1914 - 1932

1914
During the First World War, offices in smaller locations close, but the branch network expands overall (Aachen, Erfurt, Eisenach). London branch forced to close.

1917
Acquisition of Rheinisch-Westfälische Disconto-Gesellschaft, Aachen (established 1872 as the Aachener Disconto-Gesellschaft). Rheinisch-Westfälische Disconto-Gesellschaft is the largest bank acquired to date with renowned participations in, for example, Hardy & Co. GmbH, Dürener Bank, Eschweiler Bank, as well as the financial institutions of Johann Ohligschläger and Alwin Hilger. This acquisition facilitates Dresdner Bank's access to the industrial region of Rhineland-Westphalia. Hardy & Co continues to exist as an independent company.

1918
Branch established in Bucharest, which is absorbed by the Rumanian Banking Institution, Bucharest (Societatea Bancara Romana), in 1929.
The total losses incurred by the Bank as a result of the war amount to 100 million Marks.

1920
Eugen Gutmann retires from the Board of Managing Directors at the end of the year and is made honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board in 1921. Henry Nathan replaces him as primus inter pares.

1923
Inflation: share capital doubles to 1.1 billion Marks. Continuing inflation leads to an increase in total assets to 204 trillion Marks. The number of employees increases from 10,000 at the end of 1919 to 23,000 at the end of 1923, requiring the Bank's premises to be considerably extended.

The increased Dresdner Bank share capital of 1.1 billion Marks is converted to 78 million Goldmarks at a ratio of 12.5:1 in the Goldmark opening balance sheet as at 1 January 1924. In addition, there are reserves of 22 million Goldmarks.

1924
Founding of the first official Dresdner Bank Sports Association.

1929
Acquisition of Ostbank für Handel und Gewerbe, Königsberg.

1930
Agreement of a joint venture with Darmstädter und Nationalbank, Berlin.

1931
Banking crisis: On 13 July from 11.30 onwards, all banks restrict payments to 20% of the requested amounts.
The Reich government declares 14 and 15 July Bank Holidays.

In August, the Bank issues preference shares totalling 300 million Reichsmarks to strengthen the capital base. These shares are taken up by the Reich government, which sells a proportion to Deutsche Golddiskontbank, a Reichsbank subsidiary. 66% of Dresdner Bank shares are therefore held by the Reich, and 22% by Deutsche Golddiskontbank.

At the proposal of the Reich government, Carl Goetz joins the Board of Managing Directors and succeeds Henry Nathan as Head of the Bank.

1932
Merger between Darmstädter und Nationalbank, Berlin (established 1922) with Dresdner Bank as decreed by the Reich government. Once offices are combined, the new institution has 218 branches in 166 locations. Founding of Auto-Union, Chemnitz-Zwickau, through the amalgamation of automotive companies Audi, Horch, Dkw and Wanderer with Dresdner Bank as lead manager.