Lufthansa’s Role in the Holocaust: The Impact of Big Business

Lufthansa Airlines, a major player in the aviation industry, has a complex history intertwined with Nazi Germany’s war machine. Founded in 1926, the airline was initially struggling financially until the Nazi regime intervened in the early 1930s.

Lufthansa’s Connection to the Nazi Regime

In 1933, Hermann Goering appointed Erhard Milch, Lufthansa’s director, to a key position in the Reich Aviation Ministry. Under Milch’s leadership, Lufthansa became a vital component of the Nazi rearmament efforts. Following the Treaty of Versailles, which limited Germany’s military capabilities, the airline enabled covert military operations.

By 1941, Lufthansa played a significant role in aircraft repair workshops and gained direct access to forced labor, including many children kidnapped from occupied territories.

Forced Labor and War Crimes

Historian Lutz Budrass asserts that Lufthansa operated as a front for the Nazi regime, utilizing forced laborers in its operations. This involvement is part of a broader pattern among German companies during this dark period.

The legacy of these actions has persisted into modern times. In 1951, Lufthansa was declared part of the German air force and was liquidated, only to be reestablished in 1953. Despite its rebranding, many former executives from the Nazi era returned to manage the new airline, raising questions about accountability.

Corporate Accountability and Historical Revisionism

In the 1990s, lawsuits from forced laborers brought attention to the involvement of companies like Lufthansa in Nazi atrocities. Facing international pressure, Lufthansa and other corporations established the Foundation for Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ) in 2000 to provide compensation. Unfortunately, by that time, a significant number of forced laborers had already passed away, limiting the reach of the initiative.

• Over 20 million people were subjected to forced labor in Nazi-occupied areas.
• Only 1.7 million received compensation from the EVZ.

Persistent Issues and Contemporary Reflections

Modern German businesses often employ historians to assess their operations during the Third Reich. However, many reports remain unpublished or inaccessible to the public, leading to ongoing criticisms of accountability. Klaus-Michael Kühne, a notable figure in the transportation industry and a significant shareholder in Lufthansa, has faced scrutiny for his family’s historical connections to Nazi-era practices.

As these discussions around corporate accountability evolve, Lufthansa has stated its intention to critically examine its past as part of its 100th anniversary observance. However, skepticism persists regarding the airline’s commitment to genuine transparency.

The Role of Big Business in Historical Atrocities

Lufthansa’s historical narrative exemplifies the complicity of major corporations in war crimes. Companies like IG Farben and BMW also benefited from the Holocaust, highlighting a troubling legacy that continues to prompt calls for accountability and moral responsibility.

A deeper understanding of these connections is critical as societies strive to confront their historical injustices. The aviation giant’s role in the Holocaust remains a poignant reminder of the intersection between big business and systemic atrocity.