Pulp mill Gröditz

The Gröditzer Sulfitfabrik was built in 1883/1884. The initiator was the former company Kübler & Niethammer, whose main residence was in Kriebstein near Waldheim. The main product was pulp, most of which was used in the Kriebstein and Kriebethal paper mills to manufacture newspaper and medium-fine writing paper.

For almost 40 years, the plant was able to meet the demand for pulp with only a few technical changes, but the further development of the industry and the constantly increasing demand for paper made it necessary to expand the plant and increase production. In 1926, the old wooden acid tower was replaced by one made of concrete.

In 1940, the production of raw spirit from the residue began. In 1944, annual production amounted to 12,234 hectoliters of spirit. Forced laborers were also employed in the pulp mill during the war years.

The new beginning in November 1945 proved difficult, as the plant had been shut down and partially dismantled in April of that year. On June 30, 1946, the plant was transferred to public ownership without compensation.

The pulp mill built its own sports facility – the Philipp Müller Stadium – on the former company-owned farmland on Waldweg, which was inaugurated in 1952. From 1955 onwards, the pulp mill was continuously expanded and modernized.

In 1990, the employees realized that the mill had no chance of success in the market economy due to outdated technology and environmental problems. The Kübler & Niethammer company declined to take over the mill.

In November 1991, the machinery was auctioned off by the bankruptcy administrator. The Gröditz pulp mill was thus history.

Sources:
Broschüre: 100 Jahre Zellstoffwerk, 1983
Egon Förster: “Zwangsarbeiter in Gröditz 1939-1945“, 2004