,German Company
Volkswagen
One of the German companies that were directly linked to the Holocaust is the Volkswagen. History reveals that the company played a crucial role during the Holocaust. Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of Volkswagen Company, was a close ally of Adolf Hitler. He met with Adolf Hitler in the year 1934 to discuss the possibility of creating a car for the German people. His aim was to create a popular car that would appeal to people, hence the name Volkswagen, which means “People’s car”, was chosen. After his discussion with Hitler, he was instructed to design a car with a beetle-like shape. Porsche made a streamlined car that became famously known as the Volkswagen Beetle. History reveals that the car was named by Hitler …show more content…
History reveals that the American company built customized machines for the Nazi government to help in monitoring activities. The machines tracked various activities such as the oil supplies, Jewish bank accounts, train schedules, and the death camps. The Nazi government used the alphabetizing machines produced by the IBM to deport Polish Jews and organize the rape of Poland. The IBM also produced Concentration codes such as the death codes by the use of Gas Chamber during the Nazi regime. The company also developed punch cards for a statistician, who had close contact with Eichmann and Himmler (Pringler, 2007). The statistician used the punch cards to gather data that he would later report to the leaders of the concentration camps. The punch cards developed by the IBM were used to store crucial information in the holes punched in columns and rows. The information was later read with the help of a tabulating machine. It was designed to help the Nazi government organize census as well as tracking slaves. The Nazi government fully adopted the information system to help in the administration of concentration camps. IBM also used information technology to accelerate Adolf Hitler’s anti-Jewish program by organizing and systemizing information. The punch cards training, special project work, machinery, and servicing were managed directly by the company from its headquarters in the New York City …show more content…
Henry Ford, the founder of the company, was a known anti-Semite. He was one of the most famous foreign-backers of Hitler. He openly expressed his support for Hitler because he believed Hitler was doing the right thing. In the year 1938 when Ford was celebrating his 75th birthday, he was honored with a Nazi medal from Hitler. The medals were awarded to the distinguished foreigners who supported the work of Hitler and his Nazi government. His company produced vehicles for both the Nazis and the close allies of Hitler. Due to his close relationship with Hitler, Ford acquired forced laborers to work for his Ford Company. The company was in need of cheap labor to boost its business of producing motor vehicles. The Nazi government selected slaves from various concentration camps to work for the Ford Company (Baldwin, 2002).
Conclusion
It is evident that Volkswagen, Ford, and the IBM played crucial roles in the Holocaust. Volkswagen and the Ford Companies produced vehicles for the Nazi government. They also benefited from the cheap labor that was offered by the forced laborers. It is also clear that Porsche and Henry Ford were close allies of Hitler; hence got a favorable environment to operate their businesses. IBM was used to manage the sector of information technology because of its monopoly in the sector. The company managed and supervised the information system during the Nazi
Volkswagen
One of the German companies that were directly linked to the Holocaust is the Volkswagen. History reveals that the company played a crucial role during the Holocaust. Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of Volkswagen Company, was a close ally of Adolf Hitler. He met with Adolf Hitler in the year 1934 to discuss the possibility of creating a car for the German people. His aim was to create a popular car that would appeal to people, hence the name Volkswagen, which means “People’s car”, was chosen. After his discussion with Hitler, he was instructed to design a car with a beetle-like shape. Porsche made a streamlined car that became famously known as the Volkswagen Beetle. History reveals that the car was named by Hitler …show more content…
History reveals that the American company built customized machines for the Nazi government to help in monitoring activities. The machines tracked various activities such as the oil supplies, Jewish bank accounts, train schedules, and the death camps. The Nazi government used the alphabetizing machines produced by the IBM to deport Polish Jews and organize the rape of Poland. The IBM also produced Concentration codes such as the death codes by the use of Gas Chamber during the Nazi regime. The company also developed punch cards for a statistician, who had close contact with Eichmann and Himmler (Pringler, 2007). The statistician used the punch cards to gather data that he would later report to the leaders of the concentration camps. The punch cards developed by the IBM were used to store crucial information in the holes punched in columns and rows. The information was later read with the help of a tabulating machine. It was designed to help the Nazi government organize census as well as tracking slaves. The Nazi government fully adopted the information system to help in the administration of concentration camps. IBM also used information technology to accelerate Adolf Hitler’s anti-Jewish program by organizing and systemizing information. The punch cards training, special project work, machinery, and servicing were managed directly by the company from its headquarters in the New York City …show more content…
Henry Ford, the founder of the company, was a known anti-Semite. He was one of the most famous foreign-backers of Hitler. He openly expressed his support for Hitler because he believed Hitler was doing the right thing. In the year 1938 when Ford was celebrating his 75th birthday, he was honored with a Nazi medal from Hitler. The medals were awarded to the distinguished foreigners who supported the work of Hitler and his Nazi government. His company produced vehicles for both the Nazis and the close allies of Hitler. Due to his close relationship with Hitler, Ford acquired forced laborers to work for his Ford Company. The company was in need of cheap labor to boost its business of producing motor vehicles. The Nazi government selected slaves from various concentration camps to work for the Ford Company (Baldwin, 2002).
Conclusion
It is evident that Volkswagen, Ford, and the IBM played crucial roles in the Holocaust. Volkswagen and the Ford Companies produced vehicles for the Nazi government. They also benefited from the cheap labor that was offered by the forced laborers. It is also clear that Porsche and Henry Ford were close allies of Hitler; hence got a favorable environment to operate their businesses. IBM was used to manage the sector of information technology because of its monopoly in the sector. The company managed and supervised the information system during the Nazi