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Elberfeld
Elberfeld
Elberfeld
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Elberfeld (German pronunciation: [ˈɛlbɐfɛlt]) is a municipal subdivision of the German city of Wuppertal; it was an independent town until 1929.

Key Information

History

[edit]
The suspension railway of Elberfeld was built over the river in order to keep the streets unobstructed.
Elberfeld ca. 1899
Bond of the former town Elberfeld, issued 1. March 1922

The first official mentioning of the geographic area on the banks of today's Wupper River as "elverfelde" was in a document of 1161. Etymologically, elver is derived from the old Low German word for "river." (See etymology of the name of the German Elbe River; cf. North Germanic älv.) Therefore, the original meaning of "elverfelde" can be understood as "field on the river." Elverfelde received its town charter in 1610.

In 1726, Elias Eller and a pastor, Daniel Schleyermacher, founded a Philadelphian Society. They later moved to Ronsdorf in the Duchy of Berg, becoming the Zionites, a fringe sect.

In 1826 Friedrich Harkort, a famous German industrialist and politician, had a type of suspension railway built as a trial and ran it on the grounds of what is today the tax office at Elberfeld. In fact the railway, the Schwebebahn Wuppertal, was eventually built between Oberbarmen and Vohwinkel and runs through Elberfeld.

In 1888 the district of Sonnborn was incorporated into Elberfeld. In 1929 the towns of Barmen, Elberfeld, Vohwinkel, Cronenberg and Ronsdorf became a municipal entity officially called "Barmen-Elberfeld;" in the same year, the unified city administration through a vote of its council members decided to rename the newly incorporated city "Wuppertal." This took place in 1930. Today Elberfeld is the largest municipal subdivision of Wuppertal.

During World War II, forced laborers of the 3rd SS construction brigade were dispatched by the Nazis in Barmen-Elberfeld in 1943.[1]

Notable people

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See also

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51°16′N 7°08′E / 51.267°N 7.133°E / 51.267; 7.133

References

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Elberfeld

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Elberfeld is the central district and historical nucleus of , , , functioning as the city's primary administrative, commercial, and cultural hub. Originally settled in the with evidence of farms dating to around 450 BCE, it received town rights in 1610 and remained an independent municipality until 1929, when it merged with the adjacent cities of , Ronsdorf, Cronenberg, and Vohwinkel to establish the unified city of (initially named Barmen-Elberfeld). During the , Elberfeld underwent rapid industrialization, particularly in textiles, chemicals, and machinery, with its population surging from approximately 29,000 in 1829 to over 100,000 by 1883, reflecting the Bergisch region's economic dynamism. This era also saw the development of the Elberfeld System of around 1800–1853, a decentralized approach relying on volunteer overseers for personalized aid and moral guidance to the needy, which minimized institutional dependency and influenced welfare policies across and . The system emphasized empirical assessment of individual circumstances over blanket state provision, prioritizing causal factors like or vice in alleviation. Today, Elberfeld hosts key landmarks such as Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof and segments of the , the world's oldest operational , which has linked it to since 1901, facilitating efficient transit along the narrow Wupper Valley. The district retains Wilhelminian-era architecture and institutions like the 1900 , symbolizing its industrial legacy amid post-merger urban integration.

Geography and Setting

Location and Topography

Elberfeld forms the western district of in , , positioned within the narrow where the river flows eastward through a constrained, V-shaped flanked by steep hills. This valley setting limits lateral expansion, channeling settlement along the riverbanks and up the adjacent slopes, resulting in a linear urban configuration adapted to the terrain's elevations, which average approximately 233 meters above . The Wupper River, central to Elberfeld's , descends through the valley with a that historically harnessed hydraulic for mills and early , drawing industrial activities to the valley floor for access to water power and routes. Steep hillsides, often wooded, rise sharply from the river, fostering vertical urban growth through terraced structures and connecting stairways that navigate the multi-level terrain, thereby shaping a compact, elevation-stratified responsive to the topographic constraints.

