German Companies (I) 

According to the Fortune Global 500, a world list of the 500 largest stock market listed companies by revenue, thirty-seven of the world’s largest companies are headquartered in Germany. These German companies produce reliable, recognizable brands that are distributed worldwide. Companies such as Volkswagen and Deutsche Bank helped to make Germany a powerhouse in the global economy. These companies are recognized around the world for their success.

Perhaps the most recognizable of the German companies is Volkswagen. Volkswagen originated in the early 1930s, when the work of designer Ferdinand Porsche caught the eye of German dictator Adolph Hitler. Hitler wanted to create a car for the common German citizen, and so he asked Porsche to design such a vehicle to his specifications. The first cars were produced in Stuttgart, and appeared as early as 1936. After World War II, a British officer named Major Ivan Hirst assumed control of the Volkswagen assembly operation, intending to use the plant as a military production factory, but he eventually wound up making cars for the public again. By 1946, despite the country’s depression and damage to the factory caused by the war, the company was producing more than 1,000 cars per month. Since then, Volkswagen has diversified to offer many different makes and models of car, and has become one of the foremost German companies, and an integral part of the German economy. The most recognizable car that Volkswagen produces is officially known as the Type 1, which is informally called the Beetle or the Bug. Today, Volkswagen markets its cars to a new generation worldwide.

Deutsche Bank, which translates as, “German Bank,” is a large multi-national bank with a presence in 78 countries worldwide. One of the more successful German companies, it is the second most profitable business in Germany, boasting a net income of 6.510 billion Euros in 2007, as well as 2.020 trillion Euros in total assets. Deutsch Bank was founded in 1870 as a bank meant for foreigners who traded in Berlin. Quickly, the bank opened offices in Shanghai and London, and making investments around the world. The Deutsch Bank invested in the Northern Pacific Railroad in the United States, as well as local companies in the Berlin market. During the era of the Third Reich, the Deutsche Bank was instrumental in the finances of the Nazi party, and incorporated many of the banks in lands conquered by Germany. Following the Second World War, the Allies ordered Deutsche to disband into ten smaller banks, which were eventually re-consolidated into three separate banks, and finally, back into one entity. Today, the Deutsche Bank is headquartered in Frankfurt, and has offices in London, Moscow, New York, Sydney, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. It is one of the largest German companies to have established a presence throughout the world.