Nazism and German cars

[BlowDryRat]

I'm looking at buying a VW ID3 but I feel a bit odd about buying from a brand founded by the Nazis. I know there are all sorts of companies with murky origins and business practices but people were enslaved, tortured and killed working to make the badge I'd have on my car.

I did a bit of research and apparently VW have done a lot of work to support and make reparations to Holocaust survivors. But...

What do you think?

I think you need to worry more about buying from companies and countries that exploit workers and the environment NOW not 75+ years ago.

That's what DH said. I wouldn't buy a Chinese-made car for that exact reason.

It's more the badge recognition I guess.

I think you are crackers

Well - if that bothers you then you'll need to avoid Bayer, IBM, Coca Cola, Hugo Boss, Kodak, Mercedes, Ford, Nestle, Seimens, Krupp, and a great many others

fair enough.

This is the original VW logo incorporating a Swastika.

You are WAY overthinking it.

I lived in Germany for a while. The efforts they go to to erase anything that might glorify Nazism is immense. I think any major Germany company will have made a lot of effort in disassociating themselves.

The badge that you see now with the blue on it was designed in 2000. Before that the badge was altered by the British when they took over after the war.

Given the issues with electric vehicle batteries and cobalt mining in particular I think you're focusing on the wrong thing. That said, I will still always buy Phillips over Siemens as one saved Jews and the other built the ovens for concentration camps so I agree we can't just forget a companies past.

Give over. Methinks you have too much time on your hands.

It was YEARS ago. I would never not buy a German car because of a distant affiliation with Nazis. German cars are the best

I find it rather strange that you're aware of the efforts VW have gone to to make reparations for the past but would still feel uncomfortable buying a car from the company as it is today (eg not 75 plus years ago)? I mean, there are other car brands and if you'd rather, just get a different car. VW today, Germans today, are not the people who committed the unforgivable atrocities of the Holocaust. We must never forget what happened, boycotting VW seems perhaps a bit strange to me as there are many ways to demonstrate commitment to antisemitism/anti racism that maybe would be more proactive. But if you don't want to buy the car, just don't!

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Completely off topic, but what general vicinity did you live in Germany? I was near Hannover for a few years.

OP - I have also seen the Germans want to get as far away from that part of their history as possible.

Way overthinking things op
The company is only linked to nazism through longevity at this point

@Isonthecase

Given the issues with electric vehicle batteries and cobalt mining in particular I think you're focusing on the wrong thing. That said, I will still always buy Phillips over Siemens as one saved Jews and the other built the ovens for concentration camps so I agree we can't just forget a companies past.

If you needed a CT scan or radiotherapy, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be picky. Try living in the present not the past.

@alwayswrighty we lived north of Hannover for 16 months 10 years ago, and more recently lived in the Rhine-Westphalia area for a couple of years.

I think the main point to consider is that the money that you pay will not be going into the hands of Nazi's but to a democratic country - whereas the money that you pay for chinese manufactured goods (mobile phones, electronics, household goods will be indirectly supporting a regime that has active concentration camps and no press freedom etc, do you boycott those products too?

@Xoxoxoxoxoxox

I think the main point to consider is that the money that you pay will not be going into the hands of Nazi's but to a democratic country - whereas the money that you pay for chinese manufactured goods (mobile phones, electronics, household goods will be indirectly supporting a regime that has active concentration camps and no press freedom etc, do you boycott those products too?

Couldn't agree more. It's hardly as if the volkswagen logo STILL has a swastika incorporated...

Hitler founded Volkswagen (=People's Car) for the masses.

His vehicle of choice was a Mercedes Benz.

@Cyw2018 no I'm sure I wouldn't but thankfully in the areas where I have a choice I can choose to support companies whose values align with my own.

Nazi Germany were defeated in 1945. The British occupation of India didn't stop until 1947. Bets avoid Farrow and Ball - founded 1946.

Fair enough. I suppose it's because there are still Holocaust survivors alive today that means it's not all in the past.

'Hitler drove all over, and indeed conquered most of it, in a Mercedes Benz'

Vw was for the people

I lived in Germany for a very long time, and the extent to which even young Germans are still trying to make reparations now is mahoosive (and unnecessary). I really wouldn't worry.

I don't think anyone is suggesting for one moment that you forget about the Holocaust or Holocaust survivors- or that the horrors of anti-semitism are consigned to the past. Sadly, it's not and it's horrific how little the world seems to have learned from the past. If you want to support educational causes/remembrance of the Holocaust/anti racism, go for it. Not buying a VW car is entirely your choice but possibly not the clear statement or useful action you feel it is.