1923
The early twenties brought further major changes: With effect from January 1, 1923, the J. G. ANSCHÜTZ Germaniawaffenwerk was converted into a stock corporation. Fritz and Otto Veit Anschütz were appointed as directors of the company. Unfortunately, Otto Veit Anschütz died only a few weeks later, on February 7, 1923, and his wife Alma Anschütz took over her husband's shares in the company. She was to prove herself as the company's financial manager. Fritz Anschütz was the head of the company or, in today's terms, the chairman of the board. Like his father at the time, he was supported by his two sons Rudolf and Max Anschütz. They too had already eagerly acquired extensive knowledge of the gunsmith's trade in order to be able to continue the company one day. This made them the third generation of the family business.
Max Anschütz, ca. 1960
Rudolf Anschütz, ca. 1960
Inflation, which had been rising sharply in Germany since the beginning of the First World War, led to hyperinflation in 1922 and 1923, destroying private assets on a large scale. Cities, municipalities, counties and private companies stepped into the breach and covered the need for vital financial resources with their own emergency money issues. The emergency money of the ANSCHÜTZ company was guaranteed by the bank Wachenfeld & Gumprich in Zella-Mehlis. The amount given could not be exchanged for cash, but it could be used to buy food and clothing.
Emergency money of the company, worth 500,000 marks. It ensured food and clothing for the employees. Signed by Alma Anschütz, August 4, 1923
The emergency money secured the existence of the employees, like that of barrel smith Heinrich Kürth. Picture ca. 1930
Many members of the Anschütz family were not only known as gunsmith and arms manufacturers, but also as marksmen of the Mehlis shooting society founded in 1526. Fritz Anschütz, for example, was crowned shooting king three times in 1897, 1912 and 1932. His son Max Anschütz was able to win this title in 1934, after he had already become the second-placed 1st knight in 1924 and the third-placed 2nd knight in 1929. In 1939 he managed to become 2nd knight once again.
Fritz Anschütz (top center, arms around his knights) as shooting king of the Mehlis shooting society, 1932.
Max Anschütz as shooting king of the Mehlis shooting society. His knights stand to his left and right, 1934.
The Mehlis shooting society, ca. 1925.
In the mid-twenties, after the war and hyperinflation, something like calm finally returned to everyday life. Due to the constant tightening of gun laws after the end of the war, there was a strong trend towards alarm weapons, such as the police pistol for gas cartridges shown below.
Cockless police stimulus gas pistol, manufactured from 1925.
The introduction of the Rentenmark in November 1923, which became the Reichsmark in 1924, ended hyperinflation. Germany was solvent again. The people - crisis-ridden and disenchanted with politics - sought comfort and distraction. This was the starting signal for the famous Golden Twenties, when glamour and entertainment were suddenly in high demand. Many found distraction and entertainment in hunting, which ensured a permanently high order situation at ANSCHÜTZ. The extensive range of pistols and rifles was presented to international customers in a new catalog in 1931.
Cover of the ANSCHÜTZ catalog from 1931
Approx. 100,000 stock wood blanks are waiting to be processed in the warehouse, approx. 1930