#86 Carl Bosch and Fritz Haber A Genius and a Doomed Tycoon

In this episode, the host delves into the captivating narrative of Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, two contradictory figures whose invention of the Haber-Bosch process revolutionized agriculture and warfare, as recounted in Thomas Hager's book "The Alchemy of Air." Bosch, a Nobel laureate and reclusive industrialist, and Haber, a public-facing scientist with a complex legacy, together created a technology that converted atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, leading to synthetic fertilizers that fed billions but also supplied explosives for wars. Despite their immense contributions, both men grappled with the ethical implications of their work, particularly as it fueled the rise of Hitler and the Nazi regime, ultimately leading to personal downfalls marked by regret and disillusionment with the misuse of their scientific breakthroughs.

• Thomas Hager introduces the story of two men, Carl Bosch and Fritz Haber, who invented a process to convert air into bread, which had a significant impact on life and death for billions.
• Their invention led to the creation of massive factories that consume large quantities of water and energy.
• The shutdown of these machines would result in widespread starvation, emphasizing the critical nature of their invention.

"If all the machines these men invented were shut down today, more than 2 billion people would starve to death."

The quote highlights the vital role of the Haber-Bosch process in global food production and its direct impact on avoiding mass starvation.

• Carl Bosch is described as a private individual who avoided the public eye and preferred the company of machines over people.
• Fritz Haber is characterized as a public figure who enjoyed attention and had a flamboyant lifestyle.
• Both men had complexities, such as Bosch's Nobel Prize and anti-Nazi stance despite leading a Nazi-affiliated firm, and Haber's dual legacy as a life-saver and alleged war criminal.

"Carl Bosch led me into this story. I learned quickly that he was a man of contradictions, a business mogul who won a Nobel prize, and an ardent anti-Nazi who founded and led a most infamous Nazi firm."

The quote reflects on Bosch's complex persona, juxtaposing his significant scientific contributions with his involvement in a Nazi-affiliated company.

• The book "The Alchemy of Air" by Thomas Hager is praised for its engaging and multifaceted narrative.
• The speaker expresses a personal connection to the book, finding it difficult to articulate the depth of its content.
• The book delves into the historical context and significance of the Haber-Bosch process.

"This is one of the most unique, complicated, engrossing stories I've ever read."

The quote conveys the speaker's enthusiasm for the book and its compelling storytelling.

• The Haber-Bosch process is an artificial nitrogen fixation process critical for global food production.
• Fritz Haber initiated the process to address food security, while Carl Bosch implemented it in industrial production.
• The process was also weaponized, contributing to both agricultural yields and the production of explosives.

"So what you need to know about the Haber-Bosch process is it's an artificial nitrogen fixation process, and it's a way to turn the nitrogen in the air into ammonia, that ammonia is used for fertilizer."

The quote succinctly explains the technical aspect of the Haber-Bosch process and its application in agriculture.

• The book provides a historical background on the urgency to find synthetic fertilizers in the late 19th century.
• A lecture by a scientist named Crook highlighted the impending food crisis and the need to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
• The discovery of synthetic nitrogen fixation was framed as a life-saving and potentially lucrative endeavor.

"The only answer, he said, was to find a way to make synthetic fertilizers, fixed nitrogen, refining it from the earth's greatest reservoir of nitrogen, the atmosphere."

This quote captures the essence of the challenge presented to scientists of the time—to create synthetic fertilizers from atmospheric nitrogen.

• The book traces the history of the guano industry in South America and its impact on global agriculture.
• Guano, a potent natural fertilizer, was highly sought after, leading to significant economic and political consequences.
• The depletion of guano deposits and the subsequent search for alternative fertilizers set the stage for the Haber-Bosch process.

"The deposits of thousands of years had been stripped away in less than two decades."

The quote illustrates the rapid exploitation of guano resources and the subsequent need for a sustainable alternative.

