Audi and the Nazis

After calling for a historical study regarding its past, Audi has released details about the company's activities in the Nazi era and contributions it made to the war effort.

Even Audi representatives declared themselves as shocked after finding out that seven labor camps were specifically built for the car-maker by the Nazis and some 3,500 camp prisoners were forced to work at one of these plants, with another 16,500 people, not contained in camps, being forced to work at two other factories the company had in the east.

Audi spokesmen said the company feels 'moral responsibility' towards the 4,500 people who died at the Flossenbürg concentration camp while working at the auto plant.

Although the company knew before that it had its part in the Nazi era, they were unaware of the extent of the slave labor it employed.

The company's chair from those dark days, Richard Bruhn had 'closet ties' with Nazi leaders and he was the one responsible for the use of concentration camp inmates. He was also regarded as a 'Wehrwirtschaftsfuehrer', meaning that he had a key contribution to the war's supply needs.

Now, Audi plans on altering the somewhat favorable company biography Bruhn currently has and discard him from pension plans.

 Volkswagen, Daimler, and BMW had also asked for similar historical studies.