Günther Quandt
German industrialist (1881–1954)
Günther Quandt (28 July 1881 – 30 December 1954) was a German industrialist who founded an industrial empire that today includes BMW and Altana, a car and chemical company, respectively. Between 1921 and 1929, he was married to Magda Ritschel, later the wife of Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels.2
From Wikipedia’s article on Günther Quandt (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born Jul 28, 1881, died Dec 30, 1954.1
About
In the 1930s he joined the Nazi Party, becoming one of its strong financial supporters.
His descendants were ranked as the wealthiest Germans by Manager Magazin in 2014.
From Wikipedia’s article on Günther Quandt, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2
Companies
- Accumulatoren-Fabrik AFABoard member14
- Aktiengesellschaft für IndustriebeteiligungenFounder15
- Gerling GroupChair16
- KUKABoard member17
Early life and education
Quandt was born in Pritzwalk, Germany, the son of Emil Quandt. Emil had in 1883 married the daughter of a rich textile manufacturer (Reichswolle AG) and Günther took charge of the company in 1900. Günther had three siblings: Gerhard, Werner, and Edith. Werner married Eleanor Quandt, who after World War II helped to protect her brother-in-law from prosecution by the Allies. Edith married the owner of another textile company.
During World War I, under the leadership of Günther Quandt, his family supplied uniforms to the German army, which helped them accumulate a large fortune. After the war, Günther used this fortune to acquire Accumulatorenfabrik AG (AFA), a battery manufacturer based in Hagen. AFA later became known as VARTA. Additionally, Günther invested in a potash-mining company, metal-working companies (including IWKA), and acquired stakes in BMW and Daimler-Benz.
From Wikipedia’s article on Günther Quandt (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career
Occupation: politician, entrepreneur.8
- Date not recordedFounded Aktiengesellschaft für Industriebeteiligungen3
- Date not recordedBoard member, KUKA4
- Date not recordedBoard member, Accumulatoren-Fabrik AFA5
- Date not recordedBoard member, Deutsche Wollenwaren Manufaktur6
- Date not recordedChair, Gerling Group7
Personal life
- BornJul 28, 1881, Pritzwalk9
- DiedDec 30, 1954, Cairo10
- CitizenshipGermany11
- SpousesAntonie Ewald Until 191812; Magda Goebbels 1921 to 192912
Günther Quandt first married Antonie 'Toni' Ewald. They had two sons Helmut Quandt (1908–1927) and Herbert Quandt. Antonie died of the Spanish flu in 1918 and Helmut died of complications from appendicitis in 1927.
His second marriage on 4 January 1921 in Bad Godesberg to Magda Ritschel produced another son, Harald Quandt. Magda was half Günther's age. The marriage ended in divorce in 1929. Two years later Magda married Joseph Goebbels with Adolf Hitler as best man. Günther's second wife committed suicide in 1945 with Joseph Goebbels after they murdered the six children they had together.
From Wikipedia’s article on Günther Quandt (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awards
- Date not recordedWehrwirtschaftsführer13
Links
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataGünther Quandt on Wikidata
- 2WikipediaGünther Quandt on Wikipedia
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- 16WikidataGerling Group, Chair
- 17WikidataKUKA, Board member