German Biscuit Heiress Apologizes for Nazi Forced Labor Remarks

Wed, 22 May 2019

German Biscuit Heiress Apologizes for Nazi Forced Labor Remarks

Voice of America
16 May 2019, 14:08 GMT+10

The heiress of a German biscuit empire has apologized for comments that seemed to downplay the use of forced labor in Nazi Germany.

Verena Bahlsen, who is part owner of her fathers Bahlsen bakery, said she "deeply regrets" her remarks about the way the company treated those forced to work under Hitlers regime.

"It was a mistake to amplify this debate with thoughtless responses. Nothing could be further from my mind than to downplay national socialism or its consequences," Bahlsen said.

She said she recognizes the need to learn more about the companys history.

Bahlsen told Germanys Bild newspaper that the bakery treated forced laborers "well" during World War II and paid them as much as it paid German workers.

Many of the forced laborers were women from Nazi-occupied Ukraine.

Some in Germany have called for a boycott of Bahlsen products, including the famous Leibniz cookies.

German courts have thrown out compensation claims made by many former laborers because the statute of limitations had run out. But the company voluntarily paid more than $840,000 into a compensation fund in 2000.

Bahlsen was mocked earlier this month when she told a Hamburg business conference that she is happy to be part owner of a company because she wants to make money and buy yachts.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Greek Herald.

More Information

International Business

Thousands of jobs to go at Ford

DEARBORN, Michigan - Ford Motor Company is to slash its global workforce by about 10% over the next three months. ...

Real estate woes impacting banks in Qatar, sasy Fitch

DOHA, Qatar - The oversupply of real estate in Gulf countries which has seen a collapse in property prices, commensutate ...

Japanese automaker hits back at Trump declaration

TOPKYO, Japan - The Japanese automotive giant Toyota Motor Corporation has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that imported cars ...

Amid border wrangles, Eritreans wrestle with staying or going

An unexpected rapprochement last year between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the subsequent opening of the border, seemed to offer hope ...

UK keeps limits on cash aid in Syria over counter-terror fears

Despite criticism, the UK has only partially reversed a cash aid freeze in northeastern Syria and is still suspending monthly ...

Jamie Oliver's British Restaurant Chain Collapses

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's restaurant chain in Britain has filed for bankruptcy protection, closing 22 of its 25 eateries and ...

Mediterranean

Libyan hostilities could see country become permanently divided

NEW YORK, New York - Libya is on the brink of a civil war which could result in the country ...

150,000 flee as Syria buffer zone collapses

Renewed violence in rebel-held northwestern Syria has killed dozens of civilians and forced 150,000 people into flight in one week ...

UK keeps limits on cash aid in Syria over counter-terror fears

Despite criticism, the UK has only partially reversed a cash aid freeze in northeastern Syria and is still suspending monthly ...

UN Envoy: Islamic State Revival in Iraq Must Be Prevented

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. envoy for Iraq is calling for 'wide-based international support' to prevent Islamic State extremists from ...

Putin calls Merkel, Macron to discuss Syria

Moscow [Russia], May 22 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday discussed the situation in war-torn Syria with German Chancellor ...

US: Syria May Be Using Chemical Weapons Again

The United States says there are signs the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria may be using chemical weapons again and ...

Movie Review

The Expendables [Blu-Ray]

Expendables