1956-1981
| 1956 | Majority stake in Rheinmetall-Borsig AG acquired by the Röchling Group; Borsig AG sold to Salzgitter AG |
| Resumption of defence equipment production at Rheinmetall Düsseldorf; the first product, the MG 42 | |
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| Name changed from Rheinmetall-Borsig AG to Rheinmetall Berlin AG | |
| Complete restart for the Company under Otto Paul Caesar | |
| 1958 | Initial diversification into mechanical engineering and electronics |
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| 1964 | Resumption of cannon tube and mount manufacture; the Company re-acquires its core capabilities in its very own field of production |
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| 1965 | Development of the 120 mm smooth-bore cannon |
| 1970 | Takeover of Nico-Pyrotechnik in order to expand ammunition production to include pyrotechnic products |
| 1978 | Dr. Hans Ludwig Hockel appointed CEO |
| 1979 | Delivery of the first Leopard 2 battle tank along with the 120 mm smooth-bore cannon and the matching ammunition to the German armed forces; this is a technological innovation from Rheinmetall |
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| 1979 -1981 | Thorough restructuring of nonmilitary sectors |