A method is disclosed for crushing material to be ground with a mill which contains a grinding chamber which is connected to a feed for material to be ground and to an outlet for ground particles, and contains grinding devices for producing particles of the desired fineness from the fed material to be ground, wherein the grinding takes place in a reducing atmosphere which contains a reduction gas. Also disclosed, is a mill having a grinding chamber which is connected to a feed for material to be ground and to an outlet for ground particles, and contains grinding devices for producing particles of the desired fineness from the fed material to be ground, wherein the grinding chamber contains a reducing atmosphere in which the grinding takes place and which contains a reduction gas.