BDI Historical Archive

The historical archive is the BDI’s long-term memory. At present the archive contains almost a thousand metres of shelving dedicated to documents relating to the history of German industry’s umbrella association. From industry's perspective they primarily document the economic and political-historical context at national and international level.

Files from the BDI management’s executive and specialist departments constitute the core of the BDI archive. It also contains important photos, films, audio recordings and publications from the BDI’s more than sixty years of history.

Archival documents which have already been released for use can be viewed in the BDI archive after prior appointment.  

Insights into the Historical Archive

Fritz Berg to Konrad Adenauer regarding the foundation of the Committee for Economic Issues. Copy of the letter dated 30 November 1949 from a personal file of Emil Schniewind, Head of Department of the BDI Executive Board.
Ludwig Erhard, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Hans-Wilhelm Beutler, BDI Director-General at the central event (Annual Conference) and General Assembly of the BDI on 16 May 1957 in Frankfurt/Main. Next to him, from the left, Franz Blücher, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation; Fritz Berg, BDI President; Robert Pferdmenges, President of the Federal Association of German Banks and, on the very right, Siegfried Balke, Federal Minister for Nuclear Energy and Water Resouces. © BDI/photo: Herbert Wiesemann
Helmut Schmidt as the newly elected Federal Chancellor during his speech at the BDI Annual Conference on 21 May 1974, held at the Inter-Continental Hotel, Cologne. At the front, on the left at the dinner table, Hanns Martin Schleyer. © BDI/photo: Wolf P. Prange
Federal Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Bangemann (2nd from the right) at the BDI SME Day on 6 May 1985 "Wende in der Mittelstandspolitik?" ("Shift in SME Policy?") at the Town Hall, Bad Godesberg, Bonn. Also on the first row, from left to right: Siegfried Mann, BDI Director General, Hans Joachim Langmann, BDI President and Hans Martin Wälzholz-Junius, Chairman of the BDI SME Committee. © BDI/photo: Wolfgang v. Brauchitsch

All information regarding pictures and photographs on this page is to the best of our knowledge and belief. We would like to ask you to inform us immediately regarding any incorrect declaration of the rights. 

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