ABSTRACT
The period immediately after World War II was one of unremitting gloom for many people in war-ravaged Europe. The grim statistics only dimly reflected the human reality of the war's devastation. It was an especially trying time for the citizens of Germany, who wondered how German culture could be revived and how their once powerful economy could ever be restored. Like all institutions, German businesses were in a shocking state of disarray after incessant waves of Allied bombing. Manufacturing plants in the Ruhr valley, and in industrial cities such as Hamburg and Mannheim, had been prime targets of the United Kingdom's bombing offensive. Aside from the daunting challenges of re-building factories and supply chains, some companies had to cope with allegations of collusion with Hitler's brutal regime. As Hitler had consolidated power, it had become increasingly difficult and perilous for businesses to avoid full cooperation with the Nazi government. All foreign and domestic businesses had to comply with the policy of Gleichschaltung, or total coordination with the state. 1
