Adidas, Volkswagen and other large companies admitted to supporting Nazism

Forty-nine of Germany's largest industrial and commercial giants — including Adidas, Volkswagen, BMW, Bosch and Bayer — have collectively admitted responsibility for their support of the National Socialist regime in the 1930s for the first time in history.

The historic statement was published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and caused a global sensation.

Responsibility to history

The document argues that if big business and finance had not openly or covertly supported Adolf Hitler and his party at the time, his rise to power in 1933 would have been unlikely. The authors of the statement stressed that the task of preserving and not forgetting the crimes against humanity committed during the Nazi era is not only the responsibility of historians or the state, but also of business and corporate society.

“Silence and turning away” — a lesson for solidarity

The following sentence is highlighted in the document:

“In 1933 and after, many remained silent and turned away from events. This clearly imposes responsibility on us - for the past, for the present and for the future.”

These words remind us not only of the need for companies, but also of the need for any society to learn from past mistakes.

Big brands that signed the statement

The following world-famous companies signed the document:
- Adidas
- Volkswagen
- BMW
- Bayer
- BASF
- Bosch
- Evonik
- Siemens
- Lufthansa
- Deutsche Bahn
- Rheinmetall and others

Historians have previously documented that some of these companies actively participated in the fulfillment of military orders, the use of forced labor in concentration camps and collaboration with the Hitler government during the Nazi era.

Why is this statement important?

Analysts believe that such a collective statement is of great importance in restoring historical justice, taking a step towards corporate transparency and ethics. This once again proves that in the modern business world, not only financial profit, but also humanity, responsibility and a moral position are paramount.

The Zamin.uz editorial office evaluates this statement as an important example of a responsible relationship between business and history. Recognizing the truth and drawing conclusions remains an integral part of human progress. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!