Shell’s Historical Ties to Nazi Germany (1930s–1940s): In Shell’s case, the absence of an apology or restitution for its Nazi collaboration remains a point of contention that the company may eventually be forced to confront as part of repairing its public image.
RESEARCH CARRIED OUT IN MARCH 2025
Sources: Historical investigations, corporate archives, and recent analyses were used to compile these findings. Key references include Shell’s own commissioned History of Royal Dutch Shell (which details the company’s activities during 1933–45), journalism by researchers like Marriott, Macalister, and Donovan, and reports from outlets such as openDemocracy and The Guardian that discuss the ethical implications of Shell’s WWII involvement.
• Financial Support: Royal Dutch Shell’s leadership had deep ties with Nazi Germany. Sir Henri Deterding, a co-founder and long-time chairman of Shell, was an open admirer of Adolf Hitler and reportedly provided significant financial backing to the Nazi Party in the early 1930s. Shell’s funding was so substantial that it “saved the Nazi Party” from financial ruin before World War II.