This reminds me of how some view the Bertelsmann media group. Back in the days of WWII, the Bertelsmann company (originally a publishing house and print shop) was the single biggest producer of Nazi propaganda. Now, in terms of physical harm, the transportation of Jews is a terrible thing. However, we mustn't underestimate the damage of effective and pervasive propaganda.
I've also heard that Bertlesmann has been criticized for failing to make reparations for the thousands of manhours logged by Jews during the war for which they weren't compensated.
You may be more familiar with one of Bertlesmann's companies, Random House. It's the world's largest trade book publisher. They own a crapton of imprints, including but not limited to:
- Knopf
- Doubleday
- Everyman's
- Del Rey
- Vintage
- Ballantine
- Bantam
- The Modern Library
- Golden Books
The list is huge.
Did you read
The Da Vinci Code? Bantam.
Chances are, if you've read a dozen books in your life, you've read at least one book published by the Random House group.
That said, should we refuse to purchase these books?
BBC NEWS | Business | Bertelsmann admits Nazi past
I'm not sure if Bertelsmann has made any reparations for the slave labour, but at least they apologized. How much should be done before we agree to do business with them?
On the topic of the rail company, it all depends on how it has progressed from its past and into the present. Do they still carry the spectre of the past with them? Or has it been long enough to suggest that there is no direct attachment? They have paid reparations. When will it be enough?