 In February 1950 the workers stood up against demolition of their plants and eventually won the bloodless standoff with the British troops.Dismantling continued for another year, but steelmaking in Salzgitter was saved.The state-owned plant operated under the name "Reichswerke" until 1953, was renamed AG für Bergbau- und Hüttenbetrieb, and eventually became Salzgitter AG.