Industry and Ideology: I. G. Farben in the Nazi Era [Paperback]

Peter Hayes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 052178638X | ISBN-13: 978-0521786386 | Publication Date: November 13, 2000 | Edition: 2

The power of big business in the Third Reich economy remains one of the most important issues of that disastrous era. Drawing on prodigious research in German corporate and government archives, Peter Hayes argues that the IG Farben chemicals combine, Nazi Germany's largest corporation, proved unable to influence national policy outside the firm's sphere of expertise. Indeed, the most infamous aspects of Nazi policy occurred despite IG Farben's advocacy of alternative courses of action. Nonetheless, Farben grew rich under the Nazi regime and was directly involved in some of its greatest crimes. This edition has a new preface that incorporates new developments and research in the field.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hayes's long-awaited, splendid study of Germany's chemical giant in the Nazi era is of critical importance and puts the study of big business under the Nazis on a new, solid foundation in the English-speaking world." Choice

Book Description

The power of big business in the Third Reich economy remains one of the most important issues of that disastrous era. Drawing upon prodigious research in German corporate and government archives, Peter Hayes argues that the IG Farben chemicals combine, Nazi Germany's largest corporation, proved unable to influence national policy outside the firm's sphere of expertise. Indeed, the most infamous aspects of Nazi policy occurred despite IG Farben's advocacy of alternative courses of action. Nonetheless, Farben grew rich under the Nazi regime and was directly involved in some of its greatest crimes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 450 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (November 13, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052178638X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521786386
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #874,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important and Ignored, April 1, 2002

By 

J Lovett - See all my reviews

This review is from: Industry and Ideology: I. G. Farben in the Nazi Era (Paperback)

Rarely examined and more rarely understood is how respective business leaders became effective accomplices in the Nazi regime. Peter Hayes' book, Industry and Ideology, provides a cogent explanation based on both extensive citations to research and on reasoned analysis and common sense. It should be required reading not only in University history departments, but also in business schools.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Shocking Lack of Morality of Holocaust Complicity, December 2, 2001

By 

H. Strauss (student of German history from Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Industry and Ideology: I. G. Farben in the Nazi Era (Paperback)

Author Peter Hayes displays a shocking, no astonishing, lack of moral indignation, in what struck me as a superficial review of IG Farben's complicity in Hitler's plans. He tends to gloss over the involvement of Farben's board in locating their facilities in concentration camps--asserting the men were only acting as good businessmen. Of course they were businessmen--businessmen who prospered at the expense of Jewish misery and deaths. I wish I could rate this book less than one star. I am more than disappointed.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Why Not Tell the Unvarnished Truth, November 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Industry and Ideology: I. G. Farben in the Nazi Era (Paperback)

The Truth is that IG Farben was an integral part of the Nazi killing machine, and that clearly does not come out of this book. Instead I see efforts to create an image of "professionals" struggling with policy predicaments in the Third Reich. Hayes should called a spade a spade, and a genocidal corporation and its directors exactly what they were too.