Ford and Volkswagen

First Ford announced that they weren’t going to make any more sedan cars. Then there were rumours about a merger with Volkswagen. Finally, they announced yesterday that Ford and VW would form an ‘alliance’ to build cars together.

Is this just a way to get around the Monopoly Commissions in their countries?

Nothing New Here

Over 80 years ago, Henry Ford received the Grand Cross of the German Eagle medal. It was presented to him by Karl Kapp, German consul-general of Cleveland (left), and Fritz Hailer, German consul of Detroit (right), on Ford’s 75th birthday, July 30, 1938.

Do you wonder why?

Order of the German Eagle

This Order ‘was an award of the German Nazi regime, predominantly to foreign diplomats. The Order was instituted on 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler. It ceased to be awarded following the collapse of Nazi Germany at the end of World War II in Europe.’ (from Wikipedia)

The Folks Wagon

‘Volkswagen is a German automaker founded on 28 May 1937 by the German Labour Front under Adolf Hitler and headquartered in Wolfsburg. Volkswagen translates to “folk’s wagon” in German, meaning “people’s car”.’ (from Wikipedia)

It’s not a great leap to see that Henry Ford had a hand in helping Hitler develop their new peoples’ car.

But the question is: did Ford’s help stop when WWII was declared in September 1939?

Answer: Since America didn’t enter the war until that Day in Infamy, why should it stop?