Reinhold Würth, the billionaire honorary chairman of the Würth Group, has issued a stark assessment of Germany's economic and social trajectory. In an opinion piece, the 89-year-old entrepreneur argues that the country's post-war golden age, which he dates from 1945 to 2026, has definitively ended.
Würth, whose family company based in Künzelsau has grown from a two-man operation founded by his father Adolf days after World War II into a global market leader in assembly and fastening materials, draws a direct parallel between his own career and the Federal Republic's development. 'My professional development and career can also be compared with the development of the Federal Republic of Germany,' he writes, recalling how he took over the business at age 19 after his father's sudden death in 1954.
Today, the Würth Group employs 86,000 people and reported annual sales of approximately €20.7 billion in 2025, with an average growth rate of 19.3% per year since its founding. Yet Würth sees the turn of the millennium as a turning point in the national mindset.
A Generational Shift in Ambition
According to Würth, as most Germans achieved secure livelihoods and a certain level of prosperity, interest in further career advancement declined. 'This has led to the reorientation of an entire generation away from the stressful process of building their own survival strategy towards a secure, comfortable life,' he laments. He points to a cultural shift where Friday afternoon is now considered part of the weekend, whereas it used to begin on Saturday afternoon, and notes that children and grandchildren of the baby boomer generation prioritise convenience and stress-free lives.
Würth warns that by 2026, Germany's 'immune system' will no longer be trained and must be revitalised with 'endless effort.' He argues that companies are losing competitiveness due to 'excessive wage demands of the trade unions,' stating that production costs per unit in other EU countries 'are up to 50% cheaper than in Germany. This means that products manufactured in Germany are no longer competitive on the global market, and workers in production facilities that have closed in Germany are losing their jobs. The deindustrialisation of Germany is a spiral towards the basement.'
This echoes concerns raised in Reinhold Würth Warns Germany Faces Deindustrialisation Spiral, where he detailed similar warnings about the country's industrial base.
Opportunities in Technology and Unity
Despite the grim diagnosis, Würth sees a path forward. He identifies electronics, IT, and artificial intelligence as key areas where Germany can compete. He urges the country to challenge US giants like Google and Apple, establish its own national clouds, and 'innovate in the field of artificial intelligence.'
Würth also appeals for social cohesion, recalling the emotional high point of German reunification. 'Millions were moved to tears back then,' he says, calling it a high point in the history of the Federal Republic. In the face of global tensions, he argues Germans need 'a sense of unity and not strikes for higher company pensions after retirement.'
Würth's wealth, estimated by Forbes at $41.9 billion in January 2026, places him among Germany's richest individuals, a club that has grown significantly in recent years as noted in Europe's Ultra-Rich Club Grows 26% in Five Years, Germany Leads. His critique comes at a time when Germany's economic model faces multiple pressures, from energy costs to global competition, and his call for a renewed focus on innovation and unity resonates across the continent.
