Topf and Sons

Topf and Sons

J.A. Topf and Sons (J.A. Topf und Söhne) was a former German engineering company, notorious for designing and manufacturing the crematoria used by the Nazis at concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Buchenwald.

Early history

The company of J.A. Topf & Sons, was founded in 1878, in the town of Erfurt, in East Germany. The company began as a manufacturer of furnaces and malting equipment.

During the 1920s the company began manufacturing crematoriums designed by chief engineer Kurt Prüfer.

Holocaust involvement

Topf and Sons was asked by the SS to design special crematoria furnaces capable of cremating very large numbers of bodies. The company and its chief engineer Kurt Prüfer obliged.

Postwar

Kurt Prüfer was captured by the Americans, but released after questioning. The Russians however, arrested Prüfer, and sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment. Prüfer died in a Russian gulag in 1952.

Ludwig Topf, one of the owners of the company, committed suicide in May 1945, whilst his brother Ernst-Wolfgang Topf, fled to West Germany.

The company of Topf & Sons, was nationalized by the former East German Communist regime and remained in business until 1996.

References

*http://www.topfundsoehne.de/download/medienmappe_ef_en.pdf

External links

*http://www.holocaust-history.org/auschwitz/topf/


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • AUSCHWITZ — (Oświęcim), Nazi Germany s largest concentration and extermination camp. The word Auschwitz has become a metaphor for the Holocaust in general, and the phrase after Auschwitz has come to signify the great historical rupture wrought by the murder… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Squatting — Squatter redirects here. For other uses, see Squat (disambiguation). For the resting position, where the weight of the body is on the feet, see squatting position. Part of the Politics series on …   Wikipedia

  • Cremation — A Hindu Cremation in India P …   Wikipedia

  • List of World War II topics (T) — # T 26 # T 27 # T 28 Super Heavy Tank # T 28 # T 34 variants # T 34 # T 35 # T 37 tank # T 38 tank # T 40 # T 43 tank # T 44 # T 50 tank # T 6 Texan variants # T 6 Texan # T 60 tank # T 70 # T G Building, Brisbane # T. E. Burridge # T. H. Jordan… …   Wikipedia

  • Squat (lieu) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Squat. Un squat en Allemagne Le squat (de l anglais « s accroupir »), désigne l installation dans un lieu pour y habiter sans l accord du titulaire lé …   Wikipédia en Français

  • performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical.       The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains …   Universalium

  • Knabenkrautgewächse — Orchideen Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica (links oben) Wespen Ragwurz (Ophrys tenthredinifera) (rechts oben) Paphiopedilum concolor (links unten) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Orchidaceae — Orchideen Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica (links oben) Wespen Ragwurz (Ophrys tenthredinifera) (rechts oben) Paphiopedilum concolor (links unten) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Orchidee — Orchideen Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica (links oben) Wespen Ragwurz (Ophrys tenthredinifera) (rechts oben) Paphiopedilum concolor (links unten) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Orchideengewächse — Orchideen Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica (links oben) Wespen Ragwurz (Ophrys tenthredinifera) (rechts oben) Paphiopedilum concolor (links unten) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”