Rheinmetall's Nazi Past: Historian Finds Gaps in Company's Official History

Ralf Ahrens, a historian at the Leibniz Center for Contemporary History, has reviewed the only existing commemorative publication on Rheinmetall's Nazi-era history, commissioned by Greenpeace. He found significant omissions in the company's self-representation. In a recent interview with the German newspaper der Freitag, historian David de Jong discussed how families like Quandt, Porsche-Piëch, and Flick profited from the expropriation of Jewish entrepreneurs and forced labor during the Nazi period, but he did not mention Rheinmetall. Ahrens's review reveals that the company's official history presents itself as a victim of circumstances, avoiding a thorough examination of its role in Nazi crimes. The findings highlight the ongoing inadequacy of historical reckoning by major German corporations, particularly the largest arms manufacturer, which has long evaded comprehensive scrutiny. The interview was conducted by Alexandra Senfft and published in der Freitag.