Hugo Boss, Nazi uniform maker and Hitler's personal stylist
What can I say, the Nazis created a magnificent visual background for themselves: events, symbols, clothes. I remember how a kid looked at Stirlitz in a German uniform - spectacular!
A few years ago, a scandal erupted around the published facts about the involvement of the world famous brand "Hugo Boss" in the creation of military uniforms for soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht. The famous designer Hugo Boss was accused of complicity with the Nazis and personal connections with Hitler. The company even turned to historians for help to sort out this issue. And although the results of a scientific study disproved many of the replicated myths about the designer, the company had to admit the fact of creating the Nazi uniform and apologize for the exploitation of prisoners of war and prisoners from concentration camps in labor factories.
But back to Hugo...
In those days, the name of Hugo Boss was not yet a well-known brand. He started his professional path as an employee of a garment factory in 1902. Six years later, he inherited a textile shop from his parents, and in 1923 Hugo Boss opened his own sewing company - a workshop for sewing overalls, windbreakers, overalls and raincoats for workers. In 1930, his firm was on the verge of bankruptcy. To save her from ruin, he took up sewing Wehrmacht uniforms.
Rumors that the world famous company "Hugo Boss" profited from cooperation with the Nazis, appeared in the late 1990s, stirred up society and caused loud scandal. In 1997, the company publicly acknowledged the fact of cooperation with the Nazis. Since this negatively affected the brand image, the company sponsored Scientific research these facts, which was carried out by the Munich historian Roman Kester. In 2012 he published a book called Hugo Boss, 1924-1945. A garment factory between the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich”, in which he detailed the results of his research.
As it turned out, Hugo Boss was really engaged in tailoring military uniforms for the Wehrmacht and received large profits from these orders. And the factory used forced labor of 140 immigrants from Poland and 40 French prisoners. However, no written evidence that Hugo Boss was Adolf Hitler's personal tailor has survived. In addition, the designer was not involved in the development of sketches and creating patterns, and his factory was one of many, far from the largest, of all companies that were engaged in sewing uniforms.
Karl Diebitsch, black SS uniform designer
In fact, the designer of the black SS uniform was not Hugo Boss, but Karl Diebich, a German artist, designer and officer of the SS, and the SS emblem in the form of two “Sieg” runes was designed by graphic artist Walter Heck. The black color of the uniform of SS officers was intended to evoke respect and fear, but it soon turned out that this color has a significant drawback: in the summer, it absorbs solar radiation and provokes profuse sweating. Therefore, black was soon replaced by gray, although black continued to be used in the ceremonial uniforms of officers of the highest echelon of the SS. The factory of Hugo Boss only made uniforms designed by Karl Diebitsch.
The creation of the SS uniform of Dibich was inspired by the uniform of the Prussian *Hussar of Death*
But the fact that Hugo Boss collaborated with the Nazis not under duress, but because of personal convictions, was confirmed even by his son. In 2007, Siegfried Boss publicly admitted that his father was a member of the Nazi Party and commented on this fact: “And who was not a member at that time? The whole industry worked for the Nazis." Back in 1931, the designer voluntarily joined the National Socialist Workers' Party of the NSDAP and was himself a staunch Nazi. It has become main reason, according to which his factory was registered as an important military enterprise and received a large order for sewing Wehrmacht uniforms. The German historian Henning Kober claims that all of the Hugo Boss management were Nazis and Hitler supporters.
After the end of the war, the factory again took up the production of overalls for postmen, policemen and railwaymen. And its owner was tried, he escaped prison, but was sentenced to pay a fine of 100 thousand marks. True, later Hugo Boss was partially rehabilitated, and his status was changed: from the "accused" he turned into a "sympathizer." In 1948, the designer passed away at the age of 63. His company became a world famous brand after his death.
A few years ago, a scandal erupted around the published facts about the involvement of the world famous brand "Hugo Boss" in the creation of military uniforms for soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht. famous designer Hugo Bossa accused of complicity with the Nazis and personal ties with Hitler. The company even turned to historians for help to sort out this issue. And although the results of a scientific study disproved many of the replicated myths about the designer, the company had to admit the fact of creating the Nazi uniform and apologize for the exploitation of prisoners of war and prisoners from concentration camps in labor factories.
