VEB Halbmond-Teppiche

THE ABANDONED FACTORY IN GERMANY

‘VEB Halbmond-Teppiche’ is an abandoned carpet factory in Oelsnitz, a small town in the heart of Vogtland. It made carpets in the orient style.

In 1880, Karl W. Koch and Fritz te Kock founded a carpet weaving mill. Oelsnitz quickly becomes the largest carpet producer in Germany. From here, the rugs go around the world. By 1900 the factory counted 1600 employees. in 1930 the number of employees had increased to 2500. Adolf Hitler’s ‘Reichskanzelerei’ was entirely furnished with Halbmond carpets. In 1953, Koch & te Kock, Adoros and Tefzet were merged into the ‘VEB Halbmond-Teppiche’.

In the 1970s the company is included in the DEKO Plauen enterprise. The brand retains its worldwide reputation, and exports do not decrease during the economic crisis.

Halbmond Teppichwerke

After the reunification of Germany, the business was continued in 1990 under the name ‘Halbmond Teppichwerke GmbH’. Not much later the buildings were abandoned because the factory moved to another part of town.

The company is still active today. In the Carpet Museum Schloss Voigtberg some of the old Halbmond rugs are on display. I visited the old factory buildings in 2019.

Built 1880

Abandoned 1995

Endangered

The inner court of the factory.
Workshop of the abandoned carpet factory.
One of the decaying factory halls.
Rusty tools in the factory.
After the reunification of Germany, the business was continued in 1990 under the name ‘Halbmond Teppichwerke GmbH’.
Hallway of the offices.
Adolf Hitler’s ‘Reichskanzelerei’ was entirely furnished with Halbmond carpets.
Urban exploring in Germany.
Cast iron stairs.
Flight of stairs.
Offices in decay.
Detail of the derelict factory in Germany.
Urbex location in Germany.
Documents of the old spinning machine.
The archive.
Office archive.
Lost place in Germany.
The factory closed in 1995.
The main entrance.