Emma Historic Building in Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt is where you will find the old HQ of IG Farben, the giant German chemical conglomerate and what was once the headquarters of the Supreme Allied Command after World War Two.
In 1925, Hoechst, Bayer, BASF, Agfa, Cassella, Kalle, Weiler-ter Meer and Griesheim-Elektron, merged to form IG Farben. In 1930 IG Farben Haus was constructed in order to house the world’s largest chemical group. As befits a company of this size, the building is impressive.
The IG Farben group discovered one of the earliest antimicrobial drugs, Prontosil. As well as producing synthetic dyes, nitrile rubber, polyurethane and chloroquine. The nerve agent Sarin was first discovered by IG Farben. The company is perhaps best known for its role in producing the poison gas Zyklon B and creating synthetic fuel. If you visit Aushwitz (Oswiecim) you will see a lot about IG Farben.
After the war, the IG-Farbenhaus was the headquarters of Supreme Command of Allied Forces in Europe, and the headquarters of US occupation forces and as a CIA bureau.
In 1995, the German government took ownership and is now part of the University of Frankfurt. The building was refurbished in 2001 and renamed the Poelzig Building in honour of its architect.
Where
IG Farben haus, Grüneburgplatz 1, Frankfurt
Transpor – bus lines 36 and 75, or from underground station Holzhausenstrasse. Check with the Frankfurt Transport Authority for up to date information.
