This is an interesting book. I think all of us know the story of the Nazi regime in Germany, one of the darkest chapters in world history. We know about the death camps and the millions killed by the Nazis. We know about the forced labor in German industry during the war. Or I thought I did, but it has been decades since I read The Rise and the Fall of the Third Reich.
Subtitled The Dirk History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties, the author, David De Jong, formerly of Bloomberg News, wrote several stories published by Bloomberg that led to this book. The focus is on the wealthiest German families, and how they profited from the use of forced labor and the ‘buying’ of Jewish-owned businesses at deep discounts via the Nazi process of Aryanization of business ownership. It was far worse than I realized or remembered.
Since it has been 77 years since the end of the Second World War, almost all the protagonists are gone. But these family dynasties live on, their fortunes tainted. With younger management, most of the biggest German business dynasties have commissioned historians to thoroughly research their families’ business dealings with the Nazis. These histories have been published and most of the families have said something to the effect that, all the facts are out there for anyone to see. Anyone who can read German anyway.
The author has taken these histories and woven them into this story, in English. All the various German dynasties are included and there is much interaction between them. There has also been a lot of lying and denying of the truth, which still continues, and the author is quick to point out.
One of my main interests was the history of the Quandt family, who now own 46.6 percent of BMW. That interest wasn’t purchased until 1959, but the Quandts were wealthy before WWI and their wealth has only grown through two world wars and the aftermath. Gunther Quandt’s ex-wife married Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Chief of Propaganda. As Hitler remained single, Magda Goebbels became essentially the First Lady of the Third Reich.
The Porsche family, another familiar name, could hardly have been closer to the Nazi regime. Ferdinand Porsche was Hitler’s chosen designer for the Volkswagen and the whole Porsche/Piech clan made a fortune during the war. They also treated the co-founder of Porsche, Adolf Rosenberger, terrible because he was Jewish.
There are a number of other dynasties woven into this tale. Some defend their actions by saying that all of German industry was forced by the Nazis regime into supporting war effort, that they had no choice but to comply. This rings pretty hollow when the detail of their involvement is laid bare. There are few, if any, heroes here.
Well, maybe the allies that finally brought down the Reich. Particularly the American military was honorable. But even in the aftermath of the war, there were decisions made to not take away the wealth and power of these dynasties. The allies needed Germany’s economy to be strong to offset the ambitions of the Russians. Is it always the Russians?
It is an interesting and well written book. The details and the weaving together of the stories of these complex families is fascinating. But there is no getting away from the dark side of this story, so it isn’t for everybody. I’d also note, that in a number of places, some of the Third Reich’s story seems not so different from recent episodes in world history. So, maybe a cautionary tale, as well.
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