Name: Vom Erz zum Stahl
Start: 2026-12-23T11:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-12-23T17:00:00+01:00

Iron and steel have been produced from iron ore in Salzgitter for almost 2,000 years. From the archaeological findings of a furnace, we know how people extracted this valuable material back then. For the Middle Ages, there is also source evidence that iron was largely continuously smelted in the Salzgitter region.

In the 19th century, several large smelting works were founded in the northern Harz foreland, such as Ilsede in 1858, Gittertor in 1869 and Othfresen in 1871. However, with the exception of Ilsede, these ironworks were all closed very quickly. It was not until 1937 that a large smelting works was built in the Salzgitter area as part of the National Socialists' policy of autarky. The ore came from the shafts in the southern part of the city. After the end of the Second World War, large parts of the plant were dismantled. However, after long disputes, a small blast furnace plant was able to resume production in 1951.

Today, the Salzgitter steel site is one of the most modern in Europe and Salzgitter AG is a globally active steel and technology group.

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