In those days, the name of Hugo Boss was not yet a well-known brand. He began his professional career as a garment factory worker in 1902. After 6 years, a textile shop was inherited from his parents, and in 1923 Hugo Boss opened his own sewing company - a workshop for sewing overalls, windbreakers, overalls and raincoats for workers . In 1930, his firm was on the verge of bankruptcy. To save her from ruin, he took up sewing Wehrmacht uniforms.
Rumors that the world-famous company Hugo Boss profited from cooperation with the Nazis appeared in the late 1990s, stirred up society and caused a scandal. In 1997, the company publicly acknowledged the fact of cooperation with the Nazis. Since this had a negative effect on the brand's image, the company sponsored a scientific study of these facts, which was carried out by the Munich historian Roman Kester. In 2012 he published a book called Hugo Boss, 1924-1945. A garment factory between the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich”, in which he detailed the results of his research.
As it turned out, Hugo Boss was really engaged in tailoring military uniforms for the Wehrmacht and received large profits from these orders. And the factory used forced labor of 140 immigrants from Poland and 40 French prisoners. However, no written evidence that Hugo Boss was Adolf Hitler's personal tailor has survived. In addition, the designer was not involved in the development of sketches and creating patterns, and his factory was one of many, far from the largest, of all companies that were engaged in sewing uniforms.
In fact, the designer of the black SS uniform was not Hugo Boss, but Karl Diebich, a German artist, designer and officer of the SS, and the SS emblem in the form of two “Sieg” runes was designed by graphic artist Walter Heck. The black color of the uniform of SS officers was intended to evoke respect and fear, but it soon turned out that this color had a significant drawback: in the summer, it absorbs solar radiation and provokes profuse sweating. Therefore, black was soon replaced by gray, although black continued to be used in the ceremonial uniforms of officers of the highest echelon of the SS. The factory of Hugo Boss only made uniforms designed by Karl Diebitsch.
But the fact that Hugo Boss collaborated with the Nazis not under duress, but because of personal convictions, was confirmed even by his son. In 2007, Siegfried Boss publicly admitted that his father was a member of the Nazi Party and commented on this fact: “ And who was not a member at that time? The whole industry worked for the Nazis". Back in 1931, the designer voluntarily joined the National Socialist Workers' Party of the NSDAP and was himself a staunch Nazi. This was the main reason why his factory was registered as an important military enterprise and received a large order for sewing Wehrmacht uniforms. The German historian Henning Kober claims that all of the Hugo Boss management were Nazis and Hitler supporters.
After the end of the war, the factory again took up the production of overalls for postmen, policemen and railwaymen. And its owner was tried, he escaped prison, but was sentenced to pay a fine of 100 thousand marks. True, later Hugo Boss was partially rehabilitated, and his status was changed: from the "accused" he turned into a "sympathizer." In 1948, the designer passed away at the age of 63. His company became a world famous brand after his death.
Following the publication of Roman Kester's book, Hugo Boss posted a statement on its website in which it stated " deep regret for the suffering that befell those who had to work in the factory of Hugo Boss under the Nazis”, which recognized the legitimacy of the conclusions of the historian.
And in the world of fashion, the uniform of the Third Reich, created by the Hugo Boss company, is considered the most beautiful and stylish military uniform. In the 1990s even a new movement was born - Nazi chic - Nazi chic. It was especially popular in Japan, where neo-Nazi organizations appeared. True, such a fashion is dictated rather not by aesthetic preferences, but by socio-political views, and is very far from ethical considerations - what is called "beyond good and evil."
Similar rumors circulated about the founder of another famous brand:
Guess who was the designer of the fascist uniform?
Hugo Boss :)
Global brands - accomplices of the Nazis
A political oversight was averted by a vigilant citizen who complained that he had been given documents for a car with the fascist abbreviation for the long-defunct NSB party. The Ministry of Transport of the Netherlands immediately assured that the error occurred due to a failure in computer program, which is engaged in tracking vehicle signs, preventing the registration of license plates with certain prohibited combinations of letters. Now all the normal signs are ready, and the owners will receive them soon.
In addition to NSB, license plates the following abbreviations will not be used: KKK (Ku Klux Klan), PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), as well as letter combinations denoting any political parties, swear words and short name of the Dutch football club PSV Eindhoven. The letter combination Philips Sport Vereniging (PSV) translated from the Dutch means only "Philips Sports Union". On August 31, 1913, a football club from the Dutch city of Eindhoven was founded by a team of Philips employees.
If you live in Amsterdam and are an ardent fan of the Amsterdam club Ajax, you probably will not be very comfortable driving a car with a PSV license plate," the press service of the ministry said.
