1809 - AN ANNUITY FOR THE LIFESAVER

War is not the father of all things - but of some things!

Josef Schöffel, son of the stocking trader of Schwabmünchen, Georg Schöffel, had to go to war. In what was known as the Fifth Coalition war, the armies of Napoleon and the Austrians faced one another in 1809. During the fighting, at the Battle of Abensberg, the young Josef Schöffel not only excelled himself with his great courage, but he even saved the life of the Bavarian crown prince Ludwig.

The consequences were excellent: a lifelong annuity, which he invested in his mobile stocking trade business, smoothing the way to marriage with farmer's daughter Theresa.

The silver bravery medal spared him from having to serve again in the Napoleonic campaign in Russia, and Josef Schöffel made the most of his opportunity - thus laying the foundations for the company of Schöffel. He invested and expanded. His courage was rewarded many times over.