{"id":2343,"date":"2021-05-03T08:30:45","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T08:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=2343"},"modified":"2021-04-13T11:01:16","modified_gmt":"2021-04-13T11:01:16","slug":"ludwig-loewy-the-story-of-a-czech-jew-who-escaped-nazi-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2021\/05\/03\/ludwig-loewy-the-story-of-a-czech-jew-who-escaped-nazi-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"Ludwig Loewy \u2013 The Story of a Czech Jew who escaped Nazi Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Dorset History Centre, we hold a large number of fascinating collections which tell of a rich history. One such collection is that of Loewy Engineering of Bournemouth<\/a>…<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The County of Dorset has been home to many individuals, men and women who in their own specialist fields have made a great impact upon society worldwide whether it be in the form of literature, music and the arts, evolution or science and technology.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Ludwig Loewy 1887-1942<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Amongst those who have contributed so much was a man born in 1887 a long way from Dorset. Ludwig Loewy, one of 9 children born into a Jewish family in Becov, near Caribad, Bohemia \u2013 now the Czech Republic. His Jewish birth was to play a significant role in his later life as well as for his brothers Erwin, Siegmund, Alfred and their sister Erma all of whom more shall be known later.<\/p>\n

Early Days<\/h2>\n

As a schoolboy Ludwig showed himself to be exceptionally talented in many ways and in his late \u2018teens he had to decide whether to pursue a musical career or to study to become a professional engineer. He chose the latter and graduated from Vienna University with an engineering degree. He joined a German shipbuilder and then moved on to the Schloemann Company, Dusseldorf a relatively small German engineering company. It was 1914, the beginning of WW1 and Schloemann was involved in manufacturing specialised industrial machinery, mainly armaments for the German war effort.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Schloemann Hydraulic Extrusion Press, pre WW2; and Loewy Hydraulic Extrusion Press, post WW2<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the years following the end of the war, Ludwig\u2019s engineering design expertise and world travels secured many orders, resulting in Schloemann expanding to become a world leading manufacturer of extremely large and powerful industrial hydraulic presses for use in the production of aluminium and steel used in the construction of aircraft, road vehicles and many other products. Because of his outstanding technical and sales abilities, Ludwig rose rapidly to become Chairman and this, coupled with his confidence and enthusiasm resulted in him investing a considerable sum of his own money in Schloemann, eventually owning 45% of the Company shares.<\/p>\n

In spite of his modest personal lifestyle, Ludwig always showed himself to be generous to the 200-300 staff who worked for him. It is reported that on the occasion of the annual Christmas festivities, the needy Protestant, Catholic and Jewish citizens in Dusseldorf were invited and received valuable gifts of money and other kind.<\/p>\n

Darkening Clouds<\/h2>\n

With the rise of German nationalism in the 1930\u2019s and increasing attacks on the Jewish community, Ludwig decided in 1936 to resign his position of Chairman of Schloemann and leave the Company. When he left, such was the respect he commanded within the company, a long queue formed outside his office and every employee shook his hand.<\/p>\n

He moved to England with his Commercial Manager, Konrad Guttenstein and together with some of his designers set up his own company in Ingersoll House, Kingsway, London. The Loewy Engineering Company was registered on 1st<\/sup> April 1936. Germany\u2019s loss was Britain\u2019s gain.<\/p>\n

With the contacts Ludwig Loewy had previously made in Britain whilst working at Schloemann and because German engineering expertise was so highly respected, when it was known that a company now existed in the UK employing German engineers, the business grew rapidly securing orders for the design of various special presses including those specifically designed for aircraft manufacture. This attracted the attention of Lord Beaverbrook, Minister for Aviation who, with WW2 looming, was concerned with the rapid build-up of UK aircraft production, and it is reported he became a close friend of Ludwig.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Air Ministry Freedom of Movement pass<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Nazi interference increased, a number of Schloemann staff followed Ludwig to London, bringing Schloemann design drawings with them. These people were joined by Poles and other Europeans as well as UK staff. Initially, Ludwig had intended to continue working in association with Schloemann but when the German company refused to let him sell his 45% shareholding resulting in him losing a considerable amount of his personal money, he severed all connection with Schloemann which then became totally owned by the Nazis.<\/p>\n