The history of the letters on the license plates looks like "flowers" compared to the vinaigrette of political correctness and economic competition.
In 2006, the Austrian magazine Profil reported that the world famous brand HUGO BOSS had defiled its reputation during the Second World War. The company of the same name sewed not only uniforms for soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht, but also for the SS. The International Tribunal at Nuremberg recognized the SS as a criminal organization, and its employees were subject to trial. In addition, a journal note noted that the company used the labor of concentration camp prisoners. A year later, Hugo Boss's son, Siegfried, confessed that his father was a member of the Nazi Party. "The whole industry worked for the Nazis," added the 83-year-old scion of the founder of the fashion empire.
Hugo Boss opened his sewing workshop in 1923 at the height of the economic crisis. Until 1931, she practically did not bring income, until the cunning fellow joined the Nazi party NSDAP. Two years later, Boss secured a state order for the production of uniforms for attack aircraft, SS men, Wehrmacht soldiers, and the Hitler Youth youth organization. The uniform developed by him is deservedly considered the best in the history of military uniforms. After the war, Boss was fined 80,000 Reichsmarks as an accomplice of the Nazi regime. And in 1948, Hugo Boss finally retired, transferring his company into the hands of his heirs.
In addition, the prisoners of the "death camps" worked at many German enterprises, such as Krupp, Siemens, Bayer, at the automobile factories of Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Porsche, and even stood at the conveyors American company Ford. Logically, for the exploitation of the labor of hundreds of thousands of prisoners, these firms and their products should be boycotted.
And further. The black SS uniform (well known to our viewers from the series "Seventeen Moments of Spring" directed by Tatyana Lioznova) was invented by a 34-year-old heraldry specialist, a member of the "Imperial Association of German Artists", Professor Karl Dibich with his assistant Walter Heck. The latter also developed the emblem in the form of a double rune "zig" and the design of edged weapons for the SS. Atelier Hugo Boss was engaged only in sewing uniforms for party bosses and senior SS and Luftwaffe ranks. The creation of the SS uniform of Dibich was inspired by the uniform of the Prussian "Hussars of Death" (colloquially German from the 18th century It is customary to call the 1st Life Hussars and the 2nd Life Hussars of Queen Victoria of Prussia the word Totenkopfhusaren), whose mirlitons were decorated with the emblem of Totenkopf - "dead head". The combination of black and white is a tribute to the heraldic colors of the Kingdom of Prussia. Ironically, in Russian Empire there were their own black hussars dressed in a similar uniform: the Fifth Regiment of the Alexandrian Hussars.
Black uniforms and caps for members of the SS were introduced on July 7, 1932, and after 1939 a massive transition of members of the General SS to gray uniforms began. In fact, from that moment on, the black uniform was no longer worn, giving preference to gray and field uniforms. In 1944, the black uniform was abolished in Germany. Soviet cultural figures turned it into a memorable symbol of an SS man.
Long gone are the days when reenactors were confused with roleplayers. Today, historical reconstruction is often no longer just a hobby, but also serious work - research, study of crafts and restoration, regular intensive training, work with youth, performances in front of the audience and much more. The reconstruction movement has existed for more than one century. Back in the 17th century, certain historical events, victory, so that the people do not forget their history. In post-revolutionary Russia, in 1920, the first reconstruction was carried out - the storming of the Winter Palace, a costumed military "show", in which about 10 thousand people took part. Reconstruction of the Second World War in the Soviet Union originated in the 80s, when the first attempts were made to create mass events. Almost every re-enactor has a sufficient number of original antiques, since it is customary for us to make everything look as authentic as possible. Special attention is given, in particular, to the soldier's life: so that money of those times, wallets are in the pockets, soap, a razor, Toothbrush. Many have a duffel bag or knapsack fully equipped, some food is in their bread bags, some have old German newspapers.
Copies of tunics, awards and equipment of the 3rd Reich
Military uniforms of Wehrmacht soldiers some are perceived as the embodiment of evil, others - as an ordinary exhibit of collections or a necessary attribute of historical reconstructions. But regardless of the attitude, the form of the Third Reich is interesting in itself - from the point of view of its diversity and the reasons that led to certain design decisions.
Lovers and connoisseurs of history usually live outside of time and boundaries. They try to replenish their collections with amazing things that can be dated back to the last century. New builds are also in demand. Now the reconstruction of the uniform of the 3rd Reich is of great value. It is used not only as exhibits, but also for mass events of various historical clubs.
