Welcome toThe Rothschild Archive'swebsite

Sources for business history

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

The Vienna house, S M von Rothschild

Origins

The House of Rothschild first became involved with Austrian finance through the handling of English subsidy payments to her allies during and directly after the Napoleonic wars. Prince Metternich, Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Count Stadion, Austrian Minister of Finance were impressed with the reliability of the Rothschilds in remitting the subsidies without making undue profits that he recommended the family for an elevation to the Austrian nobility. The Rothschild family received the title 'von' by Imperial Austrian decree in 1817.

Early trade

In 1820, Metternich entered into negotiations with the House of Rothschild for a large loan that was to take the form of a lottery. The complicated arrangements for this enormous loan demanded the presence of a Rothschild in Vienna and thus Salomon Mayer (1774-1855), who had been handling Rothschild affairs with Austria, moved to the city and established S M von Rothschild. Prevented from buying property by Imperial restrictions on Jewish rights, Salomon first rented a suite on a permanent basis at the Römischer Kaiser on the Renngasse, one of the most sumptuous hotels in Vienna, finally taking over the whole hotel. In 1843, Salomon was made a citizen of Vienna and thus became the only Jew entitled to purchase property. He bought the Römischer Kaiser, demolishing it, and completely rebuilding the hotel and creating more suitable business premises.

Mercantile trade in the shipment and distribution of commodities, such as cotton, sugar and tobacco from the Americas, generated a sizeable proportion of the Rothschilds’ annual profits. In 1844 S M von Rothschild won a contract to import cigars from Havana for free delivery in Vienna. About 17 million cigars were imported, which increased Salomon’s popularity, since the Viennese had been denied access to genuine Havana cigars by import restrictions imposed by a State tobacco monopoly.

Railways and steel

Rothschild operations in Vienna included investment in the country’s railway network; Salomon was granted the concession to construct a railway linking Bochnia and Vienna in 1832. The Kaiser-Ferdinands-Nordbahn, as it became known was finally completed in 1858. Strategically located in the middle of the Ostravian coal and iron fields in the present-day Czech Republic, the Witkowitz ironworks was in the early 19th century, the Austrian Empire's major centre for the production first of iron and later steel. Salomon von Rothschild, recognising the advantage of being able to provide his own materials for the developing European rail networks (including his own in Austria) acquired Witkowitz in 1842. The purchase was spectacularly successful. The plant was expanded, the workforce grew. Numerous dwellings and social facilities were built and Witkowitz, once a village, grew into an industrial city.  After Salomon's death in 1855, his son Anselm (1803-1874), was the able head of the Viennese House.

The descendants of Salomon von Rothschild

The Viennese bank was directed by Salomon until the revolution of 1848. Thereafter he confined himself to his French cháteau, and the firm was managed by his only son, Anselm (1803-1874). Anselm recognised that only one of his sons, Albert (1844-1911), would suceed him in the business. Three of Albert's sons, Alphonse (1878-1942), Louis (1882-1955) and Eugène (1884-1976) succeeded him on his death in 1911. 

The twentieth century

Witkowitz remained in Rothschild hands for nearly a century, latterly in partnership with another Viennese banking family, the Gutmanns. In 1936, preparing for the eventuality of war, the family transferred their shares to the Alliance Assurance Company in London, a move which served eventually only to delay the seizure of the plant by the Nazis. S M von Rothschild, under the direction of Louis remained in Vienna until the invasion of the Nazis in 1938. Alphonse and Eugène escaped from Vienna at the Anschluß in 1938. In 1939, S M von Rothschild was put under the temporary control of the German firm of Merck, Finck & Co., and finally sold to them, with the newly founded Vienna Bankhaus E.v Nicolai taking over in 1940. After the war, the Austrian family received some recompense but opted not to re-establish the business of S M von Rothschild. In 1948, Witkowitz was nationalised by the new Czech Government, and in 1953 the family was paid a small compensation for the works.

List of the family members who have led the Viennese business.

S M von Rothschild

Baron Salomon Mayer von Rothschild (1774-1855) 
c.1820-1855  

Baron Anselm Salomon von Rothschild (1803-1874) 
1855-1874

Baron Salomon Albert Anselm von Rothschild (1844-1911) 
1874-1911

Baron Louis Nathaniel von Rothschild (1882-1955)
1911-c.1938 

In 1938, the Rothschild family were forced to leave left Vienna. Under Nazi control, the business of S M von Rothschild was sold and effectively wound up.

Salomon Mayer Rothschild (1774-1855)

Salomon Mayer Rothschild (1774-1855)

The Viennese Rothschild Bank on the Renngasse

The Viennese Rothschild Bank on the Renngasse