Relocation<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Housekeepers and Chauffeurs Lodge, the only part still left of Branksome Grange<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Owing to the threat of bombing, Ludwig Loewy (persuaded by Lord Beaverbrook), on 26th<\/sup> September 1939 relocated his staff, office furniture and design equipment over a weekend to Poole (wrongly described at the time as Bournemouth). The company started its new life in \u201cBranksome Grange\u201d a large Edwardian House in Lindsay Road, Branksome Park, Poole. The 80 or so employees who moved from London were allocated accommodation in local houses on a rental basis. It is said they were overwhelmed by the leafy suburb with its trees, large Edwardian houses and gardens.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Loewy Engineering Company Staff outside Branksome Grange. 1941.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After settling into their new office accommodation, every room was used by draughtsmen standing at what would be described now as old-fashioned drawing boards. There were no carpets on the floors, and there were bare floorboards with cardboard used as floor coverings in corridors. The windows were taped to prevent the glass shattering in the event of bomb blasts, and employees doubled up as Fire Watch Wardens during air raid alarms.<\/p>\n

Strange Times….Strange Rules.<\/h2>\n

At the beginning of the war, most of the non-British employees were called to London and vetted by MI5 or MI6. Most were cleared and allowed to resume work; some however were interned, or to be more accurate, given \u201chouse arrest\u201d for the duration of the war. Their cameras and radios were confiscated but they were allowed to go into neighbours to listen to the radio. They could ride their bikes into Poole but not into Bournemouth. Consequently, they would ride or walk to nearby Westbourne and take the trolley bus into Bournemouth. How they explained their prohibited excursions if asked to show their identity cards is not known!<\/p>\n

Two of Ludwig\u2019s brothers Siegmund and Alfred followed him to England and worked for the company at Branksome Grange. Their brother Erwin and his family were being hunted by the Nazis but by hiding in various locations in France, they managed to escape by ship from Lisbon, Portugal and settled in the USA. There, Erwin established an identical company, Loewy-Hydropress in New York, designing and manufacturing similar massive hydraulic presses for the American war effort. Their sister Erma and brother Alfred joined Erwin in the USA, both working for Loewy-Hydropress.<\/p>\n

Work continued apace in New York and Poole with many orders being received and completed for the design and manufacture of presses and rolling mills for the war effort. There was a close working collaboration between the New York office and Poole office with frequent exchanges of design drawings.<\/p>\n

In 1940, just before the Dunkirk evacuation, one of the German speaking employees who held a Swiss passport, managed to get into occupied Europe and bring out Ludwig\u2019s elderly parents and escort them to the USA where they settled. It is not known the fate of Ludwig\u2019s remaining siblings but it is believed some relatives were sent to concentration camps. Because of his personal contribution in assisting the UK war effort, Ludwig was awarded British citizenship in January 1942, an extremely rare occurrence for an ‘alien’.<\/p>\n

The Hydropress Company in New York was similarly considered by the USA Government to have made an immense contribution to the American arms war effort in the same way as the UK Government recognised the Loewy Engineering Company in Poole. The Loewy Institute at Lehigh University, USA is named and dedicated to the two Jewish brothers as being amongst the great unsung heroes of WW2.<\/p>\n

Tragedy<\/h2>\n

In July 1942 Siegmund was suddenly taken ill whilst working late one evening at the office. A doctor was called but he died before arrival at the hospital. He was 45. The toll of overworking also affected Ludwig and he became very ill.<\/p>\n

Because of his company\u2019s contribution to the UK war effort, he was held in such high regard by the UK Government that an RAF ambulance plane was arranged to fly him to the USA for him to rest and recuperate.<\/p>\n

Tragically, on the morning of Saturday 10th<\/sup> October 1942, \u00a0the day he was due to fly, Ludwig died at the age of 55, just 3 months after his brother. It is reported that before the weekend was over, 80 telegrams of sympathy were received in the Poole office from Members of Parliament and other officials.<\/p>\n

Ludwig Loewy is buried in the Jewish part of Boscombe Cemetery, Bournemouth, along with his brother Siegmund.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Grave of Ludwig Loewy, 1 March 1887- 10 October 1942; Grave of Siegmund Loewy, 2 May 1885 \u2013 12 July 1942<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/h2>\n

