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TOWN HALL HERZOGENAURACH |
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Herzogenaurach, in those days was
a very small town of about 10,000. It is near Nuremberg and Erlangen in Bavaria, Germany.
Although small but it is a picturesque old town dating back to the 15th
century. The houses were built in the Franconia timber frame style and the walls
were made of clay and wicker woven.
The town was first named in 1002 as
Uraha and re-named in the first half of the 14th century as Herzogenaurach. It was
surrounded by four separate rampart and moats and towers. Only two of the
towers still exist and some of the rampart and moats.
In 1702 Lothar Franz von Schoenborn
requested a castle to be built there, mainly for administration
The town had so many industries they
had great problems to get the workforce. There was the tool factory Weiler to
produce specialised tools. The needle bearing factory Schaeffler, INA needle
bearing, and the carpet factory Schaeffler. They were brothers and built up
both companies. The carpet factory was closed down in 1980s because the owner died
but the needle bearing factory expanded to become a world wide business.
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There three brothers Fritz,
Adolf and Rudolf Dassler. Fritz Dassler built up a Lederhosen (leather
trousers) manufacturing. The other brothers were Sports shoes manufacturer.
There was a paper manufacture and several other small companies. You realize it
was a very busy town for 10,000 people.
When Adolf Dassler came back from the
First World War he started to produce sports shoe in his mother's wash house.
Their father Christopher worked in a shoe factory. Adolf then put spikes, which
where produced by the local blacksmith Zehlein who supported them. His eldest
brother Rudolph joined and the 'Gebrueder Dassler Schuhfabrik' (Dassler Brother
Shoe Factory) was born.
Apparently Rudolf Dassler invented
the studs. Adolf Dassler cycled to Berlin for the Olympics 1936 with his
sports shoes including the studs. The
first time they were used by the three times Gold Medallist Jessy Owen at the
1936 Olympics. This really gave it a breakthrough, especially internationally.
After that the two brothers worked hard and each manufactured their own
products. Rudolf Dassler got more involved in Athletics. He also invented some
material to soften the impact on the feet hitting the ground. Adolf Dassler got
more involved in football and invented the screw on studs.
At the beginning of the World War 2
Rudolf and Adolf Dassler had such an argument that they never spoke to each
other again. It was so bad it even split the town apart. People were loyal either
to Rudolf or to Adolf. Even now in the cemetery, one lies one side and the
other right the opposite side. Doesn't make sense?
Adolf Dassler used to have many
famous sports' people to stay with him. People used to get all excited when
they could get a glimpse of the celebrities.
Today Herzogenaurach it is quite a
big town and, of course, Adidas and Puma are enormous. They don't produce the
goods there anymore but the administration is still there. Both their sons of
Adolf Dassler and Rudolf Dassler sold the companies. The granddaughter has a
big sport hotel called Herzo Park and big training facilities for various
sports are there. In the 2006 World Cup the Argentinian team stayed there.
There is also a big warehouse of
Adidas were people can buy Adidas shoes, trainers, shirts, soccer team jerseys,
and shorts. Puma, of course, has their separate warehouse and you also can buy
Puma trainers, shoes, etc. All at reduced prices.
Only in the last decades the town was
more or less united because the Managing Directors of the Adidas and Pumas organized
a football game. This seems to have at last buried the swords..
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