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Willy Sachs (23 July 1896 – 19 November 1958) was a German industrialist and served the Third Reich as ''Obersturmbannführer'' and ''Wehrwirtschaftsführer''. He was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit and was an honorary citizen of Schweinfurt, Mainberg and Oberaudorf. == Biography == Willy Sachs was born in Schweinfurt, the only son of the industrialist Ernst Sachs. After internships with several international companies Sachs joined his father's company in 1923 as a board member, and upon the senior Sachs' death in 1932, became the sole owner of Fichtel & Sachs AG in Schweinfurt. Sachs was seen as a caring patriarch, often given to spontaneous generosity. He saw it as his mission in life to share his father's work with the next generation. However, he inherited little of his father's talent at management. Although he held the title of General Director, the company of 7,000 workers was, by 1939, actually run by its directors Heinz Kaiser, Rudolf Baier and Michael Schlegelmilch. Sachs turned to hunting, women and alcohol as diversions. His lavish parties at Schloss Mainberg and on the Rechenau became legendary. It was said "whereever there was a party, the consul () was there." (Sachs had inherited the title of Royal Swedish Consul from his father upon whom it had been bestowed for his work with SKF.) In 1933, Sachs became a member of the SS〔〔 and the Nazi Party.〔 As the head of an important arms manufacturer, he was named ''Wehrwirtschaftsführer'' (Industry Leader" ). Heinrich Himmler awarded him medals and honorary titles (including ''obersturmbannführer'' in 1943) and helped with Sachs' divorce from Elinor von Opel and the ensuing custody battle for their children. Hermann Göring was a guest of Sachs' hunting outings in Mainberg. In May 1945, Sachs was arrested by the American military in Oberaudorf and held until February 1947. During the denazification process following World War II, he was twice labeled a "follower" (Category IV). Author Wilfried Rott has labeled this process a "whitewashing".〔 After his release, at the age of 51, Sachs officially retired from active management and was relegated as Chairman of the Supervisory Board to ceremonial duties. In recognition of his philanthropy (including restoration of the Ernst Sachs Assistance organization as the Occupation Pensions Authority), Sachs was awarded the Order of Merit. In 1936, as patron of 1. FC Schweinfurt 05, Sach donated the stadium that bears his name, the Willy Sachs Stadium in Schweinfurt. This gift to the city secured his lasting popularity beyond death. As part of the Schweinfurt "Lest we forget" initiative, the local press (including ''Süddeutsche Zeitung'', Gerhard Fischer and Werner Skrentny) initiated a campaign to rename the stadium due to Sachs' Nazi affiliation. The campaign met with low approval among the general public. Sachs spent his last years mostly on the family estate (Sachs Rechenau) at Oberaudorf. On November 19, 1958, he committed suicied at the age of 62, driven by depression〔 and fear of blackmail. 20,000 Schweinfurt residents attended his funeral. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Willy Sachs」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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