A New Beginning, A New Location<\/h2>\n

The company continued successfully in \u201cBranksome Grange\u201d under the Chairmanship of Konrad Guttenstein, the only one of the original German directors left in the UK.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Konrad Guttenstein and his wife Martha<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1954 with the Loewy Company growing, in order to accommodate increased staff numbers, the company moved to Wallisdown Road, Poole. It is understood that on leaving Branksome Grange, the property and land was given to The Shaftsbury Society catering for handicapped children. The old house has since been demolished and is now occupied by The Victoria School.<\/p>\n

The only part of the original building still there is the Lodge in which the husband-and-wife team of chauffer\/caretaker and housekeeper lived.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The Victoria School Lindsay Road, Poole site of Branksome Grange<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new office was built on heathland, and was described in architecture magazines at the time as being a very modern building of unique design, comprising large aluminium framed double-glazed windows to provide maximum light.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Aerial view showing the new office complex and factory 1954. Note employees houses being built at top.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two unusual features were incorporated into the building during its construction. One was a large ammonite discovered when the foundations were being constructed. It was retained and positioned in a prominent area within the building on completion.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The Loewy Engineering Company new offices, Wallisdown Road, Poole 1954.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The second feature was a large and striking mural designed by Bournemouth Art College students to a theme suggested by the Architects.<\/p>\n

It comprised a mosaic of pebbles brought from Chesil beach (strictly not allowed these days!) and many varied aluminium profiles representing typically the products produced on some of the hydraulic presses the company was involved in designing at that time.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Mural designed and constructed by students of Bournemouth Art College 1954<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A fascinating description of the construction of the mural can be found in \u201cDorset Life,\u201d <\/em>November 2017. The offices and the mural can still be clearly seen from the entrance to what is now known as Discovery Court, a complex of mixed enterprises on Wallisdown Road, Poole close to the \u201cMiller and Carter\u201d restaurant.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, in the 1960\u2019s, The Loewy Engineering Company went through a period of take-overs and mergers involving a number of name changes but in spite of a number of set-backs over the ensuing years, continued Ludwig Loewy\u2019s leadership as a world class international engineering company in its field of designing and manufacturing rolling mills and equipment for the aluminium and steel producing industry.<\/p>\n

After the move to Wallisdown Road, a factory was constructed on land adjacent to the new offices.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Loewy Engineering Company employees housing under construction in Loewy Crescent, Poole<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In order to encourage employees to move from Yeovil where Loewy Engineering originally had a separate manufacturing facility, the Company built houses close to the factory and offered them to employees on very favourable financial terms.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Davy McKee Rolling Mill<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1980\u20131996: The Beginning of The End<\/h2>\n

In the late 1980\u2019s and through the 1990\u2019s the Company, now known as Davy McKee, went through a period of decline; the reasons for this are however, not for this article. Eventually, the company went the same way as so many other great British firms and finally closed its doors in 1996 with the loss of over 500 employees.<\/p>\n

This was exactly 60 years after Ludwig Loewy felt driven from Germany, the quiet and modest man driven from the country he had so loyally served and which then had no time for him because of his ancestral background. Through his determined spirit, engineering skills and entrepreneurial expertise he provided so many local people and beyond with employment and training for a career in technology.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Finally, it would not be fair to leave the reader with the impression that Ludwig Loewy\u2019s name and legacy would go unmarked.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Also, In 1954 Jacob Epstein was commissioned by the Loewy family to produce a bust of Ludwig Loewy.<\/p>\n

The sculpture was made from a photograph of Ludwig and six were cast in bronze, one of which was positioned within the Wallisdown offices.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Jacob Epstein charcoal sketch and bronze bust of Ludwig Loewy<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the offices closed a mystery surrounded its whereabouts together with a portrait of Ludwig. They have both been located and are on display in an engineering office in Christchurch.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Author: Ian Livingstone<\/p>\n

The author is also conducting research into the family of Ludwig Loewy to establish if all survived WW2, and the whereabouts of any living relatives. In addition, the author acknowledges the following who, without their considerable assistance, this article could not have been produced:<\/p>\n