• Fritz Haber's early life was marked by personal challenges, including the death of his mother and a difficult relationship with his father.
• Haber's work habits were intense, often leading to periods of high productivity followed by anxiety and health issues.
• His ambition to prove himself was driven by personal insecurities and societal pressures, including anti-Semitism.

"Haber had done his original ammonia work for an Austrian company that wanted to find a profitable way to take nitrogen, which is in the air and costs nothing, and use it to make ammonia, which could be sold."

The quote explains Haber's initial motivation and the economic potential of synthesizing ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen.

• Fritz Haber experienced a lack of focus and success in his early career.
• Worked in various factories, including an alcohol distillery, cellulose factory, pneumonia soda factory, and a molasses plant, but found the work boring.
• Despite his hard work, he achieved little success and faced personal insecurities and external lack of recognition.
• Haber's career failures were described as "total and protracted" by one of his closest friends.
• He became a chemistry professor but sought more than just academic achievement.
• Haber desired more money, fame, and respect, and he worked excessively hard.
• His dedication to his career led to him being a distant and self-centered husband, resulting in two divorces.
• Haber's first wife, who was also a chemist, committed suicide, possibly due to his involvement in chemical warfare.
• Haber is credited with inventing chemical warfare, conducting an experiment that killed 60,000 allied troops in World War I.

"money after graduation doing lab work in an alcohol distillery, a cellulose factory and a pneumonia soda factory. Also worked at a molasses plant. This all bored him. He researched furiously but without focus. That's what I mean. It's not linear. He achieved little. The failure of this phase of Haber's career, one of his closest friends later wrote, was total and protracted."

The quote highlights Haber's lack of direction and unsatisfying early career path, which led to minimal achievements despite his efforts.

"Eventually, he gets a job as a chemistry professor, but he decides that that's just not enough... He wanted more. He always wanted more. He wanted more money, more fame, more respect."

This quote reflects Haber's ambition and dissatisfaction with his position as a chemistry professor, revealing his desire for greater recognition and success.

"His career was everything to him, and he proved a distant and self centered husband. His marriage suffered. So, yeah, he's a terrible husband. Got divorced twice. His first wife actually kills herself."

This quote indicates the personal cost of Haber's career focus, including failed marriages and the tragic suicide of his first wife.

"Some people think she does it because she was also a chemist, and she was distraught because eventually, Fritz Haber, among his other achievements, he's notorious and becomes almost. No, he becomes a war criminal because he's, like, credited with inventing chemical warfare."

The quote suggests that Haber's wife's suicide might have been influenced by his controversial work in chemical warfare, which later labeled him as a war criminal.

• Germany's reliance on Chilean nitrates for fertilizer and gunpowder was seen as a dangerous addiction, especially due to the country's frequent involvement in wars.
• Fritz Haber sought to find an alternative method for producing nitrates to make Germany self-sufficient.

"Germany depended on the chilean nitrates for its fertilizer and gunpowder, buying it by the ton and shipping it by the fleet halfway around the world."

The quote describes Germany's dependence on imported nitrates for essential goods and the risks associated with this reliance.

• Haber invented a machine that could convert fixed nitrogen into ammonia, a breakthrough for producing fertilizer.
• Following the common practice of scientists partnering with companies, Haber made a deal with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer.
• BASF still exists today and was part of a conglomerate known as IG Farben during World War II.
• The partnership between Haber and BASF involved Haber receiving 10% of net earnings from the process he developed, which is generally less favorable than gross profits.

"On March 619, eight two contracts were signed between Haber and BASF. The company got what it wanted, ownership of any resulting patents, and Haber's agreement not to publish any of his findings without permission. Haber got 10% of any net earnings."

The quote details the contractual agreement between Haber and BASF, where BASF gained patent ownership and Haber received a percentage of net earnings.

• Carl Bosch, an employee of BASF, was tasked with scaling up Haber's invention from a small device to a factory-sized machine.
• Bosch's background in metals and mechanical engineering, combined with his knowledge of chemistry, made him uniquely qualified for this challenge.
• Bosch's early life experiences with metalworking and his hands-on approach at BASF contributed to his success in scaling up the process.

