| 1945 | Partial destruction of the Jena factory during the war; US troops take 126 management staff and scientists with them to their occupation zone |
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| 1946 | In the newly founded firm "Optische Werke Oberkochen" – later to become Carl Zeiss – the deported managers continue to operate the foundation enterprise |
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| 1948 | Expropriation of the Zeiss and Schott Works of the Carl Zeiss Foundation in Jena; both factories are taken over by the East German state and become “people’s own enterprises”: VEB Carl Zeiss JENA and VEB Jenaer Glaswerk |
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| 1949 | Heidenheim becomes the legal domicile of the Carl Zeiss Foundation. The Zeiss companies in the East and West develop into technology leaders in optics in their respective hemispheres |
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| 1965 | VEB Carl Zeiss JENA becomes the leading enterprise for precision mechanical and optical products in East Germany. A combine is formed |
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| 1971 | London agreement between the two companies governing the use of names and trademarks containing the component "Zeiss" |