Integration with Wuppertal

Elberfeld merged with the adjacent industrial towns of and Ronsdorf, along with smaller communities including Cronenberg, Vohwinkel, and Beyenburg, to form the city of on July 1, 1929. This administrative fusion addressed the challenges of a contiguous urban agglomeration in the Wupper Valley, where rapid industrialization had led to overlapping municipal boundaries and shared infrastructural needs. Following the merger, Elberfeld was designated as a distinct district (Stadtbezirk) within , preserving elements of local identity and enabling district-specific governance through advisory bodies that handle neighborhood-level concerns such as and services. This structure allows Elberfeld to maintain administrative autonomy in day-to-day operations while integrated into the city's overarching framework. Urban renewal projects in Elberfelder Nordstadt exemplify ongoing efforts to sustain the district's unique character amid Wuppertal's unified development. Initiatives include the establishment of quarter hubs for coordination and enhancements to mobility , aimed at fostering sustainable neighborhood revitalization without erasing historical and social distinctions. These projects, supported by local research institutions, emphasize resident involvement to adapt to modern pressures like demographic shifts while reinforcing Elberfeld's role as a vibrant sub-entity within the larger metropolis.

Demographics

Historical Population Growth

In the mid-19th century, Elberfeld's population reached 47,131 residents by 1849. This figure reflected the initial stages of demographic expansion in the independent city. By the turn of the , growth had accelerated, with the population recorded at 156,966 on December 1, 1900. Further increase brought the count to 173,235 as of January 1, 1929, shortly before Elberfeld's incorporation into the newly formed city of on August 1 of that year. The merger combined Elberfeld with and other surrounding municipalities, creating a larger urban entity with an initial total approaching 414,000. World War II inflicted significant losses on the region, reducing 's overall through destruction, displacement, and casualties. A counted 325,668 inhabitants citywide, indicating partial recovery by the late 1940s. Subsequent decades saw steady rebound and stabilization, with exceeding 350,000 by the late . As of December 31, 2024, the Elberfeld district comprises 68,326 residents, forming a core portion of Wuppertal's total 358,193. This represents a moderated pace compared to 19th-century surges, aligned with broader trends in German urban demographics.

Religious and Social Composition

Elberfeld originated as a predominantly Calvinist settlement in the , with Reformed Protestantism shaping its early religious identity through strict doctrinal adherence and communal . This dominance persisted into the , fostering a culture of moral rigor and economic discipline among weavers and merchants. Industrialization in the drove population influx from surrounding regions, transforming Elberfeld into a tri-confessional hub comprising Reformed Protestants, Lutherans, and Catholics by the mid-1800s, as migrants sought and jobs. Catholics, often from rural areas, integrated into the working classes, while Lutherans added to the Protestant plurality; this shift reflected pragmatic labor demands over theological exclusivity. A Jewish community, present since the late , expanded significantly amid and trade opportunities, numbering 813 in 1875, 1,104 in 1880, 1,705 in 1905, and peaking at around 3,000 by 1932, concentrated in and textiles. They constructed a in 1865, serving as a cultural and economic anchor until its destruction during the November 1938 pogroms, after which the community dwindled to over 1,000 by 1939 amid deportations and emigration. Following and Elberfeld's integration into in 1929, religious adherence declined amid broader West German secularization, with Protestant affiliation—rooted in the Reformed legacy—remaining dominant but eroding from near-universal pre-war levels to under 50% church membership by the late , paralleled by rising unaffiliated residents and minimal Catholic or Jewish presence. Socially, the district evolved into a mixed middle- and working-class area, with reconstruction emphasizing industrial labor over confessional divides.

History

Early Development and Medieval Roots

Elberfeld's origins trace to a documented mention in 1161 as "Elverfelde," identified as a Tafelhof—a fortified estate and provisioning station—under the Archbishopric of , situated along the Wupper River for supporting ecclesiastical travel and administration. This early settlement lay within the County of Berg, which evolved into a duchy by the under the counts' rule, fostering feudal agriculture centered on grain, livestock, and nascent riverine trade routes connecting the . Local inhabitants received early privileges from Berg lords, enabling small-scale amid the duchy's fragmented feudal structure, though the area remained rural with limited urban features until the late medieval period. By the 15th and 16th centuries, Elberfeld transitioned toward proto-urban development through weaving and cloth production, exploiting regional cultivation and the Wupper's for processing, which supplemented agricultural output and initiated export-oriented . Wool processing emerged alongside, drawing on nearby herds, as families organized informal networks that presaged formal guilds; these activities positioned Elberfeld as a secondary hub in the Berg duchy's emerging economy, distinct from larger centers. The profoundly shaped Elberfeld's trajectory, with the town adopting the Reformed (Calvinist) confession in 1563, diverging from the Catholic dominance of the and Archbishopric of . This alignment, solidified by the 1610 town charter granting administrative autonomy, transformed Elberfeld into a refuge for Calvinist artisans and traders fleeing religious upheavals, including the (1618–1648), thereby importing skilled labor in , , and that bolstered local proto-industry. regulations formalized by the early 1600s enforced quality standards in output, leveraging and to sustain growth amid wartime disruptions elsewhere in the Empire.

