Adolf Dassler: Difference between revisions
"renamed the company Adidas, deliberately using all lower case letters", so why have you capitalised it then??? amazing. |
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'''Adolf "Adi" Dassler''' (November 3, 1900 in [[Herzogenaurach]], [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]] - September 6, 1978 in Herzogenaurach) was the [[Entrepreneur|founder]] of the [[Germany|German]] sportswear company |
'''Adolf "Adi" Dassler''' (November 3, 1900 in [[Herzogenaurach]], [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]] - September 6, 1978 in Herzogenaurach) was the [[Entrepreneur|founder]] of the [[Germany|German]] sportswear company [[Adidas]]. |
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Trained as a cobbler, Adi Dassler started to produce his own sports shoes in his mother's wash kitchen after his return from [[World War I]]. His father, Christoph, who worked in a shoe |
Trained as a cobbler, Adi Dassler started to produce his own sports shoes in his mother's wash kitchen after his return from [[World War I]]. His father, Christoph, who worked in a shoe factory, and the brothers Zehlein, who produced the handmade spikes for [[track shoe]]s in their [[blacksmith]]'s shop, supported Dassler in starting his own business. In 1924, his older brother [[Rudolf Dassler]] joined and the business, which became the ''Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik'' (''Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory''). |
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At the [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Olympics]], Dassler equipped several athletes, laying the foundation for the international expansion of the company. During the [[1936 Summer Olympics]] in [[Berlin]], Dassler equipped quadruple gold medal winner [[Jesse Owens]] of the [[United States |
At the [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Olympics]], Dassler equipped several athletes, laying the foundation for the international expansion of the company. During the [[1936 Summer Olympics]] in [[Berlin]], Dassler equipped quadruple gold medal winner [[Jesse Owens]] of the [[United States|USA]] with his shoes. |
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With the rise of [[Adolf |
With the rise of [[Adolf Hitler]] in the 1930s, both Dassler brothers joined the [[Nazi Party]], with Rudolf reputed as being the more ardent [[Nazi Germany|National Socialist]].<ref>Kirschbaum, Erik. (2005-11-08) "[http://in.rediff.com/sports/2005/nov/08adi.htm How Adidas and Puma were born]." The Journal. Retrieved (2008-07-14)</ref> Rudolf was drafted, and later captured, while Adi stayed behind to produce boots for the [[Wehrmacht]].<ref>Brennan, Carole. (2002-01-29) "[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_tov/ai_2419100006 Adidas]." St James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture. Retrieved (2008-07-14)</ref>. The war exacerbated the differences between the brothers and their wives. Rudolf, upon his capture by the Allies, was suspected of being part of the [[SS]], which he allegedly attributed to Adi.<ref>James, Kyle. (2006-07-03) "[http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_printcontent/0,,2074427,00.html The town that sibling rivalry built, and divided]." Deutsch Welle. Retrieved (2008-07-14)</ref> |
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By 1948, the rift between the brothers widened. Rudolf left the company to found [[Puma AG|Puma]] on the other side of town (across the Aurach River), and |
By 1948, the rift between the brothers widened. Rudolf left the company to found [[Puma AG|Puma]] on the other side of town (across the Aurach River), and Adolf Dassler renamed the company [[Adidas]] after his own nickname ('''Adi Das'''sler). |
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In 1973, Adolf Dassler's son [[Horst Dassler]] founded [[Arena (swimwear)|Arena]], a producer of swimming equipment. After Adolf Dassler's death in 1978, Horst and his wife Käthe took over the management. |
In 1973, Adolf Dassler's son [[Horst Dassler]] founded [[Arena (swimwear)|Arena]], a producer of swimming equipment. After Adolf Dassler's death in 1978, Horst and his wife Käthe took over the management. Horst died nine years later, in 1987. |
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''Adidas'' was transformed into a private [[limited company]] in 1989, but remained family property until its [[Initial public offering|IPO]] in 1995. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 11:02, 6 September 2009
Adolf "Adi" Dassler (November 3, 1900 in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany - September 6, 1978 in Herzogenaurach) was the founder of the German sportswear company Adidas.
Trained as a cobbler, Adi Dassler started to produce his own sports shoes in his mother's wash kitchen after his return from World War I. His father, Christoph, who worked in a shoe factory, and the brothers Zehlein, who produced the handmade spikes for track shoes in their blacksmith's shop, supported Dassler in starting his own business. In 1924, his older brother Rudolf Dassler joined and the business, which became the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory).
At the 1928 Olympics, Dassler equipped several athletes, laying the foundation for the international expansion of the company. During the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Dassler equipped quadruple gold medal winner Jesse Owens of the USA with his shoes.
With the rise of Adolf Hitler in the 1930s, both Dassler brothers joined the Nazi Party, with Rudolf reputed as being the more ardent National Socialist.[1] Rudolf was drafted, and later captured, while Adi stayed behind to produce boots for the Wehrmacht.[2]. The war exacerbated the differences between the brothers and their wives. Rudolf, upon his capture by the Allies, was suspected of being part of the SS, which he allegedly attributed to Adi.[3]
By 1948, the rift between the brothers widened. Rudolf left the company to found Puma on the other side of town (across the Aurach River), and Adolf Dassler renamed the company Adidas after his own nickname (Adi Dassler).
In 1973, Adolf Dassler's son Horst Dassler founded Arena, a producer of swimming equipment. After Adolf Dassler's death in 1978, Horst and his wife Käthe took over the management. Horst died nine years later, in 1987.
Adidas was transformed into a private limited company in 1989, but remained family property until its IPO in 1995.
References
- ^ Kirschbaum, Erik. (2005-11-08) "How Adidas and Puma were born." The Journal. Retrieved (2008-07-14)
- ^ Brennan, Carole. (2002-01-29) "Adidas." St James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture. Retrieved (2008-07-14)
- ^ James, Kyle. (2006-07-03) "The town that sibling rivalry built, and divided." Deutsch Welle. Retrieved (2008-07-14)
External links
See also
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