A Living Example: Why Germany Needs More Wolfgang Grupps

In an age of uncertainty, where values seem negotiable and principles bend under pressure, there remains - thankfully - a man like Wolfgang Grupp.

Reading recently of his suicide attempt filled me with sorrow. It felt personal, as if a pillar of stability had wavered under the weight of a world he no longer fully recognized. And yet, he survived. That in itself is reason for gratitude, for reflection - and, perhaps, for Germany to pause and ask itself: What kind of men are we celebrating?

Because if ever there was someone worthy of recognition - not just for what he built, but for how he built it - it is Wolfgang Grupp.

I have long admired him, not simply as an entrepreneur, but as a character - the kind of man whose success is measured not just in profit margins, but in moral clarity. His story isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t feature hedge funds, IPOs, or Silicon Valley hype. What it features instead is constancy, loyalty, rootedness, and an unshakeable sense of duty.

For over 50 years, he led Trigema with an iron sense of responsibility. While others outsourced, he doubled down on German labor. While others chased trend and scale, he stuck with quality and people. He didn’t just say “Made in Germany” - he meant it. And more importantly, he lived it.

In a way, Wolfgang Grupp reminds me of the archetype of the ehrbarer Kaufmann - the honorable merchant - a figure once central to Germany’s self-image. The kind of business leader who sees himself not as an elite, but as a steward. Who builds wealth not for prestige, but for continuity. Who believes that a company exists not in isolation, but in a web of human relationships - employees, families, towns, generations.

His modesty, too, is disarming. No excessive lifestyle. No theatrical public appearances. No posturing. Just a man in his suit, walking the halls of his factory, speaking to his workers, defending his country’s industrial heart.

That’s rare today. Almost unfashionable. But that’s exactly why it’s precious.

That he could fall into despair - despite all his accomplishments, wisdom, and integrity - speaks to something deeper. Perhaps it reflects the pain of watching the world abandon the very virtues he upheld: frugality, discipline, loyalty, craftsmanship. It must be a lonely thing to watch your life’s work stand tall while the society around it loses direction.

And yet, Wolfgang Grupp is still with us. And perhaps his struggle - openly shared in a letter of heartbreaking honesty - will remind us that even the strongest need reassurance. That even the most steadfast among us are human. And that behind his iron resolve was always a beating heart, quietly bearing more than he ever let on.

I believe Germany would thrive if more people followed his example - not slavishly, but sincerely. Not to imitate the man, but to carry forward the values he represents. Because in a time of noise and distraction, Wolfgang Grupp is a man of substance. And we need substance now more than ever.

To Herr Grupp: I don’t know you personally, but I admire you deeply. May you recover in peace, surrounded by the people who love you. May you know that your legacy is not just your company - it’s your character. You truly embody what we once called deutsche Tugenden - German values: decency, diligence, honesty, and responsibility. And that character is something Germany still cherishes.