"Bosch knew something the rest of the men in the room did not. He knew about metals."

This quote emphasizes Bosch's expertise in metals, which was crucial in overcoming the skepticism of others regarding the feasibility of scaling up Haber's invention.

"Bosch had grown up around tools... he did an internship at a metal working firm, took a summer job in a blast furnace plant, and studied mechanical engineering for two years before switching to chemistry."

The quote outlines Bosch's extensive experience in metalworking and engineering, which provided him with the skills needed to tackle the challenges of scaling up the ammonia production process.

"Bosch was hired as a chemist at BASF, fresh out of university in 1899... Bosch did none of these things. He often took off his jacket once he got to work, loosened his tie, picked up a hammer or wrench, and started banging away on some machine."

The quote describes Bosch's unconventional behavior for a chemist at BASF, highlighting his practical, hands-on approach to problem-solving.

"This is what they liked seeing in Bosch, the young man's willingness to take on a giant of chemistry... Bosch looked at Haber's machine. Then he said to his bosses, 'I think it can work. I know exactly what the steel industry can do. We should risk it.'"

This quote captures Bosch's confidence and determination to succeed where others were hesitant, as well as his ability to challenge established figures in the field of chemistry.

• The Haber-Bosch process had the potential to eliminate Germany's dependence on imported nitrates and revolutionize the production of fertilizer and gunpowder.
• The process was compared to other historical milestones, such as the Wright brothers' flight and Edison's light bulb, due to its significance in human history.
• Bosch's commitment to the project led to rapid progress and the filing of dozens of patents for the new industry.

"There was no end to the nitrogen in the air. So in theory, there was no end to the amount of ammonia they could produce. Germany would no longer have to rely on shipping its raw material from fertilizer and gunpowder. Halfway around the world, humans would be able to make as much fertilizer as they needed forever from the air."

The quote underscores the revolutionary nature of the Haber-Bosch process, which promised an unlimited supply of ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen, thus securing Germany's self-sufficiency and potentially ending global starvation.

"One of the attributes Carl Bosch had was he didn't rush into things. But once he committed to something, he optimized for speed."

This quote reflects Bosch's careful consideration before taking on a project, but once committed, he pursued it with great speed and efficiency.

• Bosch and his contemporary at BASF, Brunk, shared similar business philosophies, valuing innovation, efficiency, and foresight.
• They recognized the importance of rapid development and constant improvement in the chemical industry.
• Bosch's problem-solving approach involved accepting certain challenges as inevitable and finding creative solutions, such as allowing hydrogen to leak out slowly to prevent explosions.

"Bosch solves a huge problem by turning the problem upside down... But what mattered was not whether hydrogen leaked out, but how much. If only a little leaked and leaked slowly into a large area, the concentration would not build up enough to pose a danger."

The quote illustrates Bosch's innovative thinking in addressing a critical issue in the ammonia production process by reevaluating the problem and developing a counterintuitive solution.

"Bosch liked machines. He organizes people as if he were building one... Carl Bosch was dealing with a mountain of challenges, any one of which would become a disaster."

This quote depicts Bosch's systematic and methodical approach to managing people and projects, treating the company as a well-oiled machine where every part must function flawlessly.

• Bosch viewed his accomplishments as steps towards continuous improvement and innovation.
• His mindset, along with the biographies of other innovators, serves as an inspiration to expand our beliefs about what is possible.

"This is about billions, billions of marks. The future of the entire company rested on their efforts."

The quote highlights the immense scale and importance of Bosch's project, emphasizing the significant financial and strategic implications for BASF.

"Bosch's team started building and testing full size ovens, and they stayed intact. After weeks and then months, the project was back on track."

This quote demonstrates the successful implementation of Bosch's solution, leading to the resumption and eventual success of the ammonia production project.

"Within a year, the factory was making tons of ammonia based fertilizer every hour. BaSf was selling it as fast as they could make it."

