Foreign News: Baron von Krupp

The Du Ponts and other moneyed aristocrats of Wilmington, Del., were honored not long ago to entertain young Baron George Exter Friedrich von Krupp, heir apparent to the vast Krupp works at Essen. The Baron was no mustachioed warlord but, on the contrary, save for his short-clipped blond hair and “der’s” for “the’s,” differed little in mien from a U. S. college undergraduate. He conversed readily, fluently; talked of sport, history, politics; reminisced modestly of his grandfather; spoke of his mother, famed and able Bertha Krupp, with restrained admiration and affection. Then he would sigh for his oppressed people, adding that Germany nevertheless was trying to forget War hurts, hates, scars. The press quoted him as saying that never again would the Krupp works be used for munitions. Wilmington soon began to comment on this vigorous representative of Germany’s youth.

The Baron left Wilmington. He regretted going so much, but he disliked publicity, hence journeyed to Pittsburgh where he was again feted by notables. And again the press commented, “Young Freddie was snooping around. . . .” Vexed by this atrocious taste, the Baron moved to Akron, thence to Detroit, where newspapers duly recorded that he had honored Henry Ford’s birthday party (TIME, Aug. 9).

The Baron moved on; he had plans; he must honor Californians, Hawaiians; besides, he disliked publicity. . . .

He still dislikes publicity. Last week arrested at Albuquerque, N. M., for cashing a worthless check, he protested in indignation that among his friends were Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, Russell Firestone (son of Akron’s tireman), Thomas Edison, Governor Smith of New York, Publisher Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles Times.

Canny police held the young gentleman along with his comrade, Charles Taetsch Jr., a 1927 student at Brown University, and last week the press duly recorded the following facts:

1) The “Baron” had used the alias, “George Adorgan,” when attempting to enter Yale University last fall and had passed several worthless checks upon sophisticated New Haven merchants.

2) Custody of the “Baron’s” person was much desired by the police of Wilmington and Pittsburgh.

Once upon a time (1810) one Friedrich Krupp purchased a forge in Essen; hammered hard and long in making a new product, “cast steel”; died. His good works were carried on by his widow and 14-year-old son Alfred, but little success was achieved until 1847, when the Krupp works exhibited a 3-pound muzzle-loading cannon of cast steel which attracted wide attention. German militarists, pleased, gave orders. The Krupps built model villages—”colonies,” with schools, libraries, recreation grounds, clubs, stores. When Alfred Krupp died at Essen in 1887 he was called the “Cannon King.”

He also had a son in the tradition, Friedrich Alfred Krupp, who purchased the “Germania” shipyard at Kiel, expanded the industry until it employed 40,000 workmen. At his death in 1902, he was succeeded by his elder and able daughter Bertha who in 1906 married Dr. Gustav von Bohlen und Halbach. At that time, Germany was just getting into her stride in the naval competition with Great Britain, and the demand for steel was enormous. Before the War, visitors to Essen stood aghast at the monstrous flame-belching foundries hastily proceeding with their grotesquely demoniacal output. And during the War Frau Bertha Krupp von Bohlen was undoubtedly the most potent female defender of the Fatherland.

Hence the correct name of the genuine 20-year-old Krupp heir is not “Baron von Krupp” but Baron Alfred Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach. At present he resides in Essen.