Audi reveals nazi past of Auto Union

Posted on 26-05-2014 at 19:01 by ricardo – 45 Comments”

In a by Audi initiated research 500 pages to Auto Union, the predecessor of the brand, it is clear what atrocities the former management can be blamed. Audi is shocked by the outcome.

Richard Bruhn ‘hat es gewüsst’

In the study ” Wartime Economy and Labour Deployment by Auto Union AG Chemnitz during World War II, published today, is determined to Audi during the Second world War extensive use has been made of forced labour. Something that was never a secret, by the way. The research by German historians to Audi’s book points out, however, especially with an accusing finger at Richard Bruhn.

Richard Bruhn was always seen as the hero of Auto Union, the bedrijvengezelschap that would later transform into Audi as we now know it. Bruhn (1886 – 1964) is even on the site of Audi praised (mirror, Audi is going to that page, namely weggummen). In Ingolstadt ‘ie his own street, and within Audi carry more things in his name.

Something that after today is going to change.

The research underline that, Bruhn during world WAR ii, close ties maintained with the Nazi top. Something that Audi doesn’t know, so let the brand know today. Bruhn will be held personally responsible for the massive expansion of the production capacity after 1942, in which some 3,700 forced laborers from concentration camps under degrading conditions were used. Auto Union produced a total of use of seven labor camps, guarded by the SS. In addition, another 16.500 workers – not caught in camps – forced to in factories in Zwickau and Chemnitz to work.

Moral responsibility

The study shows that the Auto Union-management is the ‘moral responsibility’ for about 4,500 slave labourers from concentration camp Flossenbürg, where the bodies were piled and burned – those who died during work in an Auto Union-labour camp Leitmeritz.

Audi has this shocked responded according to Wirtschaftswoche, and says former forced laborers who are still alive to want to compensate for. It will also be the texts in the bedrijfsmuseum and in Audi’s online environment. Audi chief Peter Mosch wants, in addition, the bolshevik of the company, which is named after Bruhn, with a different name. The mayor of Ingolstadt will in all probability be Bruhnstraße a different name.

And that is if Audi being a good start, it seems obvious to us. The black pages don’t try to erase, but to appoint and straightening where needed.

Audi is one of the last car manufacturers that have an in-depth investigation perform to the own history of war. Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW, they went for. VW pays for many years on a foundation of the German industry, which is already more than 4.4 billion euros paid out to victims of forced labor.

Thanks to Luc for the tip.