Künzelsau and Germany experienced a remarkably positive economic
development following the monetary reform in 1948 and the
introduction of the Deutschmark. Künzelsau profited from the success
of existing and newly established family companies, many of which
have advanced today to become world market leaders in their field.
- in the 50's Albert Sefranek transformed Luise Hermann's factory for
workmen's cloths into the Mustang Jeans factory.
- in 1945 Adolf Würth founded his mechanical fastener company Würth
in the Schlossmühle, an old mill.
The following companies located during and after WW2 in Künzelsau.
All started off in the Schlossmühle,
- Stahl, electric lifts, 1944 from Stuttgart
- Sigloch, bookbinder, 1944 from Stuttgart
- Ziehl-Abegg, electric motors, 1949 from Berlin
The acute shortage of labour resulting from the economic boom of the
"Wirtschaftswunder" led to the recruitment of foreign workers from
southern Europe. Greek workers from the Pangeo region were the first
to come to this area in large numbers. Since then many new immigrants
from other areas of Europe and the rest of the world have made their
home here and enrich the economic and cultural life of the area. These
include the considerable numbers of Russian-Germans who arrived
during the 1980's.
New vocational school centre is opened in Schippberg.
Reclassification of the state secondary school
(Ganerbengymnasium)
New secondary school, Georg Wagner School, as comprehensive
institution.
A private initiative among the citizens in favour of an improved musical
education leads to the establishment of a Music School for young
musicians. The number of pupils has since increased to approximately
500, who together with their teachers perform regularly at local and
regional functions.
As a result of the restructuring of local administration, eight
neighbouring villages are incorporated into Künzelsau :
Amrichshausen, Belsenberg, Gaisbach, Kocherstetten, Morsbach,
Nitzenhausen, Sonnhofen (in 1977) and Steinbach.
The same restructuring led to the formation of the Hohenlohe
administrative district.The two original districts of Künzelsau and
Öhringen were amalgamated and Künzelsau was defined as the seat
of administration.
Eberhard Gienger of Künzelsau is crowned world gymnastic high bar
champion.In addition to this title he won 36 German titles and three
European championships. He also won the bronze medal at the 1976
Olympic Games in Montreal.
Completion of the new Ganerbengymnasium secondary school near
Nagelsberg, which was further extended in 2001
Bürgermeister Herbert Frenz retires. The 36-year-old Volker Lenz is
elected as the new Bürgermeister.
Renovation of the buildings in the older part of Künzelsau. With
additional funding from the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, older
sections of the town are progressively renovated and modernised,
improving the living, working and daily life in the town.
Completion of the new Landratsamt building, the administration
centre of Hohenlohe, in Künzelsau.
Start of the City-Bus service. Following the ever-expanding nature of
the town, it became necessary to introduce a bus service linking the
outlying villages to the town. This was provided by the
Nahverkehrssystem of the Hohenlohe district (NVH).
Inauguration of the Reinhold Würth University, an associate college
of the Technical University in Heilbronn, by Lothar Späth, the prime
minister of Baden-Württemberg at the time.
Opening of the new town hall in Künzelsau.
Künzelsau joins the neighbouring towns of Kupferzell and Waldenburg
in forming the Hohenlohe Industrial Park.
Twinning ceremony between Marcali in Hungary and Künzelsau.
The first residents of the new Taläcker residential area (approx 200m
above the town) move in. Since then, about 3,000 people have taken
up residence there.
Inauguration of the cable railway between Künzelsau and Taläcker
In recognition of their generous cultural, academic, educational and
social commitment to the town, the entrepreneur Prof. Reinhold Würth
and his wife Carmen are declared honorary citizens of Künzelsau.
Inauguration of the Freie Schule Anne Sophie, a private school
inTaläcker financed by the Würth Foundation.
Completion of the Main Street renovation. Between 2007 and 2009
the Künsbach stream was fed into a new canal system under the main
street and the street subsequently resurfaced.
After many years of uncertainty and supported by a strong citizen
engagement, the Stadtmuseum (Town Museum) was opened by
Bürgermeister Volker Lenz.
At the mayoral election, the youngest candidate, Stefan Neumann
(28), was elected new Bürgermeister on the first count.
Albert and Ursula Berner, the entrepreneur couple, are declared
honorary citizens of Künzelsau in recognition of their commitment to
the cultural, sporting and social fabric of the town.
Opening of the dementia centre in the Max- Richard and Renate-
Hoffmann House in Künzelsau.
Dr. Alexander Gerst is declared an honorary citizen of Künzelsau.
The qualified geophysicist, flight engineer and German ESA academic
astronaut spent 6 months in the ISS International Space Station in
orbit 400 km above the surface of the earth.
On 26th May a devastating downpour hit Künzelsau and a number of
other towns in the Kocher valley.The normally docile Künsbach was
turned into a raging torrent which caused a lot of damage to houses and
businesses in the town centre, including the old town hall.
In July, the Carmen-Würth-Forum in Künzelsau-Gaisbach was officially
opened, comprising a chamber music hall and a multi-function congress
centre surrounded by a sculpture park, designed by the star architect
D. Chipperfield. At the end of June 2020, the extended Forum with
Museum Würth 2 and additional conference rooms and museum café
was opened.
The old town hall was completely renovated, a lift was added and the
facade newly painted.In December it was officially reopened, including
the town library and meeting rooms.The old historical meeting chamber
has also been restored to its original splendour.
1967
1970
1972-73
1974
1975
from 1986
1977
1979
1988
1989
1991
1992
1993
1999
2003
2008
2009
2012
2014
2010
2016
2015
2017
2020
1986
2010
Town History - Time Line
2019
1973
Compiled on a voluntary basis by
Claus Brümmer of Künzelsau
Translated from the original German text by
Paul Lyons
2020
from 1961
from 1945
1961
1962