Manfréd Weiss Steel and Metal Works An industrial complex that played an integral role in the Hungarian heavy industry and military production

The Weiss Manfréd Acél- és Fémművek (“Manfréd Weiss Steel and Metal Works”), or colloquially Csepel Művek (“Csepel Works”) was one of the largest machine factories in Hungary, located on Csepel island outside Budapest.

It played an integral role in the heavy industry and military production of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Founded by Baron Manfréd Weiss of Csepel, a Jewish industrialist, by the time of World War I the company was one of largest defense contractors in Austria- Hungary, producing all types of equipment, from airplanes and munitions to automotive engines and cars.

By the outbreak of World War II the company had become a modern industrial conglomerate, with over 40,000 employees, a large part of its management remained largely composed of Hungarian Jews. When Nazi Germany overran Hungary in 1944, the majority of them were arrested by the Gestapo. The Weiss family was allowed to emigrate to Portugal and escape the horrors of the Holocaust, but their large art collection, along with the entire industrial complex bearing their name was taken over by Germany.

Badly damaged by Allied air raids and eventually pillaged during World War II, the company continued in existence until 1950, when it was nationalised and renamed to Rákosi Mátyás Vas- és Fémművek (“Mátyás Rákosi Iron and Metal Works NV”, where “NV” means Nemzeti Vállalat, “National Company”).

Source: wikipedia

More photos on www.linthout.it/csepel