{{Short description|Underground mining supervisor in Germany}} [[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F009345-0007, Essen, Steiger im Stollen.jpg|thumb|A {{lang|de|Steiger}} in the Ruhr mining region with his cane ({{ill|Häckel (mining)|de|Häckel (Bergbau)|lt=Häckel}}) and lamp]] A '''{{lang|de|Steiger}}''' (literally "climber") is the title of a mining foreman or mine manager, used in German-speaking Europe and Poland. He bears responsibility for part of an underground coal mine and the people subordinated to him. The name is derived from the former role of a {{lang|de|Steiger}}, who continually had to climb into and out of the pit.<ref>Heinrich Veith: ''Deutsches Bergwörterbuch mit Belegen''. Wilhelm Gottlieb Korn, Breslau 1871</ref> The {{lang|de|Steiger}} is celebrated in a very popular German mining song, the {{ill|Steigerlied|de||quote=yes}} ("Glückauf, Glückauf; der Steiger kommt").

== Historical role == In medieval and early modern times, the state mining regulations obliged mining companies to employ pit officials for the supervision of their mines. Until the mid-19th century, these officials were civil servants. The term {{lang|de|Steiger}} for these pit officials became established very early on in the mining regulations. The hiring and firing of pit officials was the responsibility of the mining authority or ''Bergamt''; at best the mine owners had a say and could impress their wishes on the ''Bergmeister'' in this regard. With the reform of mining law in the years from 1851 to 1865, there was a change in the official status of the {{lang|de|Steiger}}. The {{lang|de|Steiger}} was no longer a state official, but a private officer.<ref>Helmuth Trischler: ''Steiger im deutschen Bergbau – Zur Sozialgeschichte der technischen Angestellten 1815–1945''. Beck, Munich, 1986, {{ISBN|3-406-32995-0}}</ref> Despite this change, {{lang|de|Steiger}}s continued to be employed by the mining authority.<ref>Otto Hue. ''Die Bergarbeiter''., vol. 2, J.H.W. Dietz, Stuttgart, 1913</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{wiktionary-inline|Steiger}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Resource extraction occupations Category:Mining in Germany Category:History of mining in Germany Steiger