Published since March 20, 2017

Zeitschrift für Unternehmensgeschichte

Journal of Business History

ISSN: 2367-2293

Edited by: Carsten Burhop, Christian Kleinschmidt, Jan-Otmar Hesse

In cooperation with: Hartmut Berghoff, Andreas Fahrmeir, Christina Lubinski, Werner Plumpe, Mary O'Sullivan, Raymond Stokes

Managing Editor: Andrea H. Schneider-Braunberger

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About this journal

The Journal of Business History addresses all facets of business history, taking a broad approach that encompasses neighboring disciplines, international developments, and an expanded definition of the firm. In order to publish first-class research that actively engages with companies, the economy, and the political sector, the journal solicits contributions from promising authors around the globe. Articles are accepted in German or English. All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review.

Submit your manuscript here: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/zug

ZUG allows for articles in hybrid Open Access. Futher information can be found on our page on Open Access articles.

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Volume 69 (2024)

Issue 1

Volume 68 (2023)

Volume 67 (2022)

Volume 66 (2021)

Volume 65 (2020)

Volume 64 (2019)

Volume 63 (2018)

Volume 62 (2017)

Volume 61 (2016)

Volume 60 (2015)

Volume 59 (2014)

Volume 58 (2013)

Volume 57 (2012)

Volume 56 (2011)

Volume 55 (2010)

Volume 54 (2009)

Volume 53 (2008)

Volume 52 (2007)

Volume 51 (2006)

Volume 50 (2005)

Volume 49 (2004)

Volume 48 (2003)

Volume 47 (2002)

Volume 46 (2001)

Volume 45 (2000)

Volume 44 (1999)

Volume 43 (1998)

Volume 42 (1997)

Volume 41 (1996)

Volume 40 (1995)

Volume 39 (1994)

Volume 38 (1993)

Volume 37 (1992)

Volume 36 (1991)

Volume 35 (1990)

Volume 34 (1989)

Volume 33 (1988)

Volume 32 (1987)

Volume 31 (1986)

Volume 30 (1985)

Volume 29 (1984)

Volume 28 (1983)

Volume 27 (1982)

Volume 26 (1981)

Volume 25 (1980)

Volume 24 (1979)

Volume 23 (1978)

Volume 22 (1977)

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Volume 16 (1971)

Issue 5-6

Volume 15 (1970)

Volume 14 (1969)

Volume 13 (1968)

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Volume 9 (1964)

Volume 8 (1963)

Volume 7 (1962)

Volume 6 (1961)

Volume 5 (1960)

Volume 4 (1959)

Volume 3 (1958)

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Volume 1 (1956)

Issue 1

CiteScore	0.3	2022, Scopus (Elsevier B.V., 2023)
SCImago Journal Rank	0.127	2022, SJR (Scimago Lab, 2023; Data Source: Scopus)
Source Normalized Impact per Paper	0.337	2022, CWTS Journal Indicators (CWTS B.V., 2023; Data Source: Scopus)

More information about journal rankings

Editorial

Editors
Prof. Dr. Carsten Burhop (University of Bonn, Germany) (Managing Editor)
Prof. Dr. Christian Kleinschmidt (University of Marburg, Germany)
Prof. Dr. Jan-Otmar Hesse (University of Bayreuth, Germany).

Editorial Board
Prof. Dr. Hartmut Berghoff (University of Göttingen, Germany)
Prof. Dr. Andreas Fahrmeir (Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany)
Prof. Dr. Christina Lubinski (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark)
Prof. Dr. Mary O'Sullivan (University of Geneva, Switzerland)
Prof. Dr. Werner Plumpe (Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany)
Prof. Dr. Raymond Stokes (University of Glasgow, UK)

CEO of GUG / Editorial Manager
Dr. Andrea H. Schneider-Braunberger (Frankfurt, Germany)

Volume 69 Issue 1

March 2024

Publicly Available March 14, 2024

Titelseiten

Page range: I-IV

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Aufsätze (Articles)

March 14, 2024

Vom Verein zum Unternehmen?

Reformen im Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau in den 70er und 80er Jahren

Ralf Ahrens

Page range: 1-22

Abstract

Using the example of the German Mechanical and Plant Engineering Association (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, VDMA), this paper examines the viability of corporate history approaches in the history of the associations. The VDMA, one of the largest trade associations in the Federal Republic of Germany, faced increasing criticism from its member companies in the late 60s. The complex organisation, which had to reconcile the interests of some three dozen branches of industry and various regional groups, was considered inefficient and lacking in profile. The reaction was to launch a reform programme with rationalisation measures, a modern image policy and an expansion of the range of services on offer that showed certain traits of entrepreneurial behaviour. At the same time, the dues system was reformed, but the introduction of a splitting of the dues to the association’s headquarters and the branches was dispensed in order not to endanger the cohesion of interests. Both areas of reform thus demonstrate the imits of entrepreneurial logic in the organisation of an association.

March 14, 2024

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

Der Versuch einer Rekonstruktion

Andrea H. Schneider-Braunberger

Page range: 23-56

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.

Open Access March 14, 2024

Korrespondenzen mit Konrad Adenauer – ein Erfinder und seine Patentanwälte

Finni Jo Erdmann

Page range: 57-87

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Abstract

Among German private inventors, former Federal Chancellor Dr. Konrad Adenauer is a peculiar case. Despite his (few) successful patents and his fame as a politician, hardly any aspects of his inventive activity have been studied scientifically so far. His correspondence with several patent attorneys lends itself to the following question: What functions could patent attorneys fulfil for private inventors in the first half of the 20th century? Using Adenauer as an example for this, it will be examined which roles his patent attorneys played for him and what added value resulted for Adenauer.

March 14, 2024

Charlotte Meentzen – Einblicke in ein Dresdner Naturkosmetik-Unternehmen der 30er und 40er Jahre

Alexandra-Kathrin Stanislaw-Kemenah

Page range: 89-119

Abstract

In the early 1930s, the trained beautician Charlotte Meentzen founded a company in Dresden based on naturopathy with the three pillars of a cosmetics institute, production and school. The foundation, financed by her father Theodor Meentzen, a professional speaker and publicist as well as trade union and SPD member, took place at a time of upheaval that affected the prevailing image of women as well as economic and political conditions. Charlotte Meentzen and her sister Gertrud, who joined the company early on, belonged to a close circle of professional women who ventured into self-employment in an industry that was still controversial at the time. The essay focuses on Charlotte Meentzen as a person, the circumstances surrounding the founding of the company in terms of female entrepreneurship, the cosmetics industry in general and natural cosmetics in particular against the backdrop of the final years of the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era in the Saxon metropolis. At the time, Dresden was considered a stronghold of naturopathy and was proclaimed the «Stadt der Volksgesundheit» («City of Public Health») under the Nazi regime. Using (advertising) examples such as the guide published by Meentzen in 1941, «Heilkräfte im Dienste der Schönheit» («Healing powers in the service of beauty»), the actions of the company management between adaptation and self-assertion become clear. This applied not least to the years of reconstruction in the Soviet occupation zone and the GDR, whereby the sisters always remained true to their convictions regarding individual health and beauty on the basis of natural remedies.