Find aids: Findbuch (online searchable) Registraturbilder: At the end of the 19th century, the development of a large chemical industry in Bitterfeld began. In 1893, Elektrochemische Werke GmbH, Berlin, built a chemical factory with an electrical plant for the production of caustic soda and chlorinated lime. In the same year, Chemische Fabrik Elektron AG, Frankfurt/a., decided to M., a subsidiary of Chemische Fabrik Griesheim, to establish a branch in Bitterfeld. In 1894, the Berlin-based Actiengesellschaft für Anilin-Fabrikation also opted for the Bitterfeld site and built a factory for dyestuffs. The choice of location was favoured above all by the presence of lignite deposits, water, clay and clay deposits as well as potash salt deposits around Halle. Equally important for transport was the connection to the railway lines. Walther Rathenau was the first managing director of Elektrochemische Werke GmbH in Bitterfeld. Carl Pistor became head of the Bitterfeld plants of Chemische Fabrik Elektron. Chemische Fabrik Griesheim and Chemische Fabrik Elektron AG merged in 1898. The plants were named Plant I (in the south) for the former plant of Chemische Fabrik Elektron and Plant II (in the north) for the leased facilities of the Elektrochemische Werke. The most important technology at the Bitterfeld site was chloralkali electrolysis. Until 1945, the most important production lines included chloralkali electrolysis products, aluminium and magnesium production. From 1925, Bitterfeld belonged to the IG Farben group and became the headquarters of the IG Farben Betriebsgemeinschaft Mitteldeutschland. With order no. 124 of the SMAD of 30 Oct. 1945, the IG plant was placed under the control of the Soviet administration. In 1946, the Bitterfelder Werke Süd and Nord were integrated into SAG Mineral-Dünggemittel "Kaustik" and thus became the property of the USSR until 1952. After that the name of the plant was VEB Elektrochemisches Kombinat Bitterfeld. Inventory information: The holdings were transferred to the Magdeburg State Archives by the VEB Chemiekombinat Bitterfeld in 1986. The works archive of the chemical combine carried out the indexing mainly by non-archival assistants, who are thus afflicted with deficiencies. In 1994 the collection was transferred to the newly founded Merseburg State Archive for reasons of competence. In 2011, a retroconversion of the finding aid book took place, which resulted in a formal revision of the data, but also in the modification or creation of some file titles. A complete revision/redevelopment of the inventory was postponed in the interest of rapid accessibility. The collection contains a small number of older and more recent documents that are not directly related to the registry formatter. Furthermore, an extensive register of forced labourers has been preserved in the inventory. Additional information: Plumpe, Gottfried: IG Farbenindustrie AG. Economy, Technology and Politics 1904-1945, Berlin 1990 - Hackenholz, Dirk: The Electrochemical Plants in Bitterfeld 1914-1945. A Site of IG-Farbenindustrie AG, Münster 2004 - Bitterfeld Chronicle. 100 Years Chemical Site Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Ed. Member of the Executive Board of Chemie AG Bitterfeld-Wolfen, 1993.
