Rationalisation policy at Daimler-Benz AG, 1939-1945
By examining rationalisation policy within the broader context of the strategy of one industrial company during the war, and the impact of the war on the company as a whole, this thesis attempts to point to empirically-derivable continuities between the Third Reich and the post-war period which allow us to conceptualise the relationship between the two without reference to the notion of ~modernisation~. It argues that, despite the pressures of the war economy, the company was able to enter the post-war period with a largely intact inventory readily adaptable to peace-time production, with a core of production lines suitable for consumer production, and with a clear strategy for the post-war period. By examining the responses of the company to the changing war situation, and the company's attempts to safeguard long-term company interests within the context created by this changing situation, it also points to the importance of examining pressures ~from below~, as well as policies and decisions implemented by the regime itself, in order to understand fully the complexities of the performance of the German war economy and above all the disparities in output between the first and second halves of the war. Finally,
Gregor, Neil
History ; Commerce ; Economics
Rationalisation policy at Daimler-Benz AG, 1939-1945. By examining rationalisation policy within the broader context of the strategy of one industrial company during the war, and the impact of the war on the company as a whole, this thesis attempts to point to empirically-derivable continuities between the Third Reich and the post-war period which allow us to conceptualise the relationship between the two without reference to the notion of ~modernisation~. It argues that, despite the pressures of the war economy, the company was able to enter the post-war period with a largely intact inventory readily adaptable to peace-time production, with a core of production lines suitable for consumer production, and with a clear strategy for the post-war period. By examining the responses of the company to the changing war situation, and the company's attempts to safeguard long-term company interests within the context created by this changing situation, it also points to the importance of examining pressures ~from below~, as well as policies and decisions implemented by the regime itself, in order to understand fully the complexities of the performance of the German war economy and above all the disparities in output between the first and second halves of the war. Finally,
rationalisation policy examine rationalisation policy within_broad context strategy industrial company war impact_war company whole attempts point empirically continuity third_reich post_war_period allow conceptualise relationship without reference notion modernisation argues despite pressure war economy company able enter post_war_period largely intact inventory readily adaptable peace time production core production line suitable consumer production clear strategy post_war_period examine response company change war situation company attempt safeguard long_term company interest within_context create change situation also point importance examine pressure from below well policy_decision implement regime order_fully performance german war economy disparity output first_second half war finally