Top 10 Brands that Supported the Nazi Party

These brands are famous worldwide. They are ones that we all know and even use. However, despite their popularity today, they all have a much more sinister past. You see, these brands all had ties to the Nazi Party.

The Top Ten

Adidas

Adidas AG (stylized as adidas since 1949) is a German multinational corporation, founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria. It designs and manufactures shoes, clothing, and accessories. Adidas is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second largest in the world, after Nike... read more

His first name "Adi" is short for "Adolf".
Volkswagen

Volkswagen is a German automotive manufacturer that was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. The company produces a wide variety of vehicles including sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, and commercial vans.
Volkswagen is one of the largest automakers in the world and has a strong... read more

Created in the '30s, Hitler wanted the government to create a vehicle for the common working-class Germans. Working with Volkswagen, they created the Volkswagen Beetle, which has become a well-known car today. This car was catered to working-class Germans. Volkswagen did use forced labor from concentration camps near their factories.
BMW

BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke in German, or Bavarian Motor Works in English) is a German multinational company that currently produces luxury automobiles and motorcycles. The company also produced aircraft engines until 1945. BMW is known for its performance-oriented vehicles and owns brands such as... read more

Another car company that was involved with the Nazi Party, the owners had some form of relationship with Hitler. BMW also used forced labor, and its vehicles were supplied to the Nazis.
Fanta

The soda that was created by Coca-Cola, a drink that we've all had at some point in our lives, was actually invented in Germany by Max Keith. When Coca-Cola first decided to try expanding its brand globally, it was a hit worldwide, thus making it an American staple. Max Keith wanted a similar drink that was popular worldwide but made in Germany.
However, after the Second World War, Coca-Cola parted ways with Germany. That didn't stop Keith from creating Fanta, using leftover fruit scraps from factories. With his connections to the Nazi Party, he was able to market Fanta across Germany and even Europe. However, after the war was over, he was forced to hand over Fanta to the U.S. Fanta has now rebranded itself to distance itself from its past.
Ford

The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903, and it pioneered assembly-line manufacturing for mass production. Its product portfolio includes the Ford and Lincoln... read more

Henry Ford was famously known for his anti-Semitism, which is no surprise that he had some form of relationship with Hitler. Despite producing cars for the Allies, he also supplied cars for the Nazis.
Hugo Boss

Hugo Boss became a member of the Nazi Party and designed uniforms and brown shirts for them. Like Volkswagen, Hugo Boss used the hands of Holocaust victims for production. After his death, the brand continued under new leadership. Hugo Boss has now funded reparations for the forced labor victims. As of today, it has become a popular luxury clothing brand.
Puma

Puma SE, branded simply as Puma, is a German multinational corporation that designs and manufactures athletic and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories. The company is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. Puma is currently the third-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world.... read more

Created by Rudolf Dassler, who was famously in a rivalry with his brother, Adi. While both brothers had a brand of shoes together in 1920, they later went their separate ways for reasons that are the subject of various theories.
Kodak

Hitler's top economic adviser had connections to Kodak. He even tried to convince Kodak to fire Jewish employees. Germany's Kodak branch also relied on forced labor. Kodak's branches in Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal were also involved in doing business with the Nazis.
Nestlé
Chanel

Chanel S.A. is a French, privately held fashion company owned by Alain and Gérard Wertheimer, the grandsons of Pierre Wertheimer. Pierre was an early business partner of the designer Gabrielle Bonheur Coco Chanel. The brand is known globally for its luxury fashion, fragrances, and accessories.