15 Times Big Companies You Know Snuggled Up To Evil Regimes
![15 Times Big Companies You Know Snuggled Up To Evil Regimes](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/3/890863_320x180.jpg)
It's no secret that war and sanctions can be a huge challenge for businesses. But for some of the world's biggest companies, it seems that the old adage "business as usual" still holds true. Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent sanctions imposed by the West, these companies have found ways to keep doing business in the country -- not unlike companies active in Germany in the '30s.
From Volkswagen, who started in Nazi Germany to make a cheap car for Germans, to Hugo Boss, who supplied uniforms to the SA, SS, Hitler Youth, Motor Corps, and other Nazi groups, to IBM, who had their German branch bid for a Nazi census, to Adidas, who joined the Nazi party in 1933, to DuPont, who helped Nazi Germany start the war, to Ford, who was linked to Auschwitz, to Kodak, who had subsidiaries trading with Nazi Germany even after the US joined the war, this is all ... pretty unsavory stuff.
The 'dirty dozen' still thriving in Russia despite Putin's invasion and sanctions.
![CRACKED THE DIRTY DOZEN (CORPORATIONS, NOT COWBOYS) Three FTSE 100 companies - HSBC, Unilever, and BP - are part of the dirty dozen still doing business in Russia, according to a new report. They've found ways to stay despite Putin's invasion, despite international sanctions. op WiLD BEAN CAFE 1970 Bleifrei Ultimate 2 120 98 Ultimate Diesel 2 16° 20 10 Diesel ultimate offen 24h](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/6/2/889262.jpg)
Red Bull: The only energy drink left standing in Russia?
![CRACKED RED BULL Red Bull announced on their website that they stopped all marketing activities and investments in Russia in March, in line with the EU and US sanctions. But their drinks are still on shelves in Russia, while Pepsi and Coca-Cola have pulled out. oz 12 FL OZ 12 0 0 Series Tourine WITH - / - - lights - Bul ed Bull Red Bull Red Bu Red Bul Red Bu RedB Red B Red DE DRINK ERGY DRIN ENERGY D NERGY DRI ENERGY DE ENERGY C ENERGY D RGY - mind body and mind body and عد body and or Polizes body and Citalizes](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/6/1/889261.jpg)
Lacoste: Keeping it chic, even in a crisis, or something.
![CRACKED LACOSTE The French clothing company is still doing business in Russia despite the war in Ukraine. They've stopped shipments, but are looking out for their 115 employees in Ukraine. TB esCF](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/6/0/889260.jpg)
Armani's back in Russia.
![CRACKED ARMANI Giorgio Armani decided to start selling their products in Russia again. Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry confirmed that Armani, and other brands, have returned to Russia.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/9/889259.jpg)
DP Eurasia: Keeping Russia cheesy.
![CRACKED DOMINO'S DP Eurasia, who operate Domino's Pizza in Russia, is still looking into their operations and considering the sanctions and their ability to keep providing pizza to their customers. Domino's Pizza dominos.c Domino's 7,90t PIZZALAR - 4t 4 30 30 = R F](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/7/889257.jpg)
Sanctions not so effective after all?
![CRACKED MORE THAN 9 OUT OF 10 COMPANIES Only about 9% of approximately 1,400 businesses from the EU and G7 had pulled out at least one of their subsidiaries from Russia by November 2022, even though the West had imposed the toughest sanctions ever against Moscow.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/8/889258.jpg)
GM: Nazi Germany's real secret weapon.
![CRACKED GENERAL MOTORS General Motors was way more important to the Nazis than Switzerland. Switzerland just held stolen money, but GM was a key part of the German war machine. The Nazis could've invaded Poland and Russia without Switzerland, but not without GM. 1234 - STOCKHOLN IN -](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/4/889254.jpg)
Kodak: Taking 'business as usual' to a whole new level.
![CRACKED KODAK Kodak had subsidiaries trading with Nazi Germany even after the US joined the war, buying photographic supplies for 72,000 Swiss francs in 1942 and 1943. The US Embassy in London called these substantial purchases. KODAK you rest. KODAK 41 KODAK 43 KOREA STORE If I STORES - MADE 41 ROBARS KODAK DE KODAAS SOLIO FOR KOMAS secreta PURES HAND NASO NATURALS KODAK AVEL POCKET KORAKI KORAK'S 43 KODAK venta KODAK KODAK UNITED KODAK KODAK KOBAK KODAK UNITED verta UNITED KODAK one KODAK KODAK - UNTO 43 43](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/6/889256.jpg)
Maybe they were just trying to live up to their founder's principles.
![CRACKED FORD Ford Motor Company was one of 500 firms linked to Auschwitz; it's not clear how much they were involved. Some of the companies used slave labor, others just asked about using Auschwitz inmates.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/5/889255.jpg)
DuPont: Helping Nazis.
![CRACKED DUPONT In June 1941, during WWII, IG Farben opened a factory at Monowitz to make synthetic rubber for the military. Thousands of Jews were forced to work there, and DuPont gave IG Farben the tech to make it happen, helping Nazi Germany start the war.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/0/889250.jpg)
Adidas: Nazi-approved since 1933.
![CRACKED ADIDAS Adi and Rudi Dassler, founders of Adidas, joined the Nazi party in 1933, the same year Hitler became Chancellor. The shoe brand, founded in the '20s, worked with the Nazis during the '30s and '40s.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/9/889249.jpg)
A roadmap to persecution: IBM in 1933.
![CRACKED IBM In 1933, Thomas Watson, founder of IBM, had their German branch, Dehomag, bid for a Nazi census. They knew it would be used to identify Jews, and a Nazi statistician at one point said it was a road map to switch from knowledge to deeds.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/3/889253.jpg)
Hugo Boss: Dressing Nazis since 1931.
![CRACKED HUGO BOSS In 1931, Hugo Boss, founder of the clothing company, joined the Nazi Party and supplied uniforms to the SA, SS, Hitler Youth, Motor Corps, and other Nazi groups. During WWII, he used 140 forced laborers, mostly women, and 40 POWs. So Protection Squad Maa SS Sentro $$ Officer SS Adjutant SS Guard $$ Mess Waiter officer 1934 COLLECTION Elite Honour Guard Reichsleader SS BOSS Security Seruice Chief HUGO BOSS](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/2/889252.jpg)
VW: From Nazi Germany to the world, one breath at a time.
![CRACKED VOLKSWAGEN Volkswagen started in Nazi Germany to make a cheap car for Germans. It used Jewish and non-Jewish forced labor from eastern Europe, and ran four concentration camps and eight forced-labor camps.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/1/889251.jpg)
Business as usual, despite the invasion.
![CRACKED APPLE, DISNEY, GOLDMAN SACHS, AND CITIGROUP After Russia invaded Ukraine, big companies like Apple, Disney, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup said they'd leave the market. But, months later, they were still doing business in Russia.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/8/889248.jpg)