Although there were sanctions and restrictions against working with Germany during World War II, especially when America entered the war in 1941, there were some American companies that profited off both sides of World War II. Here are 8 examples.
Coca-Cola Company.
Coca-Cola played both American and German sides during World War II, but in 1941, the German side ran out of sugary syrup to make the soft drink. So Coca-Cola’s German division invented Fanta to continue to sell Coca-Cola brands in the Germany without breaking any restrictions or an embargo.
Kodak.
The German branch of Kodak used Jewish slave labor from concentration camps but continued to produce film stock for the Axis Powers during the War.
Chase Bank.
Chase Bank was one of many around the world that continued to work with Nazi during World War II. They also froze the assets of many European Jewish customers as a common practice to cooperate with the Third Reich.
Ford.
Believe it or not, Henry Ford was an anti-Semite and was awarded a Nazi medal, designed for “distinguished foreigners” in 1938. Ford continued to sell and make cars with Russian slave labor for American and Germans during World War II.
IBM.
The computer company built specialized equipment for the Germans to help them track day-to-day operations, including victims of the Holocaust.
General Electric.
GE partnered with German manufacturing firm Krupp to help build Hitler’s army and used Jewish slave labor to build gas chambers during World War II and the Holocaust. The U.S. Government fined GE for working with the Nazis, but the American company continued to profit off of the War. It was estimated that GE made $1.5 million in 1936 alone from working with Krupp and the Nazis.
Random House.
Bertelsmann A.G. is a Random House’s parent company and they continued to publish Nazi propaganda and Adolf Hitler’s writings during World War II.
Standard Oil.
The oil company was one of the very few that could produce tetraethyl lead gas to fuel the German military, so they were another American company that played both sides during the War. Imagine if Standard Oil didn’t produce or sell fuel for the Nazi…