did Ford support the nazis?

Answer 1

"Henry Ford was concerned that the Nazis during the 1930s might nationalize his factories in Germany. During the Great Depression Ford's wages may have seen great to his employees but many of the rules of the factories were very harsh and strict. Those were tense times for American companies doing business in Europe. In the spring of 1939, the Nazis assumed day to day control of Ford factories in Germany. With Europe under siege, Henry Ford's genius would be turned to mass production for the war effort. Specifically, the B-24 Liberator bomber, still the most produced allied bomber in history, quickly shifted the balance of power in favor of the allies. The aviation industry could produce, if everything went alright, one Consolidated Aircraft B-24 Bomber a day at an aircraft plant. Ford would show the world how to produce one B-24 an hour at a peak of 600 per month in 24 hour shifts. Ford's Willow Run factory broke ground in the April of 1941. At the time, it was the largest assembly line in the world, with over 3,500,000 square feet (330,000 m²). Edsel Ford, Henry Ford's son, under severe stress of running the B-24 bomber facility, died in the Spring of 1943 of stomach cancer prompting his grieving father Henry Ford to re-assume day-to-day control of the Ford Motor Company. Mass production of the B-24 began by August of 1943. Many pilots slept on cots waiting for takeoff as the B-24 rolled off the assembly line at Ford's Willow Run facility."

Answer 2

Yes.

Totalitarian governments benefit large corporations by creating the kind of monopolistic business environment every company longs for.

Plus, Henry Ford was virulently anti-Semitic, so it fit like hand in glove.

Consider the U.S.S.R. at the peak of their heyday. There was no competition among brands. When you went to the store, there were no choices, you bought the State-approved brand, or you didn't. That was your only choice.

That's the kind of monopoly Hitler offered to those companies who supported his regime.

The same game is played here, only with different rules. When businesses make the right "campaign contributions", they get to pollute the environment and get a free pass. Those who don't get audited by the IRS. The government uses its agencies as a carrot and as a stick. You play, or you get played, it's just that simple.

But I wax eloquent, and shall spare you further angst.

Yes, Henry Ford supported the Nazis, but don't hold it against them, so did the Pope.
.

Answer 3

Well Henry Ford did have a picture of Adolph Hitler in his office (you can see it in photographs if you don't want to believe it), but this was before the war.

Hitler was, prior to his military aggression in Europe, very highly regarded as a statesman and the "saviour" of Germany during the Great Depression. Henry Ford was only one of many other famous admirers.

I'm sure the Ford Co, like many other American and British companies, assisted Germany in her rise to power.

Probably in Ford's case, he was also attracted to Hitler by Ford's own hatred of the Jews (which , to his credit, he later renounced as terribly misguided---gee, thanks a lot Henry---a bit too little too late).

Henry Ford was a fascinating mixture of innate brilliance and incredible ignorance.

Answer 4

Sorry junior. Your hero was a rabid anti-Semite and a Nazi supporter. Hitler even kept a photo of Ford on his desk, and mentions him in Mein Kampf. Ford recieved the Grand Cross of the German Eagle in 1938. Ford factories in Germany and occupied France continued operation through the war, and never passed out of American ownership. Do a web search on Henry Ford, Jews, Nazis. You'll find a wealth of data. The below referenced links give you an idea of what it's about:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/nov98/nazicars30.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Henry-Ford-Jews-Mass-Production/dp/1586481630

Answer 5

YES HENRY FORD taught Mr. Toyota how to build cars on an assembly line..And now most americans are supporting Japan and China by buying their goods. Go to europe and see how many items you see with " Made in the US" on them. good luck..

Answer 6

No. Ford built many items for the U.S. military during WWII, including a few hundred thousand "Jeeps".

Why would you ask such a question? Do you have a source? I really would like to know.

Answer 7

pretty vague question.
do you mean "do business with any of the automobile companies in germany at the time of the nazi's?

it is like asking "did usa support the socialist thugs in venezuela?" well, if you mean "do business with citgo via us consumers buying citgo refined gasoline", then yes we did and are supporting a socialist dictator in our backyard. if you mean "contribute money or arms directly to the government of venezuela, we did prior to my. hugo but not too much anymore.