Industrialization in the 19th Century

Elberfeld transitioned from proto-industrial textile production to mechanized factory-based manufacturing in the early 19th century, driven by technological innovations such as power looms introduced from the 1830s onward. This shift concentrated production in factories along the Wupper River, where water power supported spinning, weaving, and bleaching operations central to cotton and wool processing. The region's textile sector, often termed the "German Manchester," peaked between 1830 and 1885, with cotton processing factories expanding dramatically from 44 in 1787 to over 1,100 by 1841 across the Wupper Valley. The Prussian-led customs union, established in 1834, imposed protective external tariffs while eliminating internal barriers, fostering export-oriented growth in Elberfeld's industries by integrating them into a larger German market. This policy enhanced competitiveness, particularly for textiles, as access to Prussian industrial areas and standardized trade laws spurred production increases and market expansion. along the Wupper, with its high opportunity costs for land use, accelerated innovations in chemical processes, laying groundwork for firms like , founded in 1863 on the riverbanks to produce dyes for fabric finishing. Industrial expansion fueled demographic surges, with Elberfeld's rising from 16,484 in 1817 to 29,995 by 1843, attracting migrant labor to sustain operations amid rising demand. Infrastructure developments, including railways connecting to broader networks, symbolized prosperity and facilitated imports and product distribution, underpinning sustained economic momentum through the century's end.

Prussian Era and Administrative Changes

Following the in 1815, Elberfeld, previously part of the French-controlled , was ceded to the along with other Rhenish territories. This assignment integrated the city into Prussian administrative frameworks, initially under the General Government of the Lower and Middle Rhine established by King Frederick William III's proclamation on April 5, 1815. By 1824, these areas were consolidated into the , with Elberfeld serving as a key urban center within the province's district of . Prussian governance introduced centralized oversight while permitting degrees of local administration, though initial municipal councils in the remained appointed by the state based on citizen nominations. A pivotal reform came with the Prussian Municipal Ordinance for the enacted on March 23, 1845, which replaced appointed bodies with elected city councils, thereby expanding local and citizen participation in processes. This measure balanced Prussian centralization with Rhenish traditions of communal , fostering administrative efficiency amid rapid industrialization. Fiscal policies under Prussian rule supported Elberfeld's industrial base, particularly textiles, through integration into the Prussian-led Zollverein customs union starting in 1834, which eliminated internal tariffs across member states and imposed protective duties on external imports. This framework facilitated expanded markets and capital flows, contributing to economic growth without excessive taxation burdens; Prussian direct taxes, such as the class-based income levy, were levied modestly on industrial profits pre-unification, with reliance on indirect excises funding infrastructure like railways. Administrative records indicate Elberfeld's municipal revenues derived primarily from property and trade levies, enabling investments in urban development while maintaining fiscal discipline.

20th Century Events and Merger

Elberfeld's industries endured significant strains during , with production shifted toward military needs amid material shortages and labor conscription, contributing to post-war economic fragility in the region. The subsequent hyperinflation crisis of 1923 further destabilized local textile and chemical sectors, eroding savings, inflating costs, and prompting widespread bankruptcies as the Papiermark's value collapsed from stable pre-war levels to trillions per U.S. dollar by November. Facing these pressures and the onset of the in 1929, Elberfeld merged with neighboring , Vohwinkel, Ronsdorf, and other areas on July 31, 1929, to form the city of , aiming to enhance administrative efficiency, streamline public services, and consolidate resources for industrial continuity amid rising and fiscal constraints. In , Elberfeld became a primary target for Allied bombing campaigns against the Ruhr's industrial heartland. A major RAF raid on the night of June 24–25, 1943, involving over 600 bombers, devastated the district, with post-war British assessments estimating 94 percent destruction of built-up areas in Elberfeld to cripple armaments and production. Reconstruction efforts in the late 1940s and 1950s prioritized restoring infrastructure and housing, though much of the pre-war urban core was lost, shaping modern Wuppertal's layout through phased rebuilding under Allied occupation policies.