The quote signifies the rapid success of the factory in producing ammonia-based fertilizer, showcasing the practical impact of Bosch's work and the Haber-Bosch process.

• Thomas Hager discusses the concept of human potential and its limitless nature.
• Carl Bosch exemplifies the unrelenting pursuit of potential through years of failure and eventual success in creating a unique industrial process.
• Bosch's attitude towards his achievements is proactive, as he sees each success as a stepping stone to further advancements.
• The development of high-pressure chemistry is highlighted as a groundbreaking innovation, leading Bosch to consider its wider applications beyond ammonia production.

"We have not reached the maximum of human potential. And so a microcosm of that is the maximum of your own potential in your own life."

This quote underscores the belief that human potential is boundless and that personal growth is a reflection of this broader principle.

• Thomas Hager reflects on the intellectual climate of Germany during the early 20th century, noting the country's wealth of talent.
• He criticizes Hitler's foolishness in expelling talented individuals due to anti-Semitic policies.
• The relationship between Fritz Haber and Albert Einstein is used to illustrate the diversity of thought and personality among German intellectuals.
• Haber's transformation into a "perfect German" and Einstein's contrasting bohemian pacifism are juxtaposed to show different responses to the socio-political environment.

"Germany at this time is basically the amount of talent they had. And this just shows you how stupid Hitler was."

This quote comments on the irony of Hitler squandering Germany's intellectual capital due to his racist ideology.

• Haber and Einstein are presented as two highly respected but vastly different characters, with Haber being pro-military and pro-Kaiser, while Einstein is described as a free-thinking pacifist.
• The contrast between their personalities and beliefs serves as a microcosm of the broader societal divisions of the time.
• Thomas Hager expresses a personal preference for Einstein's approach to life, which avoids tribalism and conformity.

"Haber was completing his transformation into the perfect German. He was pro military, pro Kaiser. Einstein was a free thinking, wise cracking cosmopolitan, a bohemian pacifist."

This quote contrasts the personalities of Haber and Einstein, highlighting their differing attitudes towards authority and societal norms.

• The Haber-Bosch process for synthesizing ammonia is discussed in the context of its military implications during World War I.
• Germany's reliance on the process for producing explosives is highlighted as a significant factor in prolonging the war.
• Carl Bosch's ambivalence about the use of his technology for warfare is explored, with a focus on his feelings of guilt and the ethical dilemma he faced.
• The strategic importance of controlling nitrate supplies and the resulting military actions are examined.

"The side with access to fixed Nitrogen would win the war."

This quote encapsulates the strategic significance of the Haber-Bosch process in the context of World War I.

• The technological advancements spearheaded by Bosch and his team are seen as a double-edged sword, capable of both nourishing and destroying life.
• The narrative explores the moral complexities faced by innovators when their work is repurposed for harmful ends.
• Bosch's strategic actions to protect his company's secrets during wartime are detailed.
• The challenges of maintaining a competitive advantage while navigating the ethical and practical repercussions of war are discussed.

"Bosch did not much like it. His team recognized the irony. They had worked long and hard to feed people. Now the same technology was going to be used to kill them."

This quote reflects the moral conflict experienced by Bosch and his team as their life-sustaining invention is repurposed for warfare.

• The aftermath of World War I presents new challenges for Bosch and BASF, including the occupation of German land and the threat of losing proprietary technology.
• Bosch's ingenuity in protecting his company's competitive edge is highlighted, with particular attention to his clandestine negotiations with the French.
• The transition of BASF from a chemical firm to a defense industry and the subsequent changes in leadership and direction are examined.
• Bosch's personal struggles with his new role and the difficulties of managing a company in a tumultuous post-war environment are explored.

"Under the COVID of darkness late one night, Bosch climbed over the wall and wire surrounding the hotel, avoided the guards, and made his way through the streets of Versailles to a secret meeting."

This quote illustrates Bosch's determination and resourcefulness in safeguarding his company's interests in the face of adversity.

