Entrepreneurial career At the age of 29, Ullrich decided to forge his own path. In 1889, he moved to Annweiler am Trifels, where he purchased 16,070 m2 of land east of the
Bernsbacher Mühle (
Kabigmühle), which included the factory buildings of a former straw manufacturing facility. In 1890, he acquired additional land and built a new 2,000 m2 hall next to the existing factory for the production of metal goods. This later became the company
Franz Ullrich Söhne, an enamel, metal, and stamping plant. The company was later renamed
Annweiler Email- und Metallwerke vormals Franz Ullrich Söhne and, in 1952, became
ASTA (Annweiler Stahl). Between 1890 and 1898, workers' housing was constructed next to the measuring tool factory. The company developed into the largest of its kind in Europe and at times employed up to 1,000 workers. Through the construction of the rail connection to the two factories and through Gustav Ullrich’s travels, which extended as far as the
Russian Empire, the internationalisation of the market received a tremendous boost. This led, among other things, to Ullrich receiving in 1895 an order to manufacture the “Coronation Cups” (also known as the
Khodynka Cup of Sorrows), which were intended for the coronation of the Russian
Tsar Nicholas II. For logistical reasons, part of the production took place in the Maikammer factory, as well as in other enamel factories in Germany and Austria. World War I disrupted many of Gustav Ullrich's future plans. Among his uncompleted projects were a foundry in Annweiler at the
Herrenteich, for which he had already acquired land, and the construction of a cold rolling mill near Germersheim with its own loading dock.
Military service After returning from his traineeship in France, Ullrich served as a
one-year volunteer with the 1st Squadron of the 2nd Royal Bavarian
Uhlan Regiment in
Ansbach from 1 October 1878 until 30 September 1879, He was promoted to Vice Sergeant Major of the Reserve with the commendation "outstanding conduct." After his first reserve exercise, he was promoted to Lieutenant of the Reserve. In 1925, Gustav Ullrich suffered from a severe thrombosis that confined him to bed for six months until the summer of 1926, preventing him from managing major business operations. Additionally, in the autumn of 1930, he suffered a stroke, from which he did not fully recover until five years later. Due to his health issues, he granted Berthold general
power of attorney on 7 July 1928. == Personal life ==