The Elberfeld System of Poor Relief

Origins and Core Principles

The Elberfeld System of poor relief originated in the early 19th century amid economic distress following the and French occupation of the , with initial developments traceable to around 1810 as local responses to post-1815 poverty and industrialization pressures in Elberfeld, a Protestant-dominated center. Influenced by Calvinist traditions emphasizing personal moral discipline and communal duty, the system was formalized through municipal regulations in 1853, spearheaded by bourgeois industrialists including Daniel von der Heydt, Gustav Schlieper, and David Peters, who sought to address without expanding state burdens. This formalization responded to crises like the 1848–1849 revolutions and recurrent downturns in the –, prioritizing fiscal restraint to curb rising poor taxes amid urban growth. Core principles derived from Protestant ethics, particularly Calvinist views of individual responsibility and sobriety, which framed as often stemming from failings amenable to reform rather than inevitable structural forces. Aid was conditioned on promoting through work and behavioral incentives, avoiding indiscriminate handouts that could foster dependency; volunteer visitors, known as Armenpfleger, conducted personal inquiries into recipients' circumstances, character, and potential for self-support, ensuring aid targeted the "deserving" poor while denying it to the able-bodied unemployed. This approach reflected , viewing relief as a and economic tool to minimize public expenditure by integrating Christian with pragmatic cost control. Decentralization formed a foundational , dividing Elberfeld into —initially eight in 1853, expanding to 37 by 1898—each overseen by local committees of unpaid volunteers to enable granular oversight and reduce bureaucratic overhead. This structure yielded verifiable efficiencies, with pauper numbers dropping from approximately 4,000 (8% of the 50,364 ) in 1852 to 1,460 (2.9%) in 1853, and relief expenditures halving from 59,548 to 25,606 thalers in the same period, demonstrating lower administrative costs compared to centralized predecessors. Such outcomes underscored the system's emphasis on community-driven over expansive welfare apparatuses.

Implementation and Operational Mechanics

The Elberfeld System divided the city into districts, each managed by unpaid local overseers known as Armenvorsteher or Bezirksvorsteher and subordinate Armenpfleger (poor guardians), positions compulsory for eligible male citizens, with penalties such as temporary loss of voting rights for non-compliance. In Elberfeld, the structure comprised 10 large districts subdivided into smaller units, assigning up to four families per guardian to ensure manageable oversight. These volunteers conducted systematic home visits, typically weekly or monthly, to assess recipients' circumstances, verify destitution, and monitor moral conduct, fostering personal relationships aimed at encouraging self-reliance rather than institutional dependency. Aid distribution emphasized temporary support, classified as short-term or work incentives, with payments disbursed week-by-week only upon demonstration of need and ethical behavior, explicitly rejecting permanent assistance to avoid fostering . Overseers integrated moral evaluation, drawing from Protestant principles that linked alleviation to ethical and labor, often collaborating with local churches for oversight, though civic authorities assumed primary control by the 1840s. This approach prioritized work provision over sustained handouts, with guardians advising on opportunities and withdrawing from those deemed capable but unwilling to work. The system's efficiency stemmed from these decentralized, volunteer-driven mechanics, yielding measurable reductions in and costs, as documented in municipal reports. In Elberfeld, paupers fell from 4,000 (8% of a 50,364 ) in 1852, with expenditures of 59,548 thalers, to 1,460 (2.9%) in 1853 at 25,606 thalers, stabilizing by 1869 at 1,062 recipients (1.5% of 71,000 residents) for 25,739 thalers despite growth.
YearPaupersPercentage of PopulationExpenditure (Thalers)
18524,0008% (pop. 50,364)59,548
18531,4602.9%25,606
18691,0621.5% (pop. 71,000)25,739
Scalability was evident in its adoption across German towns, including in 1863 (where cases dropped 26% in the first year) and in 1864, with official reports confirming similar cost controls and declines by the 1870s.

