German wealthy elites are discrete, rarely featured in the pages of the glossy local magazines for their outrageous parties and lavish lifestyle. One knows practically nothing about their girlfriends and boyfriends and love affairs. May it be the famous ´protestant ethic´ requiring a humble spirit, a lot of work and humility while trying to pay in this life for the original sin(s)?
Such a naive view on German elites is shattered into little pieces by the excellent unique research by investigative journalist David de Jong: Nazi billionaires. The Dark History of Germany´s Wealthiest Dynasties. Those billionaires may be actually too ´brown´ to accept being too long under the limelights.
A couple of ´Made in Germany´ brands, if not the most important, do have in fact, deep and trustworthy connections with the Nazi regime. By the way of family connections - De Quandt family, for instance, Porsche, Dr. Oetker - those rich and very private families hid for decades the truth about their past. A past that not only concerned them as individuals involved in the reproduction and operation of the Nazi regime - through production of weapons and direct financial support - but also by directly using forced labour and taking advantage of the ´Aryanization´ policies - looting properties from Jewish businesses.
De Jong, who spent four years in Berlin documenting the book, authored the first extensive investigation in the English language. German media who may benefit of some support from one or more from those companies - including through media prizes awarded through foundations bearing the name of documented Nazis - rather prefers to put on hold any questions related to the ´brown heritage´. They knew it already and, as I´ve often heard on topics related to acknowledging the past, ´we rather move on´.
German industrialists and the German industry as such, became prosperous, among others, following the Korean War and the further involvement in production of landmines used in the conflicts in Africa, among others. Thus, when I watch those days the pathetic discourses defending the German non-involvement in the war in Ukraine I can only feel nauseated by the falsity of this all.
Those ´charming industrialists´ and their second wives and many children, who were eventually cleaned from their crimes for reasons pertaining to the Cold War interests rarely assumed their past or even tried to fashion themselves as victims or resistants. And those deluding themselves into believing that the past should not become the obsession of the present, may want to hear that not few of those companies happen to offer substantial support to far right, neo-Nazi parties and causes.
Beyond the decryption of the current German economic elites, the book also raises serious questions about the possibilities of a transition from dictatorship to democracy depending upon the former elites. Can it be otherwise? Is there any chance of starting anew, without necessarily using the connections and influence of the compromised elites? Probably not at a great scale, but assuming the past can make a difference. Also, having criteria when it comes to accepting back into the ranks of the elites compromised individuals, especially those who in a way or another supported crimes and political corruption.
Nazi Billionaires is a revelation and important contribution to the study of contemporary elites, particularly in post-totalitarian context with a specific focus on Nazi Germany.
