Moritz Thienelt Likörfabrik “Echte Kroatzbeere” was a German family-owned spirits company founded in 1907 by the trained distiller Moritz Thienelt in Schlegel, which at the time was part of the historical region of Silesia (Glatz County).
Initially, Thienelt worked in the family’s hospitality business before becoming interested in local wild blackberries, which were commonly called “Kroatzbeeren” in the region due to the thorny bushes. This led him to develop his own small-scale production of fruit-based spirits, which quickly became popular among local guests and laid the foundation for the company’s future growth.
As demand increased, the business expanded from a small distilling operation into a specialized liquor manufacturer. By 1937, a dedicated production facility had been established, allowing the company to scale up production and diversify its product range beyond its original offerings. The company gained recognition across several major German cities and developed a strong regional reputation before the war.
After the end of World War II, major geopolitical changes affected the region of Silesia, which was transferred from Germany to Poland. As a result, the Thienelt family, like many others from the area, was expelled and forced to relocate. In 1949, they re-established production in Düsseldorf, West Germany, under very difficult post-war conditions. Later, in 1957, the company settled in Holzbüttgen near Düsseldorf, where a modern production site was eventually built, marking a new phase of industrial growth and export development.
For several decades, the company operated as a family business, continuing to expand its production and market presence. However, due to increasing consolidation in the beverage industry, the brand and rights were sold in 1997 to Franz Wilhelm Langguth Erben. After this acquisition, production and corporate structures were gradually integrated into larger industrial groups, and the original independent company ceased to exist.
Today, Moritz Thienelt Likörfabrik exists only as a historical name in the German spirits industry, representing a long family tradition that began in pre-war Silesia and continued through post-war reconstruction in West Germany.