Dynasties of Steel

At the dawn of the 19th century, in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, iron production was in full swing and numerous factories sprang up across Germany and France. The advent of the iron and steel industry radically transformed Europe’s social, economic and cultural landscape.

Soon, thousands of men were working in the industry: laborers, workers, engineers, forge masters… In Lorraine and Germany, four great families were building their empire: the Krupps, the Thyssen, the Schneiders and the de Wendels. The first representatives of capitalism, these iron barons governed the lives of their employees from the cradle to the grave. From economic miracle to socialist debacle, this documentary narrates the history of a powerful industry, inseparable from that of Europe.

Through a series of personal accounts from workers, trade unionists, factory managers and members of the great industrial families, and thanks to rich archives from the world of labor, Dynasties of Steel traces back 150 years of Franco-German steelmaking.