Yeah, so Hugo Boss actually made uniforms for the Nazis during World War II. The company was started by Hugo Ferdinand Boss in 1924 in Metzingen, Germany. During WWII, they produced uniforms for the German army, including the SS and Hitler Youth. So maybe nowadays this iconic uniforms are so much hated, but you can't deny they were stylish :)
After the war, in 1946, Hugo Boss was fined for being a "beneficiary of Nazism." The company kept going after the war and eventually became the famous fashion brand we know today.
In 2011, the company officially apologized for what they did during the war, including using forced labor.
Many well-known brands that still exist today had connections with the Nazis during World War II. Here are a few of them:
Volkswagen: The company was founded in 1937 on Adolf Hitler's orders to produce the "people's car" (Volkswagen). During the war, they mainly produced military vehicles and used forced labor in their factories.
BMW: During WWII, BMW produced aircraft engines for the German military. The company also used forced labor in its factories.
Daimler-Benz (Mercedes-Benz): The company produced military equipment and used forced labor. They manufactured trucks and aircraft engines, among other things.
Siemens: This company provided various equipment to the Nazis and used forced labor, including prisoners from concentration camps.
BASF, Bayer, and Agfa: These companies were part of IG Farben, a chemical conglomerate that produced Zyklon B, the gas used in gas chambers. After the war, IG Farben was dissolved, but these companies still exist.
Porsche: Ferdinand Porsche designed several key military vehicles for the Nazis, including tanks.
Krupp: This steel and arms manufacturing company supplied weapons and military equipment to the German army and also used forced labor.
Hugo Boss: As previously mentioned, the company produced uniforms for the Wehrmacht, SS, and Hitler Youth.
It's worth noting that many of these companies acknowledged their connections to the Nazis after the war and took steps to make amends for their actions, including paying reparations to survivors of forced labor.
But it's always worth remembering:
Companies don't give a damn about people. They act for their own benefit. For money, out of fear, or both.