Lyon Sussmann: The man behind Böblingen's brassiere world star!

Lyon Sussmann: The man behind Böblingen's brassiere world star!

Next June 25th at 7 p.m. there will be a memorial event in the New Town Hall of Böblingen dedicated to the unforgettable life and work of honorary citizen Lyon Sussmann. The former head of the cultural office, Günter Scholz, will give a lecture about Sussmann on this occasion. Anyone interested in local history should not miss this event, as Sussmann is considered one of the city's most influential personalities.

Lyon Sussmann, born on October 31, 1843 in Tauberbischofsheim, came from an important Jewish community in Baden. He was closely associated with the Ludwig Maier mechanical jersey weaving mill, later known for the popular Hautana bra, from 1878 until his death in 1935. Through his innovative work, he brought the company global fame and made it the largest employer in Böblingen. By 1925 the workforce had grown to around 500 people, with up to 85 percent of the workforce being women. Sussmann relied on healthy working conditions and social facilities, which was not a given at that time.

The rise of Hautana

The Hautana brassiere, which was developed by Sussmann's company in 1912, is not just a company product, but symbolizes an important phase in Böblingen's industrial history. Launched at the right time, when many women rejected restrictive corsets, Hautana quickly established itself as a market leader. The successful product was originally based on an invention by Sigmund Lindauer from Cannstatt and was made from elastic jersey fabric - a real comfort boost for women.

The company was not only very popular in Germany, but was already exporting a significant part of its production abroad before the First World War. The first branch was opened in London in 1912, which underlines the international importance of the company.

From success to threat

Unfortunately, Sussmann's life's work was severely affected during the dark times of National Socialism. His company was confiscated and “Aryanized,” which resulted in a painful loss for many Jewish entrepreneurs. His daughter-in-law Erna and her children had to emigrate to escape persecution. No official city representative attended his funeral on February 8, 1935, reflecting the social isolation and severe anti-Semitism that existed at the time.

After the Hautana production facilities disappeared from the cityscape in 1981, the name is only present through the Hautana passage or the Hautana parking garage. Nevertheless, the memorial event and Günter Scholz's lecture will bring the relevance of Sussmann's contribution to the economy, society and culture back into the light.

The event is intended to provide an important platform to honor the historicity of Jewish entrepreneurs in the region and stimulate dialogue about their influence on local development. Anyone who would like to get closer to the topic of Jewish history in Böblingen has the perfect opportunity to do so with this matinee. Let's go, Böblinger! Take the opportunity to take a look into the past and learn more about the people who shaped our city.

For more information about Lyon Sussmann and the Hautana brand, take a look at the articles from Böblingen district newspaper, Böblingen time travel and SZBZ.