RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIVION: GERMANY’S BIG BUSINESS BETWEEN NAZISM AND THE SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY
This article examines the evolution of the role played by German big business in Nazi Germany and in the post-war Federal Republic through the lens of historical memory. It analyzes the mechanisms of corporate involvement in the consolidation of the totalitarian regime, the use of forced labour, and...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Russian |
| Published: |
Institute of Europe Russian Academy of Sciences
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Научно-аналитический вестник Института Европы РАН |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://vestnikieran.instituteofeurope.ru/images/2-2025/Belov22025.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849694198045868032 |
|---|---|
| author | Vladislav B. Belov |
| author_facet | Vladislav B. Belov |
| author_sort | Vladislav B. Belov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines the evolution of the role played by German big business in Nazi Germany and in the post-war Federal Republic through the lens of historical memory. It analyzes the mechanisms of corporate involvement in the consolidation of the totalitarian regime, the use of forced labour, and the militarization of the economy. Particular attention is given to the processes
of denazification, amnesia in public and corporate memory, compensations to victims, and contemporary memory politics pursued by successor companies. The article highlights the paradox that, despite documented involvement in Nazi crimes, most companies still avoid institutional acknowledgment of guilt. In conclusion, the issue of moral responsibility of business toward society is
raised in the context of renewed militarization of Germany’s Standort. The study seeks to address a gap in Russian economic historiography and emphasizes the need to integrate the economic dimension into discussions on the legacy of Nazism. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-444186c047504eebb86e718c3e9db6f6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2618-7914 |
| language | Russian |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Europe Russian Academy of Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Научно-аналитический вестник Института Европы РАН |
| spelling | doaj-art-444186c047504eebb86e718c3e9db6f62025-08-20T03:20:10ZrusInstitute of Europe Russian Academy of SciencesНаучно-аналитический вестник Института Европы РАН2618-79142025-05-01271810.15211/vestnikieran22025718RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIVION: GERMANY’S BIG BUSINESS BETWEEN NAZISM AND THE SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMYVladislav B. Belov0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5096-193Xbelov@instituteofeurope.ruThis article examines the evolution of the role played by German big business in Nazi Germany and in the post-war Federal Republic through the lens of historical memory. It analyzes the mechanisms of corporate involvement in the consolidation of the totalitarian regime, the use of forced labour, and the militarization of the economy. Particular attention is given to the processes of denazification, amnesia in public and corporate memory, compensations to victims, and contemporary memory politics pursued by successor companies. The article highlights the paradox that, despite documented involvement in Nazi crimes, most companies still avoid institutional acknowledgment of guilt. In conclusion, the issue of moral responsibility of business toward society is raised in the context of renewed militarization of Germany’s Standort. The study seeks to address a gap in Russian economic historiography and emphasizes the need to integrate the economic dimension into discussions on the legacy of Nazism. http://vestnikieran.instituteofeurope.ru/images/2-2025/Belov22025.pdfgermanyhistorical memorybig businessnazismdenazificationsocial market economycorporate responsibilityforced labourindustrial conglomeratesmilitarization |
| spellingShingle | Vladislav B. Belov RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIVION: GERMANY’S BIG BUSINESS BETWEEN NAZISM AND THE SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY Научно-аналитический вестник Института Европы РАН germany historical memory big business nazism denazification social market economy corporate responsibility forced labour industrial conglomerates militarization |
| title | RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIVION: GERMANY’S BIG BUSINESS BETWEEN NAZISM AND THE SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY |
| title_full | RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIVION: GERMANY’S BIG BUSINESS BETWEEN NAZISM AND THE SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY |
| title_fullStr | RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIVION: GERMANY’S BIG BUSINESS BETWEEN NAZISM AND THE SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY |
| title_full_unstemmed | RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIVION: GERMANY’S BIG BUSINESS BETWEEN NAZISM AND THE SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY |
| title_short | RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIVION: GERMANY’S BIG BUSINESS BETWEEN NAZISM AND THE SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY |
| title_sort | responsibility and oblivion germany s big business between nazism and the social market economy |
| topic | germany historical memory big business nazism denazification social market economy corporate responsibility forced labour industrial conglomerates militarization |
| url | http://vestnikieran.instituteofeurope.ru/images/2-2025/Belov22025.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vladislavbbelov responsibilityandobliviongermanysbigbusinessbetweennazismandthesocialmarketeconomy |