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Former Nazi wants credit for designing VW logo
Hitler's role in launching Volkswagen is well-documented, but it is nonetheless entertaining to hear that a former Nazi party designer is suing the company over its logo.
Before heading off to that Homeland in the sky, Nikolai Borg wants Volkswagen to recognize his contribution to the company. According to his IP lawyer, Borg helped design VW's logo and seeks only credit, not money, for his work.
Sounds like someone in crisis management is working overtime this weekend.
(Via Adfreak)
Posted by carrie on 05/26/2005 | Permalink
Comments
As a lifelong VW Beetle lover and Jew, I think I need to clarify some things.
First, I'm sure the VW logo designer was a Nazi. Hell, tehy wanted to call it the "Strength-through-Joy car."
But, the Beetle's history itself is more complicated. One of the very few non-apalling ideas Hitler had was for a cheap car for the German people; this was a common idea in many countries at the time, and one shared by Ferdinand Porsche, who was happy to take the Reich's money to develop such a car. Porsche himself was strangely apolitical-- he had a Jewish business manager, never joined any party or had any interest, and seemed not to care what kind of monsters he worked for as long as he could focus on the technical stuff he loved. In the end, despite a special stamp-based savings plan, no civilian Beetles were ever produced by the Nazis. The factory was converted to war vehicle production, and it wasn;t until after the war, under the command of the British, that the modern Volkswagen company was really formed and the first civilian Beetles produced.
That's not to say there's no controversy; the Beetle's technical design seems to have been heavily lifted from the Czech auto company Tatra's head designer, Hans Ledwinka; Porsche later admitted to "looking over his shoulder" and VW had to pay Tatra a settlement in the 50s or 60s.
And, if you really want an auto company to be disturbed about, Nazi-wise, there's always Ford. Henry Ford was a huge admirier of Hitler, to the point of sending him birthday cash. Or hell, you could look at Mercedes, too, who manages to avoid most unpleasant Nazi associations despite being the car Hitler was always pictured in. And now they're merged with Chrysler. Though it's fun to picture Hitler in a Dodge Dart.
Anyway, I've always thought of the VW Beetle as the "queer" of the Jews, in the sense of taking back something potentially negative and making it your own.
See, I love my 1973 Bug. That doesn't make me a corporate pawn, does it Carrie?
Posted by: Jason | Jun 1, 2005 5:25:26 PM
I would say COOL!!! Really. The first thought in my mind is about the "fresh candy car body painting
Posted by: lovely | Mar 3, 2008 5:16:50 AM
