Carl Wurster

Carl Wurster (2 December 1900, in Stuttgart – 14 December 1974, in Frankenthal) was a German chemist and Wehrwirtschaftsführer (war economy leader) during the Third Reich. He subsequently became one of the leading figures in post-war Germany's industrial life.

Pre-war career The son of police inspector Carl Wurster and his wife, Clara Sippel Carl Wuster entered the German Imperial Army to serve in the First World War after leaving school. After his war service he studied chemistry at the University of Stuttgart whilst also serving with the Einwohnerwehr, a right-wing militia active in southern Germany. Following the German occupation, Wurster went to Poland to inspect the chemical works in that country. Here he was able to determine which could be absorbed by IG Farben and utilised as part of the Nazi war effort.

After the war The occupying Allies initially gave Wurster permission to remain in charge of the plant at Ludwigshafen following the end of the war but in 1947 he was arrested by American authorities to face trial at Nuremberg.