Metadata: World War One. Sequester. Deutsche Bank Berlin. Brussels branch
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- National Archives of Belgium 2 – Joseph Cuvelier Repository
- Holding institution (official language):
- Archives Générales du Royaume 2 – Dépôt Joseph Cuvelier
- Postal address:
- Hopstraat 26-28 / Rue du Houblon 26-28, 1000 Bruxelles
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)2 274 15 00
- Web address:
- http://www.arch.be/
- Email:
- agr_ar_2@arch.be
- Reference number:
- NAB2-Brussels-545-20
- Title:
- World War One. Sequester. Deutsche Bank Berlin. Brussels branch
- Title (official language):
- WO 1. Sekwester. Deutsche Bank Berlin. Filiaal Brussel
- Creator/accumulator:
- Deutsche Bank, Brussels branch
- Date(s):
- 1904/1933
- Language:
- French
- German
- Extent:
- 113.19 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- This fonds is mainly of interest because of the series of individual files constituted in the name of clients/account holders. We especially note the series of client files (2234 files in total), often consisting of correspondence, documents concerning financial audits, testaments, claims, etc. We find files for i.a. the Balser family (nos. 1693-1697), Grands Magasins Léonhard Tietz (no. 2561), Mayer & Cie (no. 2989), Norden Arthur (no. 3097) and Norden Frères (no. 3098). We also point out the various types of bookkeeping and accounting registers that likely contain interesting information.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Deutsche Bank was founded in 1870 at the initiative of Adelbert Delbrück and Ludwig Bamberger, as the first deposit bank in Berlin. In addition to offering financial services, the bank was also tasked to stimulate trade relations between Germany and the rest of Europe and the overseas territories. To this end, the bank participated in leading foreign banks, and established branches at home and abroad. In 1909 Deutsche Bank decided to acquire the Belgian bank Balser & Cie. This bank had an important clientele in Brussels, there was a significant German community in the capital, as well as investment possibilities in the Belgian economy and colonial trade. The Brussels branch opened on 1 January 1910 and was located in the old buildings of the Balser bank in Arenbergstraat. Among its customers were banks, insurance firms, stockbrokers etc as well as nobles, merchants, and many small and large businesses. H. Von Hauff was its director (replaced in 1912 by Ferdinand Kautz), assisted by deputy director Hermann Düfer and (from 1912) Conrad August Bisschoff. The bank was mainly interested in foreign city and state loans, but also in participation in companies from Central Africa. During the First World War, Deutsche Bank managed the accounts of the German war institutions, including for example the economic ‘centrals’ such as the Kohlenzentrale. The Brussels branch was sequestered from 29 November 1918. The liquidation process was put in motion from 1920; the last ordinance regarding the operation was issued in 1929, and by 1932 the sequestration and liquidation of Deutsche Bank – Brussels was completed. (K. Carrein, J. Mestdagh & C. Vancoppenolle, Inventaris van het archief van Deutsche Bank. Succursale de Bruxelles (1904-1933), I 369, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 2005, pp. 7-27.)
- Access points: locations:
- Brussels
- Access points: persons/families:
- Balser family
- Finding aids:
- K. Carrein, J. Mestdagh & C. Vancoppenolle, Inventaris van het archief van Deutsche Bank. Succursale de Bruxelles (1904-1933), I 369, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 2005.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
