Title: From First World War air ace to Nazi industrial mini-Führer: a commentary on the life and times of Gerhard Fieseler

Authors: Nigel Holden

Addresses: Centre for International Business, Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 1AN, UK

Abstract: Using a key work in German, this article reviews the life of Gerhard Fieseler (1896-1987), the designer of the Stork reconnaissance plane, arguably the best aircraft of its type in the Second World War. The focus will be on Fieseler as an aviator and entrepreneur, whose talents were harnessed by the Nazi State to develop a new short take-off and landing aircraft. The article will describe the functioning of an SME in Nazi Germany in peace and war and comment on the relationship between the German language and work-place culture.

Keywords: Gerhard Fieseler; Nazi Germany; Nazi management systems; aviation; entrepreneurship; German language; corporate culture; organisational culture; Stork reconnaissance aircraft; aircraft design; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; Fieseler Fi 156 Storch.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2014.059589

European Journal of International Management, 2014 Vol.8 No.2, pp.226 - 239

Published online: 14 Oct 2014 *

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