8 brands that collaborated with the Third Reich

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Throughout his life, a person is surrounded by as many brand names as there are things themselves. Some of them are completely new and only conquer their consumers, and some have existed for more than a century and their quality has been tested by time. However, not all of them have an impeccable reputation. Among the huge number of brands, there are those that supplied their products during the Second World War to Germany, and some worked on both fronts. We bring to your attention 7 trade marks that worked for the Third Reich.

1. "Hugo Boss"

The now popular clothing and perfume brand "Hugo Boss" has been taking orders for sewing uniforms for German soldiers since 1933. And the Second World War did not interfere with the development of the enterprise. but quite the opposite: production volumes only increased.

Moreover, among the samples of clothing sewn by "Hugo Boss" there was a uniform for almost everyone who was related to the army: for ordinary soldiers, and for officers, assault detachments of the SA and SS, and even for young members of the Hitler Youth.

2. "Maggi"

The first brand to introduce ready-made soups to consumers was created in Germany back in the 1870s, and did not have problems with Hitler's rise to power. In the 1930s and during the war years, "Maggi" supplied semi-finished products and canned food for the so-called individual rations, or dry rations, to the front.

Despite close cooperation, the company was not seen in the political support of the Third Reich regime, therefore, it retained its reputation and continues to produce its products, including for consumers in the post-Soviet space.

3. "Nescafe"

Nescafe is an offshoot trademark of Nestle Corporation. Moreover, the brand of coffee, popular to this day, supplied its products to both fronts: it was part of the dry rations of the German army, and at the same time was exported to the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition. The main reason for such a "neutral" position of the brand was the prosaic desire for super-profits.

4. "Nestle"

Actually, the corporation "Nestle" itself is not far from its subsidiary. Its branches worked, producing products for Germans, Europeans and Americans alike. The wide assortment offered by Nestlé was in great demand.

Moreover, in some enterprises that were in the occupied territories, ostarbeiters and other forced laborers of the Nazi regime worked. In 2000, Nestlé paid almost $ 15 million in compensation for such activities.

Interesting fact:During the war among the allied troops there was a satirical phrase about the company: "For six days the Swiss worked for the Nazis, and on Sunday they prayed for the victory of the allies."

5. "Siemens"

The company "Siemens", founded in 1933, almost from the beginning of its existence was engaged in the production of aircraft motors, electrical equipment and mechanics for the military-industrial complex of Germany. Moreover, its head, Karl Friedrich von Siemens, did not in any way support the Hitler regime.

After his death in 1941, which the Fuehrer simply ignored, the Siemens factories widely used the labor of ostarbeiters and prisoners of war - every fifth worker was a forced laborer.

6. "Fanta"

Before the outbreak of the war, a branch of the world famous American company "Coca-Cola" was based in Germany. But when the anti-Hitler coalition banned the import of the main ingredients for the production of a sweet drink into the Third Reich, the Germans were not at a loss.

Was created its own analogue of "Coca-Cola" called "Fanta", short for the German word "Fantastisch" - "fantasy". It is interesting that the soldiers of the Wehrmacht became the biggest lovers of this soft drink.

7. "Kodak"

Nevertheless, among the European countries there were those who remained neutral throughout the war. And their brands did not disdain to cooperate with the Third Reich at all. Among these were the branches of the Kodak company, which were active in trade with Nazi Germany.

Moreover, the company produced not only the usual photographic equipment, but also touched on military affairs. Kodak was engaged in the production of detonators, fuses and other products for the needs of the German army.

8. "Ford"

Cars of the "Ford" brand have always enjoyed immense popularity in the world. However, the reputation of this giant also turned out to be a dark page. It turns out that the corporation took part in the pre-war rearmament of the German army. The Third Reich actively used the development of "Ford" for quick assembly and disassembly of cars. The company also financed Hitler's political party.

The reason for this close cooperation lies in the personality of the head of the corporation. Henry Ford supported pro-Hitler sentiments and was even an anti-Semite. And the Fuhrer himself highly appreciated him, believing that his developments would help Germany come to world domination. Moreover, Ford was awarded the Order of Merit of the German Eagle, which was rather a political award and was awarded not for specific merits, but for certain personal views.