Gandalf The Silver

have taken them a long time to admit it (in 1998), at least they can be partially commended for no longer denying it and taking some financial responsibility for it.

I know that it's been a few months since we debated this - we didn't even have the same usernames back then! But unlike usernames, history is something that shouldn't be toyed with ;-)

VW used slave labor and it's a fact that can't be changed.

Devius

Anybody know where you can read more about this stuff? I doubt if its posted on their websites!!

aftermath

Audi used Jewish slave labor too, they even talk about it at the audi forum in ingolstadt

aepiua

As part of Mercedes settlement with the Israeli government they had to provide low cost (near free) Mercedes Benz vehicles to Israel for a certain number of years. This is the reason why so many of the taxis in Israel are Mercedes.

Audi Junkie

Shoot me a link.The VW factory was one of the 1st Allied bombing targets.I'd like to hear the story.

Audi Junkie

I did'nt even know there were ANY Audis made during the War.

Gandalf The Silver

reasons, since the factory contributed to the war effort (including production of the V1 rocket).

Here's a link regarding German companies and slave labor settlements...you will notice at the end of the article, that VW and Siemens were among the first to "break ranks" from other German companies, and actually offer compensation.

<a href="http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/world/dailynews/slavelabor981211_2.html" target="_top">http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/world/dailynews/slavelabor981211_2.html</a>

and here's a summary of major companies and their position on the matter:<ul><li><a href="http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/slavelabortable981216.html">http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/slavelabortable981216.html</a</li></ul>

Lone Starr (Ivan)

Lots of auto union cars, actually. BMW was still making planes.

Audi Junkie

It's a complicated situation. To put it in perspective, my Grandpa in the USA was paid $0.40 a day to work in the mines. Maybe he should have been compensated after the fact. I guess slaves are a way to be competetive in a wartime economy. You know about my concern for the American POWs. In Germany 98% survived the War, in Japan American POWs only survived at a 20% rate.

Gandalf The Silver

Without involving lawyers, a judge and a jury that is... ;-)