# IG Farben

> German chemical and pharmaceutical company

**Wikidata**: [Q156152](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q156152)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IG_Farben)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ig-farben

## Summary
IG Farben was a German chemical and pharmaceutical company formed in 1916 through the merger of several major chemical firms. It became one of the world's largest chemical companies and played a significant role in both industrial development and controversial activities during World War II.

## Key Facts
- Founded on December 2, 1916, in Frankfurt, Germany
- Dissolved on October 31, 2012, after liquidation proceedings
- Operated as a conglomerate of major German chemical companies including BASF, Bayer, Hoechst, and Agfa-Gevaert
- Headquarters located in the IG Farben Building in Frankfurt, designed by architect Hans Poelzig and completed in 1930
- Subject of the IG Farben Trial at Nuremberg following World War II
- Owned subsidiaries including Degesch (which supplied Zyklon B to Nazi SS) and Buna Werke
- Operated major industrial complexes including the Leuna works
- Employed thousands of workers across multiple facilities and subsidiaries

## FAQs
**What was IG Farben's primary business?**
IG Farben was primarily a chemical and pharmaceutical company that manufactured industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and other chemical products. It operated across multiple sectors including pharmaceuticals, paints, plastics, and information technology.

**Where was IG Farben headquartered?**
IG Farben was headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, with its main administrative building being the IG Farben Building, now part of Goethe University Frankfurt.

**What companies were part of IG Farben?**
IG Farben was formed from the merger of major German chemical companies including BASF, Bayer, Hoechst, and Agfa-Gevaert, along with other firms like Cassella and WCM AG.

**What happened to IG Farben after World War II?**
After World War II, IG Farben was broken up by the Allies and its constituent companies were separated. The company itself underwent liquidation proceedings and was officially dissolved in 2012.

**What was the IG Farben Trial?**
The IG Farben Trial was a series of Nuremberg trials that prosecuted IG Farben executives for their involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity during World War II.

## Why It Matters
IG Farben represents a pivotal chapter in industrial history, demonstrating both the potential and perils of large-scale corporate consolidation. As one of the world's largest chemical companies, it drove significant technological innovation in pharmaceuticals, synthetic materials, and industrial chemistry. However, its involvement in supplying materials for Nazi war efforts and participation in forced labor programs during World War II makes it a complex and controversial historical entity. The company's legacy continues to influence discussions about corporate responsibility, ethical business practices, and the role of industry in wartime.

## Notable For
- Creation of the first synthetic rubber (Buna) and synthetic gasoline
- Development of numerous pharmaceutical products and chemical innovations
- Construction of the iconic IG Farben Building, an architectural landmark in Frankfurt
- Being the largest chemical company in the world during its peak
- Its role in supplying materials for Nazi Germany's war machine
- The landmark Nuremberg trials that prosecuted its executives
- The complete liquidation of the company taking nearly 70 years after its dissolution

## Body
### Formation and Early History
IG Farben was established on December 2, 1916, in Frankfurt, Germany, through the merger of major chemical companies including BASF, Bayer, Hoechst, and Agfa-Gevaert. This consolidation was driven by the need for coordinated chemical production during World War I. The company quickly grew to become one of the world's largest chemical and pharmaceutical conglomerates.

### Corporate Structure and Subsidiaries
The company operated through numerous subsidiaries and owned companies including Degesch, which was responsible for supplying Zyklon B to the Nazi SS for use in Holocaust extermination camps. Other significant subsidiaries included Buna Werke, which operated synthetic rubber production facilities, and Leuna works, a major chemical industrial complex. The company also had ownership stakes in Cassella, a chemical and dye company.

### Industrial Operations
IG Farben operated across multiple industrial sectors including pharmaceuticals, chemical manufacturing, paint production, plastics, and information technology. The company employed tens of thousands of workers across its various facilities and subsidiaries. Major production sites included the Leuna works complex and the Buna Werke facilities.

### Architecture and Headquarters
The company's headquarters was the IG Farben Building in Frankfurt, designed by renowned architect Hans Poelzig and completed in 1930. This building, now part of Goethe University Frankfurt, remains an architectural landmark and represents the company's prominence in the industrial world.

### World War II Involvement
During World War II, IG Farben played a significant role in supporting the Nazi war effort. The company supplied synthetic rubber, synthetic gasoline, and other materials crucial to Germany's military operations. It also operated factories that used forced labor from concentration camps, including the infamous Buna Werke facility at Auschwitz.

### Post-War Consequences
Following World War II, IG Farben executives were prosecuted in the Nuremberg trials, known as the IG Farben Trial. The company was subsequently broken up by Allied forces, with its constituent companies separated and restructured. The original company entity remained in liquidation for decades, finally being dissolved on October 31, 2012.

### Legacy and Impact
The legacy of IG Farben continues to influence discussions about corporate ethics, wartime responsibility, and industrial consolidation. While the company's constituent firms like BASF, Bayer, and Hoechst continue to operate as major global corporations, the IG Farben name remains associated with one of the most controversial chapters in industrial history. The company's innovations in chemical and pharmaceutical production were significant, but its wartime activities have left a complex and troubling historical legacy.

## References

1. 20th Century Press Archives
2. [Flourishing in a dictatorship: Agfa's marketing and the Nazi regime](https://archive.is/CmITI#selection-521.0-521.67)
3. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/Law-Reports_Vol-10.pdf)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. [Source](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/subsequent-nuremberg-proceedings-case-6-the-ig-farben-case)
8. Quora