Kalle, Friedrich (Fritz)

Entrepreneur, social politician

born: 12.01.1837 in Paris

died: 31.07.1915 in Wiesbaden

Kalle studied mining science in Bonn, Berlin and Freiberg, joined his brother Wilhelm Kalle 's chemical factory Kalle & Co. in 1865 and took over its commercial management. His direct contact with the workers, whose economic situation, difficulties and hardships he now got to know first-hand, awakened his social interest. He founded welfare institutions such as a medical care service that provided free care for the workers; this institution gave rise to a company health insurance fund in 1884. To alleviate financial hardship, Kalle set up a savings bank with particularly favorable conditions as well as a bonus fund into which the company made deposits for employees depending on their company affiliation. However, the introduction of a committee, which the workers elected from their ranks and which even then was given the right to have a say and participate in company matters, was groundbreaking.

Kalle was a member of the National Liberal Party and was involved in various employers' organizations. In 1877, for example, he became chairman of an association of the German chemical industry. For him, popular education was the key to solving the "social question". He initiated the founding of the "Society for the Dissemination of Popular Education" (1871) and the "Concordia" association for the promotion of workers' welfare (1879). Up until the First World War, his Society for the Dissemination of Public Education supported 94,138 public libraries in Germany with well over two million volumes. There were also branches in Wiesbaden and Biebrich. With this commitment, it was only a small step that led him to politics. In 1873 and 1879 he was elected to the Prussian House of Representatives, from 1882-89 he was a member of the Reichstag for the National Liberal Party and worked on the Finance Committee for a fairer tax system and the general introduction of an accident insurance law. After leaving the Reichstag, he became involved in Wiesbaden as a city councillor and honorary magistrate (1890-1903) in matters of general financial administration and for the city's poor, school and health services. The introduction of medical supervision of public schools can be traced back to his suggestion. In 1895, as chairman of the health committee and member of the municipal council, Kalle pushed through the appointment of four part-time school doctors. The Prussian Minister of Culture recommended the idea to other city councils for imitation. The introduction of "household lessons" in all upper classes of Wiesbaden's girls' schools also goes back to Kalle and was soon copied by other cities.

Kalle was active on a voluntary basis in numerous charitable associations, institutions and foundations. He was honored many times: Professor (1899) and honorary doctorate from the University of Erlangen (1913), appointment as Privy Government Councillor (1907), awarded the Order of Wilhelm by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1902, honorary citizenship of the city of Wiesbaden in 1903. Kalle was given an honorary grave in the North Cemetery. A street is named after him.