Liberation Day
German corporations are committed to responsibility in the Nazi era-with an appeal
On the day of the liberation, German companies are committed to their responsibility in the Third Reich. They were involved in the crimes of the Nazi era and in the Second World War.
The Second World War in Europe ended 80 years ago with the surrender of the German Empire. The fact that Nazi Germany had held the war for so long was also due to numerous forced laborers who were used in the war economy. In addition, many large German companies benefited from the crimes of the Nazi era-for example through orders and expropriations.
On the 80th anniversary of the liberation, 49 large German companies published a text in which they are committed to their responsibility in the Third Reich. In the “Explanation of German companies on May 8th” it says: “German companies contributed to consolidating the rule of the National Socialists. Considered their own advantage, many companies and their players at the time were involved.”
Companies report to the day of liberation
The explanation signed, among other things, the bosses of Bayer, Adidas, Rheinmetall, Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens. One assumes “responsibility to make the memory of the crimes of the Nazi era visible”. The signatories position themselves against hatred, anti -Semitism and exclusion: “There may be and will not be a final line with us.”
“In 1933 and after that too many were quiet, watching and silent,” the companies explain. From this, responsibility for the past, present and future adults. The text became, some of the companies also published it on their websites.
Refurbishment is progressing – but not everywhere
The processing of the role of German companies in the Nazi era has been difficult in the past. Any participation in the crimes has long been denied or ignored. In recent times, some companies have commissioned historians to uncover the entanglements. Among others Bahlsen, Dr. Oetker and VW were praised by experts for their efforts in this regard.
Other companies such as the freight forwarding and logistics company Kühne + Nagel close to public processing, as the “Tagesschau” recently reported. Kühne + Nagel belongs to Klaus-Michael Kühne, one of the richest Germans. In the Third Reich, the company transported the furniture of fled, deported and murdered Jews from the occupied western areas to the German Reich.
Kühne + Nagel has not signed the explanation of German companies. According to the “Süddeutscher Zeitung” by Bayer, BASF and Evonik, all of the successors of the Chemistry Conglomerate IG Farben (involved in the production of the poison gas Zyklon B), as well as from Siemens. Bayer boss Bill Anderson then contacted a number of other companies.
However, this explanation remains vague at crucial points: words such as “forced labor” or “guilt” do not occur. Rather, it looks like a call to vigilance in the current political situation. The processing of the Nazi knitting from Germany’s largest company is far from complete.
EPP
Source: Stern
