Mannheim of 1848, the city was a centre for political and revolutionary activity. In 1865, Friedrich Engelhorn founded the "Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik" (Baden Aniline and Soda Factory, BASF) in Mannheim, but the factory was constructed across the Rhine in Ludwigshafen because Mannheim residents feared air pollution from its operations. From this dye factory, BASF has developed into the largest chemical company in the world. After opening a workshop in Mannheim in 1871 and patenting engines from 1878, Karl Benz patented the first motor car in 1886. He was born in Mühlburg (now part of Karlsruhe). The Schütte-Lanz company, founded by
Clayton Aniline Company new vat dyes complex (buildings 188, 189 and 190). The completion of the vat dyes project was held up by the outbreak of war in 1939. In 1940, a new Ministry of Supply factory (building 300) was constructed adjacent to the site for the manufacture of explosives additive Centralite I. The company also gained an important contract to manufacture monomethylaniline used as an antiknock agent in high octane aviation fuel. In 1941, a new aniline plant was built with an output of around 100 tons per week. On 5 October 1942, a near catastrophe befell the site when an ethylation