• Carl Bosch's technical expertise contrasts with his lack of proficiency in managing human relations.
• The quote discusses the emotional strain of leadership and the fallacy of treating companies like families.
• Bosch's liberal self-image clashes with his mechanical approach to efficiency, leading to poor labor relations.
• The narrative reflects on the human cost of industrial efficiency and the importance of treating workers with dignity.

"Bosch felt both betrayed and perplexed. He wanted to be a good father for his company."

This quote reveals Bosch's internal conflict between his desire to be a benevolent leader and the harsh realities of running a business during a period of crisis.

• Bosch observed the industrial dominance of American companies and sought to replicate it in Germany.
• He noted the U.S.'s automobile boom, led by Ford's mass production, and aimed to apply similar principles to chemical manufacturing.
• Bosch's insights led him to establish IG Farben, a merger of German chemical firms to compete globally.
• IG Farben became the largest business in Europe and the world's largest chemical company at its inception.

"Bosch was thinking about fusing German dying chemical firms into a single big organization and wanted to see firsthand how giant US businesses like Standard Oil operated."

This quote highlights Bosch's strategic planning to consolidate German chemical firms and his initiative to learn from successful American companies like Standard Oil.

• The trend of centralizing and growing businesses is reversing in the modern age.
• The author believes that the optimal size of a company is becoming smaller.
• Companies are expected to remain impactful and profitable, but with fewer employees.
• The book "Unscaled" is recommended for understanding this shift, with the suggestion to focus on the beginning and end chapters for the main points.

"It's my sincere belief that the optimal size of a company is shrinking."

This quote expresses the author's conviction that smaller companies are becoming more advantageous in the current business landscape.

• Bosch's company invested heavily in synthetic fuel research due to fears of peak oil.
• Success in synthetic fuel was overshadowed by the discovery of vast oil reserves in the U.S., which lowered oil prices.
• However, synthetic fuel became strategically important for Nazi Germany, as they anticipated a lack of oil imports during wartime.

"Bosch's synthetic fuels project tremendously significant."

This quote from a Standard Oil representative acknowledges the importance and scale of Bosch's synthetic fuel project.

• The Nazi government's policies forced companies and institutes to dismiss Jewish scientists, which had a detrimental effect on scientific progress.
• Fritz Haber, a Jewish scientist, faced personal and professional turmoil due to the regime's policies.
• Bosch attempted to reason with Hitler about the value of Jewish scientists but was met with irrational ideology.
• The consequences of Bosch's work became apparent as his inventions were used to support the Nazi war effort.

"How could he bring himself to sign the dismissal papers?"

This quote reflects the moral conflict faced by Fritz Haber in complying with the Nazi government's demands to dismiss Jewish scientists.

• Haber and Bosch both experienced regret over their life's work being misused by the Nazi regime.
• Haber died in exile, disillusioned with his identity as a German.
• Bosch met privately with Hitler, attempting to discuss the importance of Jewish scientists, but was dismissed by Hitler's ideological stance.
• Both Haber and Bosch's stories serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of ideology over rationality.

"I am bitter as never before, and the feeling that this is unbearable increases by the day."

This quote from Fritz Haber encapsulates his deep sense of betrayal and bitterness towards the end of his life due to the actions of the Nazi regime.

• Despite their contributions to science and humanity, both Haber and Bosch had tragic ends overshadowed by the misuse of their work.
• Their stories highlight the importance of recognizing reality over perception.
• The podcast host recommends reading Thomas Hager's book for a more detailed account of their lives and work.

"I was german to an extent that I fully feel only now, and I'm filled with incredible disgust."

This quote from Fritz Haber conveys his profound disillusionment with his German identity in light of the Nazi regime's actions.

• The podcast host thanks listeners for their support and asks for help in spreading the word about the podcast.
• Upcoming episodes will feature books on Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM, and Warren Buffett's shareholder letters.
• The host expresses a deep appreciation for the support and engagement of the podcast audience.

"Without your support I could not do this work. So I owe you everything."

This quote underscores the gratitude the podcast host has for the audience's continued support, which enables the production of the podcast.