Domestic and International Impact

The Elberfeld System rapidly expanded within following its implementation in , gaining endorsement from Prussian authorities and being adopted by numerous industrial cities as a model for efficient, localized administration. By the late , it had influenced municipal policies across Prussian territories, emphasizing volunteer oversight and conditional aid over indiscriminate handouts, which aligned with state goals of fiscal restraint and moral rehabilitation. This domestic proliferation culminated in widespread municipal adoption, with most German cities integrating elements of the system into their frameworks by 1914, prior to the disruptions of . Internationally, the system's principles of case-by-case investigation and community involvement inspired reforms in Britain and during the late . In Britain, observers documented the Elberfeld approach through visits to , contributing to the development of scientific charity methods that informed the , established in in 1869, which prioritized individualized assessments to prevent dependency. In the United States, similar influences shaped urban relief efforts and the formation of Charity Organization Societies in cities like New York (1877) and , where the emphasis on personal oversight and conditional support echoed Elberfeld's mechanics, fostering a transatlantic shift toward discerning rather than universal aid. Historians attribute to the Elberfeld System a causal influence in transitioning European and American welfare practices from blanket to more targeted, investigative models, laying groundwork for 20th-century principles without supplanting national systems entirely. This exportable framework demonstrated how localized, volunteer-driven conditional aid could reduce costs and promote , as evidenced by its emulation in select foreign municipalities before the rise of state-mandated programs.

Evaluations: Achievements and Shortcomings

The Elberfeld System achieved notable reductions in expenditures and dependency rates following its implementation in 1853. In Elberfeld and adopting municipalities, the number of relief recipients and associated costs decreased substantially, with reports indicating a marked decline in dependents and support outlays wherever the system was introduced, attributed to its emphasis on personalized oversight and work incentives that promoted self-sufficiency over indefinite aid. For instance, comparative analyses highlighted considerable drops in both recipient numbers and financial burdens, contrasting with rising costs in traditional relief models. These outcomes stemmed from volunteer visitors' efforts to identify employable individuals and enforce labor participation, yielding lower proportions relative to in industrializing areas. Critics, including contemporary observers like John McCulloch, pointed to structural flaws such as the system's official, state-administered nature, which limited flexibility and fostered dependency on bureaucratic discretion rather than pure voluntarism. The intensive home visits by unpaid overseers, while enabling tailored aid, often involved intrusive surveillance that alienated recipients and risked subjective moral judgments, potentially exacerbating stigma without addressing underlying economic dislocations like cyclical unemployment in textile sectors. Over time, scalability issues emerged as industrialization overwhelmed volunteer capacity, leading to critiques that the model prioritized cost-cutting over comprehensive structural reforms, though evidence counters claims of inherent cruelty by demonstrating voluntary overseer engagement and superior outcomes to centralized alternatives in comparable German cities.

Economy and Industry

Rise of Textile and Chemical Sectors

Elberfeld's expanded rapidly in the , leveraging the Wupper Valley's tradition of bleaching established by a commercial privilege in 1527. By the mid-1800s, and had become dominant, with mechanized processes employing a large share of the local workforce in and processing. This sector's growth reflected competitive , as independent firms innovated in finishing techniques to meet rising demand for finished fabrics across . The emerged in tandem with textiles, focusing on synthetic dyes essential for coloring woven goods. In 1863, & Co. was founded in adjacent , relocating its main facilities to Elberfeld by 1866 to capitalize on the proximity to textile operations. By the late 19th century, had become a leader in dyes, exporting products worldwide and contributing to Elberfeld's pre-World War I global trade networks, with dyestuffs forming the core of its output. This integration of chemicals and textiles underscored efficient supply chains driven by market incentives rather than state direction. Rail infrastructure further propelled Elberfeld's economic ascent, positioning it as a vital node in the Rhine-Ruhr corridor. The Bergisch-Märkische Railway's Elberfeld-Dortmund line, operational from , connected the city to coal fields and ports, slashing transport costs for raw materials like and dyes while enabling bulk exports of finished textiles and chemicals. This connectivity amplified production volumes, with the valley's industries shipping goods efficiently to international markets by the .

