Munich Re – Company history from 1880 up to the present

The foundation of Munich Reinsurance Company in 1880 is largely due to the efforts of Carl Thieme. It is also Thieme who stated that: "By its nature, reinsurance needs to be international". He consistently follows his conviction by putting the company on an international footing from the very start. He establishes a business model whose essential features remain valid up to the present day: independence from primary insurers, a broad spread of risks, an efficient system of treaty management, working in partnership with clients and innovative insurance concepts.

Munich Re quickly develops into one of the leading risk carriers worldwide, and has been helping shape the insurance industry ever since. In 2010, with the aim of reviewing the historical role and development of the company, Munich Re commissions business historians Johannes Bähr and Christopher Kopper with the task of producing an independent study on the company's history. It was published by Verlag C.H. Beck in 2015 and covers the period from 1880 to 1980. The English version followed in 2016 with the title "Munich Re – The Company History". The stages of the company's history detailed below have been based on the findings of the study and reflect research covering the years up to 1980. This applies in particular to the entirely new chapter on the role of Munich Re during the Nazi period.

Group History

The early years – On the way to the top of the world (1880–1914)

Group History

A seismic shift: The First World War and the Great Depression (1914–1933)

Group History

A second seismic shift: Munich Re under National Socialism (1933–1945)

Group History

On the way back to the top (1946–1969)

Group History

Start of a new era of research into risk (1970–1995)

Group History

Realignment of the Group structure (1996–2008)