Berndorf, Lower Austria
Encyclopedia
Berndorf is a town in the district of Baden in Lower Austria
in Austria
. Because of its historic development in the 19th century it is also referred to as the Krupp
town.
Perindorf is likely to have its name from a man named Pero, who settled here in 1070. The name Perendorf was first mentioned in 1133.
Throughout the following centuries, Berndorf was ravaged by the Magyars and the Ottomans.
In the 18th century, metal-working companies such as Neuhirtenberger Kupferhammer, which used the first steam engine in all of Lower Austria in 1836, settled in this region. Before that, hydropower coming from the Triesting
was the main energy source.
In the 19th century the majority of the inhabitants of Berndorf and its neighbouring villages worked in the metal industry. In 1844, Berndorf consisted of no more than 50 houses with about 180 inhabitants, when the cutlery
factory of Alexander Schoeller and Hermann Krupp was founded. Initially, there were 50 workers, but throughout the years, the company developed and turned into a multi-national combine with over 6,000 employees. The development of the city of Berndorf was closely related to the history of the Krupp
family.
Arthur Krupp, son of Hermann Krupp, founded a private elementary school and a public swimming pool, as well as the neo-baroque St. Margaret's church.
In 1923, the communities of Berndorf, St. Veit, Ödlitz and Veitsau were united and formed the city of Berndorf.
After the Anschluss
in 1938, the Arthur Krupp company became a part of the German Krupp combine.
Because of its industrial importance, Berndorf was also an important target of air attacks. During World War II
, Berndorf was not even spared the forces of nature. The floods in 1939 and 1944 were the most destructive floods in the history of the Triesting river
.
When the war had ended, the metal company was confiscated by the Soviet Army and incorporated into the USIA. In 1957, it was given back to the State of Austria and merged with the Vereinigte Aluminiumwerke Ranshofen (VAW)
.
Because of financial problems of the socialised industries in the 1980s, the Berndorf consortium was spun off and passed into private hands.
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Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Because of its historic development in the 19th century it is also referred to as the Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
town.
Districts
The town consists of 4 districts:- Berndorf-Stadt
- St. Veit
- Ödlitz
- Veitsau / Steinhof
History
Artefacts from various epoques of the Stone Age prove that there was a settlement in this region.Perindorf is likely to have its name from a man named Pero, who settled here in 1070. The name Perendorf was first mentioned in 1133.
Throughout the following centuries, Berndorf was ravaged by the Magyars and the Ottomans.
In the 18th century, metal-working companies such as Neuhirtenberger Kupferhammer, which used the first steam engine in all of Lower Austria in 1836, settled in this region. Before that, hydropower coming from the Triesting
Triesting
The Triesting is a river in the southeastern part of the Vienna Woods. It discharges into the smaller Schwechat at Achau and is part of the catchment area of the River Danube. It has a length of 60 km....
was the main energy source.
In the 19th century the majority of the inhabitants of Berndorf and its neighbouring villages worked in the metal industry. In 1844, Berndorf consisted of no more than 50 houses with about 180 inhabitants, when the cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
factory of Alexander Schoeller and Hermann Krupp was founded. Initially, there were 50 workers, but throughout the years, the company developed and turned into a multi-national combine with over 6,000 employees. The development of the city of Berndorf was closely related to the history of the Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
family.
Arthur Krupp, son of Hermann Krupp, founded a private elementary school and a public swimming pool, as well as the neo-baroque St. Margaret's church.
In 1923, the communities of Berndorf, St. Veit, Ödlitz and Veitsau were united and formed the city of Berndorf.
After the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
in 1938, the Arthur Krupp company became a part of the German Krupp combine.
Because of its industrial importance, Berndorf was also an important target of air attacks. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Berndorf was not even spared the forces of nature. The floods in 1939 and 1944 were the most destructive floods in the history of the Triesting river
Triesting
The Triesting is a river in the southeastern part of the Vienna Woods. It discharges into the smaller Schwechat at Achau and is part of the catchment area of the River Danube. It has a length of 60 km....
.
When the war had ended, the metal company was confiscated by the Soviet Army and incorporated into the USIA. In 1957, it was given back to the State of Austria and merged with the Vereinigte Aluminiumwerke Ranshofen (VAW)
Austria Metall AG
AMAG is situated in the village of Ranshofen which is in Braunau am Inn and was founded in 1938.It is the biggest company in the Austrian Aluminium industry sector and is part of Constantia Packaging AG.- Companies:...
.
Because of financial problems of the socialised industries in the 1980s, the Berndorf consortium was spun off and passed into private hands.
Theatre
The annual theatre festival takes place in the municipal theatre of Berndorf every summer.Sights
- Municipal Theatre of Berndorf
- Krupp schoolsStilklassenThe Stilklassen are located in two schools in Berndorf, Lower Austria.-History:After a two-year construction phase, the schools were opened in 1909. What is special about these schools is their furnishing, which was funded by Arthur Krupp. The architect of these unique buildings is Ludwig Baumann...
- Guglzipf with its look-out
- Krupp Stadt Museum
- The iron bear
- St. Margaret's Church
- St. Mary's Church
External links
- http://www.berndorf-band.at
- http://www.berndorf-usa.com
- the city of Berndorf, only in German
- Krupp Stadt Museum, only in German
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