Economic Challenges and Transitions

Following the post-World War II economic boom, Elberfeld, as part of , experienced significant starting in the 1970s due to and competition from low-wage producers in and . The sector, once dominant, saw widespread factory closures, reducing its contribution to local income to approximately 7% by the late . This decline contributed to structural economic challenges, including population loss since the early 1980s, as traditional manufacturing jobs diminished amid broader shifts in global trade patterns. In response, the region transitioned toward a service-oriented economy, leveraging institutions like the , established in 1972, which has fostered growth in education, research, and knowledge-based industries. The university and affiliated bodies, such as the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, have supported diversification into sustainable technologies and initiatives, creating synergies with Wuppertal's broader urban ecosystem. These efforts have helped mitigate by promoting innovation clusters focused on environmental and economic transformation, though the city continues to grapple with legacy industrial dependencies. Urban renewal projects in Elberfeld's central areas, including the 2014 redevelopment of the rundown Hauptbahnhof district—Wuppertal's largest post-war initiative—have aided revival through mixed-use developments that integrate commercial, residential, and transport functions. Such initiatives have encouraged by repurposing derelict sites for young firms, contributing to localized economic stabilization without relying solely on heavy public subsidies. By the , these adaptations have shown modest success in attracting service-sector enterprises and fostering resilience amid ongoing national trends.

Culture, Landmarks, and Society

Architectural and Cultural Heritage

The Elberfelder Rathaus at Neumarkt, constructed from 1897 to 1900 in neo-Renaissance style, symbolizes Elberfeld's late-19th-century industrial affluence derived from textile and chemical enterprises. This four-storey edifice, crowned by a 79-meter tower with a copper-clad mansard roof and clock tower, features ornate facades with turrets and detailed stonework that highlight the era's architectural ambition. Segments of the traversing Elberfeld, engineered by Eugen Langen and opened on March 1, 1901, exemplify innovative tailored to the constrained Wupper Valley topography. Comprising 8.2 kilometers of suspended track supported by 19,200 tonnes of steel, the electric facilitated efficient transport amid dense urban and industrial development, enduring as a hallmark of Elberfeld's engineering legacy. The Von der Heydt Museum, founded in 1902 and housed in the prior Elberfeld city hall built 1827–1842, curates collections spanning 19th- and 20th-century European art, including Impressionist and Expressionist works, sustained by industrial-era philanthropy. Complementing this, specialized venues like the Bandwebermuseum preserve heritage through displays of historic weaving machinery and ribbon production techniques, connecting Elberfeld's cultural narrative to its manufacturing roots. Ecclesiastical structures in Elberfeld reflect the district's predominant Reformed Protestant heritage, with congregations tracing to the 16th-century Bergisch Calvinist influences that shaped local social and confessional identity amid regional religious shifts.

Social Reforms and Community Life

In the 19th century, Elberfeld's traditional craft guilds, particularly among linen weavers and dyers, evolved into voluntary journeymen associations amid rapid industrialization, promoting mutual aid and self-organization among workers. These groups, such as the Association of Artisans founded by Johann Gregor Breuer in the 1840s, provided communal housing, savings schemes, and moral support to apprentices displaced by urban migration, serving as precursors to larger Catholic workers' movements. Adolph Kolping, serving as chaplain in Elberfeld from 1845 to 1849, directed one such small journeymen group, emphasizing personal responsibility and cooperative ethics over state dependency, which influenced the broader Kolping Society's expansion beyond local bounds. Educational initiatives rooted in these associations addressed workers' needs for self-improvement, with Elberfeld hosting institutions for vocational training and general enlightenment by the mid-1800s. Contemporary accounts highlight working men's societies in Elberfeld offering classes in reading, arithmetic, and technical skills, blending Protestant ideals with practical instruction to foster . These efforts laid groundwork for later expansions in the region, including vocational schools that emphasized hands-on learning for the and chemical industries, reflecting a community-driven commitment to amid industrial growth. Post-World War II, Elberfeld's community demonstrated resilience through rebuilding after severe Allied bombing in 1943 destroyed much of the district's infrastructure and housing. Local residents participated in rubble clearance and reconstruction of key communal sites, such as the Alte Reformierte Kirche, rebuilt by 1953 under community oversight, and the Sankt Suitbertus Church, restored by 1954 with volunteer labor supplementing official efforts. The rapid resumption of the Wuppertal Suspension Railway's service within a year of war's end further exemplified collective initiative, as citizens and firms coordinated repairs to restore daily connectivity and economic function, underscoring a tradition of localized self-reliance.

