Synthesewerk Chemiekombinat Bitterfeld
The Synthesewerk Bitterfeld is part of the historic VEB Chemiekombinat Bitterfeld. It lies within Germany’s oldest chemical park, one of the largest in Europe. This site has a rich history that began in 1893.
Three companies started operations here independently: AEG, Chemische Fabrik Griesheim, and AGFA. They were drawn by the region’s affordable lignite deposits and raw materials. The factory became important for producing basic chemicals. In 1936, it gained fame as the birthplace of the world’s first color film. Two years later, it produced the first synthetic-resin ion exchanger.
Chemical synthesis in a factory involves creating new chemical substances by combining various ingredients. This process is commonly used to produce medicines, plastics, and other valuable materials.
During the Second World War, the site shifted its focus to the armament industry. After the war, the factories were controlled by occupation forces, and production was dictated. Over time, the facilities became part of Soviet enterprises such as Kaustik, Kraska, and Photoplenka. In 1953, the East German state took over, renaming the company VEB Chemiekombinat Bitterfeld.
The fall of the Berlin Wall brought significant changes. Out of 18,000 jobs, 12,000 were lost between 1990 and 1994. To save the site, the concept of a chemical park was introduced, welcoming 360 companies that revitalized parts of the location.
However, the Synthesewerk was not part of the modernization. It closed in 1997, making way for modernized facilities and green spaces. Today, this abandoned site stands as a silent witness to over a century of industrial innovation and transformation. I visited the factory in 2022.
