28. Even After Germany Declared War on the US, Watson’s IBM Tried to Maintain Business Relationships With the Nazis
After WWII began in 1939 and Germany conquered Poland, Thomas J. Watson personally approved a request to supply the Third Reich with specialized IBM machines. They were intended to help manage the exploitation of the recently conquered Poland, and the deportation of Polish Jews. The process was repeated for each country conquered by the Nazis, with IBM supplying the capabilities for easily identifying undesirables.
After America joined the war in 1941, IBM tried to maintain its business relationship with Germany, despite its now being an enemy nation at war with the US. Archival records reveal secret correspondence of IBM higher-ups to set up a shell Dutch subsidiary, in lieu of the German one built by Watson back in the 1930s, through which the company could continue working with the Nazis. By then, it was clear just how the Third Reich was using IBM’s technology. Nonetheless, the company continued to supply them with the capabilities to easily identify Jews and other undesirables.