akalai
Well-known
11/11/2009
BBC World Discovery Programme
"Carl Zeiss: A State Within a State" (28 minutes)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004v8xg
"This edition of Discovery examines German partition and reunification as seen through the lens of one of the country’s most prestigious companies, Carl Zeiss. Like Germany itself, Carl Zeiss was divided after 1945 and the history of the two Zeiss factories, both specialising in optical technologies, mirrors post-war political, social and technological separation and subsequent re-unification.
Reporter Tim Whewell charts the history of the company, founded in 1846, which built a global reputation for producing high quality microscopes, scientific instruments, cameras and lenses. Originally based in Jena in eastern Germany, the company was split at the end of the Second World War, with the Americans taking top Zeiss scientists west, to Oberkocken and the peoples' enterprise, V.E.B Carl Zeiss Jena, continuing in the GDR.
Like Germany itself, where early post war hopes lingered that the country wouldn't be divided, both parts of the Carl Zeiss company initially struggled to maintain contact. But the bitterness and mistrust of the Cold War soon created deep political, economic and social divisions and the two parts of the company became bitter international rivals, arguing about who owned the Carl Zeiss trademark on the world market.
But in November 1989, 20 years ago, the Berlin Wall came down and while Germany reunified, Carl Zeiss in Oberkocken was determined that it too, should be reunited with Carl Zeiss in the East. For this Discovery, Tim Whewell, speaks to the key figures who negotiated the subsequent unification of Carl Zeiss, to workers in Jena, many of whom lost their jobs and to current staff and the company's leadership about the impact of this merger.
This edition of Discovery is part of BBC World Service’s 1989: Europe’s Revolution coverage, marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall."
BBC World Discovery Programme
"Carl Zeiss: A State Within a State" (28 minutes)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004v8xg
"This edition of Discovery examines German partition and reunification as seen through the lens of one of the country’s most prestigious companies, Carl Zeiss. Like Germany itself, Carl Zeiss was divided after 1945 and the history of the two Zeiss factories, both specialising in optical technologies, mirrors post-war political, social and technological separation and subsequent re-unification.
Reporter Tim Whewell charts the history of the company, founded in 1846, which built a global reputation for producing high quality microscopes, scientific instruments, cameras and lenses. Originally based in Jena in eastern Germany, the company was split at the end of the Second World War, with the Americans taking top Zeiss scientists west, to Oberkocken and the peoples' enterprise, V.E.B Carl Zeiss Jena, continuing in the GDR.
Like Germany itself, where early post war hopes lingered that the country wouldn't be divided, both parts of the Carl Zeiss company initially struggled to maintain contact. But the bitterness and mistrust of the Cold War soon created deep political, economic and social divisions and the two parts of the company became bitter international rivals, arguing about who owned the Carl Zeiss trademark on the world market.
But in November 1989, 20 years ago, the Berlin Wall came down and while Germany reunified, Carl Zeiss in Oberkocken was determined that it too, should be reunited with Carl Zeiss in the East. For this Discovery, Tim Whewell, speaks to the key figures who negotiated the subsequent unification of Carl Zeiss, to workers in Jena, many of whom lost their jobs and to current staff and the company's leadership about the impact of this merger.
This edition of Discovery is part of BBC World Service’s 1989: Europe’s Revolution coverage, marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall."
Olsen
Well-known
Facinating!
A pity I did not know that it was shown earlier today. I have been at home. I have only heard the program on the Net. It tells a lot of the attitudes between the 'West Germans' and 'East Germans'. The worker telling of that capitalism was OK, but she did not like to loose socialism. Or the West German CEO's attidude towards their 'socialist' countrymen - 'they know nothing of figures etc.' Those attitudes still persists in Germany.
A pity I did not know that it was shown earlier today. I have been at home. I have only heard the program on the Net. It tells a lot of the attitudes between the 'West Germans' and 'East Germans'. The worker telling of that capitalism was OK, but she did not like to loose socialism. Or the West German CEO's attidude towards their 'socialist' countrymen - 'they know nothing of figures etc.' Those attitudes still persists in Germany.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
As Olsen says, fascinating!
It would have been interesting about almost any company with a parallel history (there must have been some) but with Zeiss even more so.
Also interesting that the Foundation was a leader in working hours, pensions, holidays and health care -- and has done very well from this. I knew a certain amount about the Foundation -- no shareholders, who are all too often greedy, stupid or short-termist -- but a board of trustees to allow long-term planning. Capitalism? Not exactly. Socialism? Not exactly. But a very successful middle course.
Cheers,
R.
It would have been interesting about almost any company with a parallel history (there must have been some) but with Zeiss even more so.
Also interesting that the Foundation was a leader in working hours, pensions, holidays and health care -- and has done very well from this. I knew a certain amount about the Foundation -- no shareholders, who are all too often greedy, stupid or short-termist -- but a board of trustees to allow long-term planning. Capitalism? Not exactly. Socialism? Not exactly. But a very successful middle course.
Cheers,
R.
Merkin
For the Weekend
thanks for this!
