Hitler and General Motors: The Connection That Led to the Rise of an Automotive Superpower
The economy in the United States has now come to a point that citizens are losing their homes, their jobs, and everything they hold dear. People are making drastic changes to survive and put food on the table for their families. So why, as struggling citizens of this country, should we concern ourselves with a corporate giant that is declaring bankruptcy? In fact, if you knew they had a hand in the murders of six million people, would that make a difference?
In March 1929 General Motors purchased majority shares of the Opel car company (German), taking full control of all operations in 1931. Shortly after, a second plant was built at Brandenburg for the production of ‘Blitz’ light duty trucks.
Image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com via Flickr
Opel remained dedicated, or rather obedient, doing what was necessary to prosper during the war. This of course included supporting the rancid propaganda of Hitler’s programs, anti-Jewish discrimination, and war vigilence.
In fact, in 1938 just months after the incorporation of Austria, “the head of General Motors overseas operation, James D. Mooney received the German Eagle with Cross, the premier medal Hitler awarded to foreign commercial collaborators and cohorts.”
In November 1939, propaganda started appearing in the streets, along with German officers looting Jewish businesses along with residences. During this time, all the activities of corporate America were under the microscope. Business relations were being investigated, along with the truths about GM’s ownership of the Opel car corporation. “Reich officials directed Opel’s productivity, including mandating all vehicles for military use.”
“These are among the many findings of a multipart JTA investigation that culled and re-examined thousands of pages of Nazi-era and New Deal-era documents that shed new light on GM’s relationship with the Third Reich. They reveal that even as GM and its president, Alfred P. Sloan, were helping mobilize the resurgent German military, they were undermining the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt and undermining America’s electric mass transit, and in doing so helped addict the United States to oil.”
The president of General Motors at the time was Alfred P. Sloan. Sloan spent the best part of his career during the war defending his close association with Hitler. He remained proud of his accomplishments despite being associated with the scum of the earth, notorious for building death camps for the annihilation of all Jews and Polish individuals.
“Sloan stated, in a letter to an objecting stockholder, that in the interests of making a profit, GM shouldn’t risk alienating its German hosts by intruding in Nazi affairs. In other words, to put the proposition rather bluntly, such matters should not be considered the business of the management of General Motors.”
How interesting that Sloan wanted nothing to do with the affairs of the Third Reich, however the Opel Company continued to manufacture thousands of Blitz trucks for the Reich’s upcoming Blitzkrieg. On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany finally attacked Poland; with troops conveniently “arriving in GM manufactured Blitz trucks.”
Opel continued their full on front using Danish Chief Albin Madsen and two Americans to sustain a controlling presence on the board. Not control, just presence.
The company’s 1939 annual report, released in April 1940, stated: “With full recognition of the responsibility that the manufacturing facilities of Adam Opel A.G. must now assume under a war regime, the Corporation has withdrawn the American personnel formerly in executive charge and has turned the administrative responsibilities over to German nationals.”
General Motor’s Opel plant gained immense power during the 1930s because of their ongoing war efforts. They continued to assist the Germans by building trucks, bombers, and torpedoes for use against the enemies of Germany.
In the end, there exists a question in my mind. Why on earth would the American people continue to support a company that assisted with the murder of over 6 million people?
The tears are being shed all over the news. The corporate suits are so regretful of their choices made while operating GM’s factories and dealerships. However in my mind, if it happens that this company receives a bailout, I will be sickened to call myself an American.
I will feel regret for those that have lost their jobs, but I will feel more regret for the millions of people that were murdered because of this company.
Interesting Tidbit
Opel declared bankruptcy, and whom do think has chosen to bail them out? According to Bloom-berg.com , the German government is preparing to bail out Opel in the tune of five billion euros (6.3 billion dollars).
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19 Comments
This is an article “that matters”, Lauren! I didn’t knew about GM and the Third Reich!
Thank you Lauren, great work. Keep these informative articles coming..
BMW made german planes Henry Ford was a nazi sympathizer and now this. Can I please buy a car from someone who was not in bed with the nazis.
I object to you referring to Hitler and his ilk as “scum of the earth” as an insult to scum everywhere. I am glad you posted this. good job. It is amazing that America ending up fighting Hitler with so many corporations supporting him.
motie
This is really interesting. I don’t know much about GM. Now, I know it refers to General Motor. Interesting read here, give you “liked it”
Thank you. I had a hard time reading this as the truth is sometimes not totally divulged in a total way or timely for that matter. WEll done write !
Well, that was very interesting! I know of the GM/Opel link but had not considered this relationship during the war. This may sound callous, but what goes around comes around…look at GM now!
Wow! What apowerful and well written article. I remember in the 70’s opel having a small sports car that many found atttractive. To know the roots of such a car company can make the difference ala Volkswagen.
Great read and very informative.
J
I had never heard any of this. You can bet I will research it. And to think we own a GM car.
Lauren,
I never knew this before. My father used to own an opel when we were kids. Thank you for educating me on this.
Bless you,
Chris
Lauren,
I didn’t know any of this!!! This is really shocking to hear, due to the fact countless American lives were lost during that war. Its hard to believe that these sympathizers were working for Hitler. They should have put people like this behind bars. Now we know GM doesn’t really stand for General Motors, It stands for German Made! Excellent article, Lauren!!! Keep more of these articles coming!!!
Randy
Sloan said it all in his letter to shareholders, he put profits above humanity.
Very informative piece Lauren.
Hey Lauren – great job on this. Did you know Henry Ford also had a strong connection to Hitler?
Hi James
You know, I found out about this recently. It’s completely sick. It makes me feel a whole lot better about buying a foreign car not connected with the Nazi’s.
i learned something new about the fast… thanks for sharing…
This is indeed eye opening, sort of like George Bush’s grandfather’s involvement in bankrolling Hitler. War profiteering runs in the Bush family, not just general motors. http://brendancalling.com/2008/05/15/prescott-bush-was-a-nazi-sympathizer/
Yeah, keep buying those foreign cars and watching those dollars flow back to Japan and China and everywhere else but here. In fact, keep funding the unemployment checks to support over 14% of people laid off in Michigan. Japan doesn’t let us sell in their markets. China will soon be through with us, once they don’t need our technology. I’m am associated with GM, had NOTHING to do with any of this event (can you blame my generation for slavery, too?). Hell, go buy Chinese and Japanese vehicles knowing how pure and clean their history is…in fact, Japan was the first to use WMD – on China! I think you need to keep this in perspective when your considering a GM car in the year 2009. But please, in the meantime, keep those unemployment checks coming!
Joe,
” I’m am associated with GM, had NOTHING to do with any of this event (can you blame my generation for slavery, too?)”
Slavery? It was murder~!
There is no comparison between Slavery and the 6 million people murdered during the holocaust. Slaves happened because of the aristocrats. The people that own GM are in the same class. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The same illuminati have controlled the world for years, and it will never change.
Why in the world would citizens of this country put more money into the economy while they have no rights?
This country is run by big business, and what a surprise, they are tanking left and right.
I would suggest stop relying on unions for a paycheck, and get some education. If the US had better corporate companies, you could go out and get a job to replace the one you lost.
The idea behind America is to obtain the skills and education necessary to acquire a competitive occupation.
PS I love my Toyota, with no requirements but a couple of oil changes and minor maintenance.