IBM during World War II
Encyclopedia
In both the United States and Germany concentration or internment camps were established during World War II
, both countries utilizing the available IBM punched card technology for their operation.
United States=
In the United States IBM was, at the request of the government, the subcontractor for the concentration camps punched card project. From :
Germany=
In Germany, during World War II
, IBM
engaged in business practices which have been the source of controversy. Much attention focuses on the role of IBM's German subsidiary, known as Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft, or Dehomag
. Topics in this regard include
, entitled IBM and the Holocaust
, reaches the conclusion that IBM's commercial activities in Germany during World War II make it morally complicit in the Holocaust.
In February 2001, an Alien Tort Claims Act claim was filed in U.S. federal court against IBM for allegedly providing the punched card
technology that facilitated the Holocaust, and for covering up Dehomag's activities. In April 2001, the lawsuit was dropped. Lawyers said they feared proceeding with the suit would slow down payments from a special German Holocaust fund created to compensate forced laborers and others who had suffered due to the Nazi persecution. IBM's German division paid $3 million into the fund, although IBM denied admitting liability with its contribution.
In 2004, GIRCA
filed suit against IBM in Switzerland. The case was dismissed in 2006.
Richard Bernstein
, writing for The New York Times Book Review
, states that Black's case in his book IBM and the Holocaust
"is long and heavily documented, and yet he does not demonstrate that I.B.M. bears some unique or decisive responsibility for the evil that was done." IBM quoted this claim in a March 2002 "Addendum to IBM Statement on Nazi-era Book and Lawsuit".
See also=
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, both countries utilizing the available IBM punched card technology for their operation.
United States=
In the United States IBM was, at the request of the government, the subcontractor for the concentration camps punched card project. From :
His grand design for 1943 was a locator file in which would appear a Hollerith alphabetic punch card for each evacuee. These cards were to include standard demographic information about age, gender, education, occupation, family size, medical history, criminal record, and RC location. However, additional data categories about links to Japan were also maintained, such as years of residence in Japan and the extent of education received there... The punch card project was so extensive and immediate that the WRA [War Relocation AuthorityWar Relocation AuthorityThe War Relocation Authority was a United States government agency established to handle internment of Japanese-, German-, and Italian-Americans during World War II...
] subcontracted the function to IBM.
Germany=
In Germany, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
engaged in business practices which have been the source of controversy. Much attention focuses on the role of IBM's German subsidiary, known as Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft, or Dehomag
Dehomag
Dehomag was a German subsidiary of IBM with monopoly in the German market before and during World War II. The word was an acronym for Deutsche Hollerith-Maschinen Gesellschaft mbH . Hollerith refers to the German-American inventor of the technology of punched cards, Herman Hollerith.Under Nazi...
. Topics in this regard include
- documenting operations by Dehomag which may have aided the German war effort, and in particular the Holocaust;
- comparing these efforts to operations by other IBM subsidiaries which aided other nations' war efforts;
- comparing these efforts to operations by other companies whose efforts may have aided the German war effort, and in particular the Holocaust;
- and ultimately, assessing the degree to which IBM should be held culpable for atrocities which were made possible by its actions.
Critics of IBM's actions during World War II
A book by Edwin BlackEdwin Black
Edwin Black is an American Jewish syndicated columnist, and journalist specializing in the historical interplay between economics and politics in the Middle East, petroleum policy, the abuses practiced by corporations, and the financial underpinnings of Nazi Germany, among other topics...
, entitled IBM and the Holocaust
IBM and the Holocaust
IBM and the Holocaust is a book by investigative journalist Edwin Black which details the business dealings of the American-based multinational corporation International Business Machines and its German and other European subsidiaries with the government of Adolf Hitler during the 1930s and the...
, reaches the conclusion that IBM's commercial activities in Germany during World War II make it morally complicit in the Holocaust.
In February 2001, an Alien Tort Claims Act claim was filed in U.S. federal court against IBM for allegedly providing the punched card
Punched card
A punched card, punch card, IBM card, or Hollerith card is a piece of stiff paper that contains digital information represented by the presence or absence of holes in predefined positions...
technology that facilitated the Holocaust, and for covering up Dehomag's activities. In April 2001, the lawsuit was dropped. Lawyers said they feared proceeding with the suit would slow down payments from a special German Holocaust fund created to compensate forced laborers and others who had suffered due to the Nazi persecution. IBM's German division paid $3 million into the fund, although IBM denied admitting liability with its contribution.
In 2004, GIRCA
GIRCA
The GIRCA is a human rights organization.In 2002, GIRCA filed suit against IBM for IBM's involvement with Nazi war crimes....
filed suit against IBM in Switzerland. The case was dismissed in 2006.
Responses to critics
In a "IBM Statement on Nazi-era Book and Lawsuit," IBM responded in February 2001 thatRichard Bernstein
Richard Bernstein
Richard Bernstein is an American journalist, columnist, and author. He writes the Letter from America column for The International Herald Tribune...
, writing for The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to The New York Times in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the industry. The offices are located near Times Square in New York...
, states that Black's case in his book IBM and the Holocaust
IBM and the Holocaust
IBM and the Holocaust is a book by investigative journalist Edwin Black which details the business dealings of the American-based multinational corporation International Business Machines and its German and other European subsidiaries with the government of Adolf Hitler during the 1930s and the...
"is long and heavily documented, and yet he does not demonstrate that I.B.M. bears some unique or decisive responsibility for the evil that was done." IBM quoted this claim in a March 2002 "Addendum to IBM Statement on Nazi-era Book and Lawsuit".
See also=
- List of International subsidiaries of IBM
- IBM and the HolocaustIBM and the HolocaustIBM and the Holocaust is a book by investigative journalist Edwin Black which details the business dealings of the American-based multinational corporation International Business Machines and its German and other European subsidiaries with the government of Adolf Hitler during the 1930s and the...
- History of IBM#1939-1945: World War II
- Thomas J. Watson, Sr.#Head of IBM