World War II concluded 75 years ago, but in modern day Germany a reckoning with the past is occurring. Companies with long standing, many family owned, are being forced to self-reflect on their past associations and actions. The information unearthed during this process has shown collaboration with the Nazi regime that ruled Germany between 1933-45 and helped bring about the second World War. Gunther Quandt was an industrialist whose second wife (Magda) would leave him for Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propagandist. Quandt would profit from his Nazi connections, despite claiming reluctance to join the Nazi party. Ferdinand Porsche would become Hitler’s chosen automaker, would thrive with the Aryanization of businesses while jettisoning a key partner in the process. The titans of auto, weapons, foodstuff who aided the Nazis shared one philosophy above all: Greed. Their wealth was built on the blood of the oppressed.


“Nazi Billionaires” by David De Jong proves that the war may be long over, but the scars are still healing. The individuals and the corporations they helmed vary in temperament and industry, but their guilt is similar and damning. The investigative work performed by De Jong is exemplary and sheds new light on the collusion between big business and the Nazi hydra.

This book is a interesting mix of history and economics. It’s absolutely two stories: one an atrocity that leads to the second, financial gain. I confess that I absolutely knew the dark history of most of these companies. It always surprises me that it’s not something more well-known. However it’s important for people to realize that there were families who reaped the benefits of Nazism.
It’s an egregious story and aspect of the Holocaust that few know. Highly recommend!