Almost all remakes of items of the 3rd Reich are completely identical to their counterparts. There is only one difference - recent production, which increases the service life. Buying a copy of the 3rd Reich clothing for reconstruction is quite simple - just refer to our Antik1941 online catalog. We guarantee fast delivery throughout Russia.
Buy a copy of the awards and weapons of the 3rd Reich
Not only uniforms, but also other accessories and items of the 3rd Reich are of great value. Our catalog is replete with various accessories that will help you do the reconstruction. Among them:
- copies of German uniforms;
- models of firearms;
- models of awards;
- copies of German orders;
- reconstruction of interior items;
- and much more.
If you need copies of weapons 3 Reich, you can choose not only machine guns and pistols, but also dummies of daggers and remake German knives. This will help in fully feel the times of cruel war, touch the ancient history. Everything differs in quality, in full compliance with the original.
Many turn to us to buy a copy of the 3rd Reich award. By the awards of a certain era, you can determine what priorities the nation had, what people were striving for.
We are always ready to help you in purchasing replicas and original antiques. Contact our online catalog at any time, leave orders that will be completed promptly.
High-quality copies of German orders and medals, copies of daggers and bayonet-knives, reconstruction of the German form of the Second World War, models of firearms, reconstruction of German military equipment, copies of steel helmets, reconstruction of household items and interior of the 3rd Reich- once again we repeat that all these things are intended for historical reconstruction, but not as for the purpose of propaganda of the criminal regime that existed in the 3rd Reich before 1945 ...
Hugo Boss (Hugo Boss) – German company that produces luxury clothing and perfumes. Products are sold in 124 countries in more than 6,100 stores, both own and franchised.
History of the Hugo Boss brand
1885: Birth of Hugo Ferdinand Boss, creator of the brand.
1923: Hugo Boss founds a small textile company in Metzingen(Germany), located south of Stuttgart. Initially, this is a family studio, combined with a small shop. Then the business gradually gains momentum, and the enterprise becomes a garment factory that produces uniforms for workers, postmen and police officers.
1925: The company has 33 employees. A crisis is coming, and the company is trying to get out of it by releasing hunting clothes, national costumes, work overalls, rubber and leather raincoats. Hugo Boss negotiates with creditors the purchase of 6 sewing machines. Some workers accept pay cuts to keep the enterprise going.
1931: the country is in crisis, the Hugo Boss factory is on the verge of bankruptcy, and Entrepreneur joins the National Socialist Party of Germany. Orders for tailoring the uniforms of the SA, SS and Hitler Youth begin to come from her, which saves the company from ruin. However, it is not Hugo himself who creates the uniform design, but Karl Diebitsch, who designs most of the military uniforms and regalia of the Third Reich.
1932-1945: Hugo Boss is the official clothing supplier for both ordinary German soldiers and Wehrmacht and SS officers. During the Second World War, the factory is declared an important military enterprise., it employs about 150 forced laborers, primarily from Poland and Ukraine, as well as 30 French prisoners of war.
1946: the factory almost burns out again: Hugo Boss is accused of collaborating with the Nazis, fined 80,000 marks and deprived of the right to vote.
1948: Hugo Boss dies and the company is headed by his son-in-law Eugen Holy. Hugo Boss again specializes in uniforms for railroad workers and postmen.
1953: Hugo Boss launches the first men's suit. This is a turning point in the history of the company: it begins to move away from mass production of clothing and gradually approach the world.
1967: the company is headed by Uwe and Jochen Holy - children former leader firm and the grandchildren of its founder. It is they who turn the brand into a world-famous fashion brand.
1970s: Hugo Boss is growing rapidly. First, the firm becomes Germany's largest menswear manufacturer. Secondly, the company is turning into an influential fashion house.
1972: Hugo Boss sponsors Formula 1 races and golf and tennis championships for the first time.
1975: talented ( Werner Baldessarini) begins to collaborate with Hugo Boss.
1984: launch of the brand's perfume line.
1993: the company becomes the property of the Italian holding Marzotto SpA (currently Valentino Fashion Group). The Holy brothers leave the enterprise. CEO the company becomes Peter Littman. It divides the brand into lines with different target audience: Boss, offering , Hugo with bold youth models, Baldessarini with luxury products.
1996: the introduction of the Hugo Boss Award for Achievement in Contemporary Art.
1997: the company receives a license to manufacture watches together with the Swiss brand Tempus Concept.
