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IG Farben as Creator of Modern World
SUMMARY
Postwar propaganda promoted for a very long time an extremely one-sided view upon IG Farben. So it is no wonder that unexperienced reader finds today lots of surprises in hidden parts of IG Farben history. For example, here is a note in the NY Times [1]>> about a lightened up during last decade bohemian interest to the person of Fritz Haber - leading IG Farben scientist who was by simplest criteria [2]>> the greatest scientist of the 20-th century. «It was like finding a lost storybook. Like a Dead Sea Scroll or something» thats how modern screenwriter describes his experience of stumbling today upon this topic.
full text in Russian is here>>
"Father of chemical warfare" and inventor of Zyklon B, Fritz Haber might be respected for his development of ammonia synthesis from atmospheric nitrogen. It gave us cheap nitrate fertilizer increasing world agriculture production by approx 50%. This invention alone saved many millions of lives in Soviet Union which bitterly suffered from permanent famine during half of 20-th century. However, it is almost impossible to find a single mention of this name in Soviet history schoolbooks, to say nothing of Fritz Haber monument ever thought to be erected in the Red Square... By the way, up to half of proteins in our bodies are made from nitrogen obtained by this method.
Information about the very existence of German-Jewish group IG Farben - the largest corporation in Europe, the backbone of German economy in both world wars - is carefully censored out from modern version of the history of 20-th century.
Spectacular example of censorship: "IG Farben" cut out of Hitchcock's "Notorious">>
The only other Hollywood film I know which mentions "IG Farben" is Schindler's List. Compare this to list of Actors who have played Adolf Hitler
The process, formally called the "denazification" with much greater consistency worked against IG Farben and history of PRE-Nazi Germany rather than against nazies themselves. U.S. prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials, said neither more nor less than:
"these IG Farben criminals, not the lunatic Nazi fanatics, are the main war criminals. If the guilt of these criminals is not brought to daylight and if they are not punished, they will represent a much greater threat to the future peace of the world than Hitler if he were still alive."
Indeed, IG Farben played a major role in Germany's ability to wage war. Therefore, the task of completing its destruction (and the subsequent demonization and purposeful forgetfulness) seemed to be quite legitimate goal for the establishment of the postwar peace. The problem is that IG Farben (as well as German science in general), fed not only the Nazis. The whole world was fed by IG Farben discoveries both in literal and figurative sense. The fact is that, the main engine of world technological progress was destroyed.
It is rather difficult to believe today that just 20-30 years after the war degermanization of the twentieth century history could be done so effectively. (I speak from my own knowledge - the initial absorption of propaganda clichés happened to me in seventies. I've heard nothing about existence of IG Farben, and Weimar Germany interpreted as some kind of beggar-type shortlived Makhnovist republics. Make it easier to believe that propaganda can erase the memory of such important events as quickly and successfully, it is appropriate to draw a parallel with the traditional Soviet resentment - Western propaganda belittling the role of the Soviet Union during World War II. 40% of young Americans believed that the Soviet Union fought on the side of Germany - a figure sounded in the 70 years [3]>>. And it happened despite the work of hordes of professional Soviet journalists and officials receiving salaries for the fight back against this injustice. Imagine that the Soviet propaganda would be forbidden to speak on this subject - he would know who is either now in America, on whose side fought Soviet Union in WW2? Something like that just happened to German history - the achievements of Germany to defend humanity after the war was obviously just a nobody, thanks to which they freely spilled over to the accounts of nation-winners and, most surprisingly, the Nazi regime
IG Farben is responsible for a good half of the scientific and technical advances, committed in Germany in the first 30-40 years of the 20 th century. And, perhaps, for most practical half which had the greatest influence on the course of history and the lives of people at the beginning of the century and in our time. Board of Directors of IG Farben were compared neither more nor less than to Gods (Rat Der Götter) implying the obvious parallel between the activities of IG Farben and the divine creation of the world. And that is what the talk about - writing down the sum of technological achievements it is easy to see that it was pre-Nazi Germany and IG Farben who established a modern technological civilization, rather than English gentlemen, the American cattlemen, Soviet electrification plan ot genius of the Fuhrer.
However, before proceeding to transfer a stunning list of discoveries and inventions of IG Farben, let's look why it was so "unpalatable" in the postwar world order. full text in Russian >>
IG Farben in pictures
Painting "The Council of the Gods." In all likelihood, represents the moment of the decision on the restoration of IG Farben 25 December 1925. In the foreground, the legendary directors of IG Farben - Carl Bosch b> (left) and Carl Duisberg b > (right)
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undoubtedly the most sentimental episode in the history IG Farben.
Clara Immerwahr - Fritz Haber's first wife. Also, a chemist by training, the first woman received a doctorate in chemistry at universities in Germany. She had her own scientific claims suppressed by famous husband.
When Haber became involved in development of chemical weapons Clara has repeatedly protested vigorously pleading to leave the job accusing him of barbarian distorting the ideals of science. In response she received publicly spoken charges of treason to Faterland [37 ]>>
After a triumphant use of chlorine gas at Ypres River Fritz Haber was promoted to captain and on the way to the Russian front he returned home to have a party in honor of his success.
After the argument, next morning Clara has committed suicide by shotting to her heart with Haber's pistol. It appears there was a suicide note, which was quickly destroyed, no official explanation from the authorities was issued, and Haber also never spoke on this topic. The prevailing opinion today - it's certainly been done in protest against chemical weapons. To some extent her name "Immerwahr" hints to this explanation which id translated as something like "always true". Even this angel's story came under the censorship, research the biography of Clara Immerwahr appeared only in the seventies. In 2005, the only 34-minute film was shot about the high tragedy site>>; trailer>> . It was released only in 2008, not found on torrents, never been demonstrated on TV. Now available at amazon, while until 2011 sold for $75 only to educational institutions, accompanied by extensive educational materials.
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The building of IG Farben headquarters in Frankfurt (shooting of 1954). After the war, it was used as a Eisenhower residence. Now the Frankfurt Goethe University, IG Farben building is no longer called IG Farben building (Frankfurt "cannot find the pride" to do it[36]>> )
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