Willy Sachs

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.

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, "wherever there was a party, the consul [Sachs] 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 ["War 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".

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