful producer of high quality knives, bought WKC. Production was located in the former WKC pipe production plant on Wittkuller Street. Here, shortly after the war, pistols were produced. Hans Kolping discontinued the production of pistols and focused on producing swords, WKC's main asset. WKC established its own etching plant, and the forge roller was running again. The first major orders came from the United States, especially from the Navy and the Marine Corps. Still producing, the website can be found here > WKC

EICKHORN Carl

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