Notable People

Industrialists and Philanthropists

(1825–1880), a dye salesman, co-founded the dyestuff et comp. on August 1, 1863, in Elberfeld with master dyer Johann Friedrich Weskott, initially employing a small workforce to produce synthetic dyes amid the burgeoning chemical sector. By Bayer's death in 1880, the firm had expanded into a family-run operation with diversified production, laying the groundwork for large-scale job creation—reaching over 300 employees by 1881 when it converted to a —and establishing Elberfeld as a hub for chemical innovation driven by entrepreneurial risk-taking rather than state subsidy. The von der Heydt banking family, originating from cloth trading in Elberfeld around 1754, amassed wealth financing textile and emerging industrial enterprises, including co-founding the Düsseldorf-Elberfeld Railway Company in 1837 to facilitate raw material transport. August von der Heydt (1801–1874), a key family member and later Prussian commerce minister, channeled banking profits into , with descendants like August von der Heydt (1851–1929) and Eduard (1882–1964) donating significantly to establish and endow the Von der Heydt Museum in 1901, funding acquisitions of over 1,000 artworks and supporting local cultural infrastructure independent of government welfare systems. Early industrialist Friedrich Harkort (1793–1880) operated a in Elberfeld and pioneered by constructing a 900-meter trial suspension monorail in 1826 on mill grounds to haul and goods, employing local labor and testing overhead transport concepts that reduced reliance on animal power, though the prototype operated briefly before financial constraints halted expansion. This innovation exemplified self-funded experimentation by Ruhr-area entrepreneurs extending activities to Elberfeld's manufacturing base, contributing to infrastructural precedents without public funding.

Political and Military Figures

Walter Simons (1861–1937), born in Elberfeld on 24 September 1861, was a German jurist and who served as of the Reich from 12 March to 12 May 1925, following Friedrich Ebert's death, until Paul von Hindenburg's election. He previously acted as secretary of state for foreign affairs and contributed to early constitutional frameworks as a legal scholar. In the early 1920s, held the position of for the Nazi Party's Rhineland-North district, headquartered in Elberfeld from August 1924 to 1926, where he edited the local Völkische Freiheit newspaper and expanded party membership amid economic distress. This role marked a pivotal step in his ascent within the NSDAP, leveraging local industrial unrest to recruit supporters before his transfer to . Ernst Lohagen (1897–1973), born in Elberfeld on 12 May 1897, joined the early and rose to of in 1933, overseeing regional administration until 1935, then served as of Weser-Ems from 1940 to 1945. Post-war, he was interned by Allied authorities but released without trial by 1948. Matthias Kleinheisterkamp (1893–1945), born in Elberfeld on 22 June 1893, was a career who joined the SS in 1934, attaining the rank of by 1943 and commanding formations including the and III SS Panzer Corps during operations in the and . He died by suicide on 29 April 1945 while in Soviet captivity near Halbe.

Artists, Scientists, and Others

Werner Josten (1885–1963), a who emerged from Elberfeld's industrial environment, studied music against his family's wishes and later taught at in the United States, producing orchestral works influenced by his German roots. Werner Berg (1904–1981), born in Elberfeld to a merchant family amid the region's textile boom, pursued painting despite initial familial opposition, developing a style blending and religious themes during his studies in and . Ernest Fiene (1894–1965), an Elberfeld native who immigrated to New York as a teenager, became known for his realist depictions of American urban and rural scenes, exhibiting at the and contributing to WPA projects. In the sciences, Julius Plücker (1801–1868), born in Elberfeld during the Napoleonic era, advanced analytical geometry with his line geometry and conducted pioneering experiments on cathode rays, laying groundwork for later developments in electromagnetism and spectroscopy as professor in Bonn. His work emphasized mathematical modeling of physical phenomena, reflecting the era's shift toward empirical precision in German academia. Among others, Heinz Thilo (1911–1945), born in Elberfeld, served as an SS physician at from 1942, where he participated in prisoner selections for gassing, including one on January 2, 1944, that condemned 141 men, and conducted medical experiments; he died in combat near the war's end.

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