Brunsviga in the 1930s and during the second world war.
Technical director Dr.-Ing Hermann Hoffmeister died on April 24th 1930. On October 2nd 1931, Franz Trinks died as well, and Karl Runte became general director.
In 1931, there were 92 BRUNSVIGA distributors in foreign cities. The foundry was closed in the same year. During the economic crisis in the beginning of the 1930’s, “Brunsviga” fired employees, and introduced shorter working times. From October 1933 on, the demand increased sharply, and the normal company regime was resumed. Manufactured were, among others, e.g. the BRUSNVIGA 13 Z, as well as the cheaper 13 P and 13 M. The company was integrated into the national-socialist economic organization.
In 1934 and 1935, around 30.000 RM was deposited in a fund for the support of long-time employees, in 1936 around 50.000 RM. The larger profits served for the erection of further new buildings, e.g. a new office block with a bombshelter for 500 people (since war was already expected).
In 1937, on the grounds of the former foundry, a garden and playground was built for the members of the company organization. In addition a “comradship space” and a factory kitchen were built.
From 1936 on, “Brunsviga” bought land at the Hamburgerstrasse 248-251 and erected the “Viga”-factory, or factory II. Until the end of the war, e.g. explosion timers for the 8,8 cm flack-grenades were built there. Top secret contracts through the ministry of economic affairs were secured from the end of 1934 on. Factory director and from 1940 on director of the Viga factory was Dipl.-Ing Kurt Neumann, his substitute was Dipl.-Ing Seidel aus Jena.
After a new factory record was set by the sale of 10.000 calculators in 1937 alone, calculator manufacture was limited to very few models during the war. Especially for the war effort, e.g. the BRUNSVIGA D 13 Z was built, for ballistic calculations. Apart from this, “Brunsviga” accepted an order for a “directional and wide fire apparatus” (accessory for machine guns).
The son of Karl Runte, Hans-Joachim Runte, had started as general secretary in the “Brunsviga-Maschinenwerk”. In 1941, Hans-Joachim Runte and Dr. Gustav Schenk were promoted to directors of the company, and regular members of the board of directors, and Karl Runte became president of the board of directors. In 1940, in both factories, piecework was introduced. From 1942 on, “Brunsviga” employed Russian forced laborers, both for the manufacture of calculators as well as for war deliveries.
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