Current State of German Corporations Facing Up to Their Past in the Nazi Era
Frontline Confessionals on Liberation Day
Businesses Acknowledge Limited Liability During the Nazi Era - With Caution and Vagueness - Proposals Already Forwarded by the Commission Regarding the Mentioned Matters
Eight decades after the conclusion of the Second World War in Europe, prominent German companies have stepped forward to admit their role during the Third Reich. Following the surrender of the Nazi German Reich, the prolonged duration of the war was made possible by the deployment of forced laborers in the war economy. Many large German corporations gained from the transgressions of the Nazi era—for instance, via contracts and confiscations.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of liberation, 49 major German corporations have publicly acknowledged their contributions to the entrenchment of the Nazi regime. In the “Declaration of German Companies on May 8th,” they stated, among other things, "German companies played a role in consolidating the rule of the National Socialists. Many companies and their actors at the time were involved for their own gain."
Companies Owning Up on Liberation Day
This declaration was signed by high-profile figures such as the CEOs of Bayer, Adidas, Rheinmetall, Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Telekom, and Siemens. They have vowed "to carry the responsibility of preserving the memory of the crimes of the Nazi era." The signees distance themselves from prejudice, antisemitism, and exclusion, asserting, "There will be no excuse from us."
The companies explain their historical silence, stating, "In 1933 and thereafter, many were passive, turned a blind eye, and remained silent." From this realization arises a sense of responsibility for the past, present, and future. The statement was published in major national newspapers and online by some companies.
Ongoing Investigations - But Not Everywhere
In the past, the assessment of German companies' roles during the Nazi era has been difficult. For a long time, any association with the crimes was either denied or overlooked. In recent years, some companies have commissioned historians to investigate their entanglements. Companies like Bahlsen, Dr. Oetker, and VW have been praised by experts for their efforts in this regard.
Despite the progress, other companies like logistics firm Kühne + Nagel remain reluctant about public revelations, as recently reported by "Tagesschau." Kühne + Nagel, headed by Klaus-Michael Kühne, one of Germany's wealthiest individuals, transported the belongings of Jews who had fled, were deported, or were murdered from the occupied Western territories to the German Reich during the Third Reich.
Kühne + Nagel did not sign the German companies' declaration. The initiative is said to have originated from Bayer, BASF, and Evonik, all legatees of the chemical conglomerate IG Farben (associated with the production of Zyklon B poison gas), as well as from Siemens. Bayer CEO Bill Anderson then contacted a number of other companies.
However, this declaration leaves crucial questions unanswered. Words like "forced labor" or "culpability" do not appear in the statement. Instead, it seems like a rallying cry for vigilance in the current political climate. The investigation into the Nazi ties of Germany’s largest corporations is still far from complete.
Sources: "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", "Südddeutsche Zeitung", "Tagesschau", Deutschlandfunk
- Liberation Day
- Second World War
- Kühne + Nagel
- Adidas
- Rheinmetall
- Mercedes-Benz
Additional insights:
- Adidas: Adidas is a German multinational corporation that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing, and accessories. Details on Adidas's recent actions regarding Nazi-era crimes are not highlighted in the latest reports. However, Adidas, like many German companies, has historically been involved in addressing its past, including acknowledging use of forced labor during the Nazi regime.
- Rheinmetall: Rheinmetall is a German defense and automotive technology conglomerate. Known for its involvement in the production of military equipment during the Nazi era, the companyʼs specific recent actions are not detailed, but it likely falls under the broader category of German corporations acknowledging past responsibility.
- Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Benz is a global automobile marque and a division of the German company Daimler AG. The company has faced historical scrutiny for its collaboration with the Nazi regime, including the use of forced labor. Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged its past actions and has undertaken steps to address these issues; however, specific recent initiatives are not noted in the latest reports.
- Kühne + Nagel: Kühne + Nagel is a Swiss global logistics company headquartered in Zurich. Limited recent information is available on Kühne + Nagel's specific actions regarding acknowledgment of Nazi-era crimes. However, as a major logistics company, it is part of the broader industry that has faced criticism for past involvement during the Nazi era.
- The Commission has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, despite acknowledging numerous reichs' expropriations and entanglements during war-and-conflicts, particularly in the policy-and-legislation and crime-and-justice sectors.
- In a general news article, it was reported that Adidas, along with Rheinmetall and Mercedes-Benz, have been questioned about their war-and-conflicts policy and legislation, politics, and crime-and-justice entanglements during the Second World War.
- Critics argue that the ongoing Nazi-era crimes investigations in Germany are complicated by the entanglements that many corporations, such as Kühne + Nagel, continue to maintain in the realm of crime-and-justice and politics, which can lead to a lack of transparency and accountability.
- In light of recent revelations about Kühne + Nagel's activities during the Third Reich, political leaders are deploying new policies to ensure the prevention of prejudice, antisemitism, and exclusion in politics, policy-and-legislation, and crime-and-justice.
- The Commission is expected to release a report detailing the role of various German corporations in the production and distribution of carcinogens during the Nazi era, shedding light on the extent of these transgressions and their impact on workers' health and wellbeing.
