Event

General Motors and Opel, 1939–1941

GM’s German subsidiary Opel in the first years of the war, and the dispute over how much control GM kept.

3 links, 0 backed by primary records

Connections 3

General Motors owner; says it lost day-to-day control in September 1939 Scholarship & press 1
Opel subsidiary; German records show GM gave an American manager a power of attorney in March 1940 Scholarship & press 1
Rüsselsheim site of the Opel plant converted for military work Scholarship & press 1

Timeline 1 date

Proof 1 source

U.S. Dealings With Nazi Germany -- Did Ford, GM Boost Nazi War Effort?, The Washington Post, by Michael Dobbs, as reprinted by The Seattle Times, 30 Nov 1998. Scholarship & press
GM spokesman John Mueller said that General Motors lost day-to-day control over its German plants in September 1939 and "did not assist the Nazis in any way during World War II."
The documents show that the company issued a general power of attorney to an American manager, Pete Hoglund, in March 1940.
Mooney’s involvement in the conversion of the Russelsheim plant undermines claims by General Motors that the American branch of the company had nothing to do with the Nazi rearmament effort.

Page history 1 change