Das unwahrscheinliche Überleben des Bankhauses Gebr. Bethmann, 1919 bis 1948

Abstract

The long-term orientation of family businesses is particularly evident in crises. The example of the Gebrüder Bethmann bank in Frankfurt am Main, whose state of crisis began during the First World War and continued almost uninterrupted until the 50s, shows how far business families are prepared to go. The essay traces the developments and shows the measures taken by the bank and the banking family to counter the crises and their consequences. It shows that Baron Moritz von Bethmann made himself an instrument of the National Socialists and implemented their policies in associations, societies and companies – particularly with regard to the ousting of Jews from German economic and social life. However, his political role did not help him to run his business more successfully or to preserve his family property. In order to at least preserve Bankhaus Gebr. Bethmann – already almost 200 years old at the time – for the family, he sacrificed almost all of the real estate and land owned by the von Bethmann family. Despite this high price, the bank remained in the family for only one more generation.