Will the Chanel Brand Suffer From New Allegations That Founder Coco Chanel Was a Nazi Collaborator?

Posted by saraib820 under News
From http://www.ynetnews.com 4631 days ago
Made Hot by: ofirafromjobshuk on August 16, 2011 8:45 am

In the book, "Sleeping With the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War," American biographer Hal Vaughn claims the French fashion icon was recruited into German intelligence, had a lover who was honored by Hitler and Goebbels during war.

Who Voted for this Story

Top BizSugar Users

This week's most active BizSugar users. Join Them!

Comments

Written by yoni67
4631 days ago

I'm glad to see this post has generated some good discourse.

I think as long as it doesn't turn out that she gave up lists of French-resistance fighters or participated in deportations to "the camps" she will be okay.

Viva la resistance!

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4630 days ago

I guess it might also depend on whether she was an agent during the occupation or before. If it was before, she might have supplied the Nazis with intelligence which they used in the conquering of France. That would be very bad.

- 0 +

Written by MrsZeus
4631 days ago

It will be very interesting to see what happens with one of the most recognizable brands after this. Thanks for the article!

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4630 days ago

MrsZeus,

That it will! Thanks for reading and commenting!

Rivkah

- 0 +

Written by JackieP
4631 days ago

I think the general concensus is that it will dissipate quickly. But it will be interesting to see what direction this takes.

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4630 days ago

Jackie,

It will be quite interesting. Things seem to be peaking today. A quick Google of "Coco Chanel" and "Nazi" under the News tab shows that this is hitting all of the major news outlets today BIG time.

R.

- 0 +

Written by ben.corporate@ILforums
4631 days ago

Coco Chanel's attitudes and beliefs are nothing new. But allegations that she worked directly for German intel is really a blockbuster. Thanks for posting this and for the tweet. I'm going to add the link to the IsraelForum site and I will be following developments,

Ben

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

Thank you Ben!

Rivkah

- 0 +

Written by Adam_Gottlieb
4631 days ago

Like the others who commented here, I don't think there'll be much more than a passing backlash *even* if a book or movie were made.

Aside from those around today who either directly experienced the war and Hitler's y"s atrocities or who grew up in the house of those who did, it's hard for people to truly relate to what happened all those years ago. Few people I think will really make a connection between today's brand and what its founder did with the Nazis some 70 years ago.

Adam

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

I'll be waiting to see Adam. I'm pretty much of the thinking that it will blow over quickly, but I'm hoping that it won't.

R.

- 0 +

Written by m4bmarketing
4631 days ago

I do not think so unless the buyers of Chanel care. I don't know where but I have heard this before. It will be interesting Rivkah to see how it plays out.

Susan

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

Hi Susan,

It's going to be an interesting affair. I just googled "Coco Chanel Nazi" under news and it seems that the story is breaking very big. I think much of the backlash will be from the French who will see her as having sold and France and collaborated with the Nazi occupiers. It will be interesting to look for damage control and to see if any boycotts emerge.

Rivkah

- 0 +

Written by lovedthisarticle!
4631 days ago

Yikes Rivkah!

I agree with all of the commenters. It will be interesting to see how this plays.

Heidi K.

[email protected]

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

Yikes is right Heidi. Thanks for your support and comment!

Rivkah

- 0 +

Written by alinisrael
4631 days ago

Rivkah,

I will be very interested as this story seems to just be breaking just how the company reacts to this disclosure. It is certainly big news but since Coco is long since dead it might just end up as a historical footnote. I think the main repercussion might not be business but rather a backlash by the French who were occupied and suffered under the Nazis, with the exception of course of the Vichy collaborators.

Alan

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

Mr. Spock,

Very good point. Sometimes the PR move that is taken is to not say anything. I'm not in PR so I don't know how effective it is.

I'm very interested to see:

1) What the company will say

2) If there will be a libel lawsuit from her estate.

Again, from what I have seen, this is a meticulously researched work, so only time will tell what the reaction will be.

Rivkah

- 0 +

Written by techfordummies
4631 days ago

I'm also interested to see if there will be a statement from the company or the estate.

I'm guessing there will be silence and the hope that it will blow over and go away.

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

Alan,

Points well taken:

1) I should have used the link form the Daily Mail which broke the story on Sunday,

2) If this is true, this would be the ultimate betrayal against her French countrymen. I believe that the French make little distinction between Nazis and their fellow French citizens who collaborated with the Nazis.

3) It will be VERY interesting to see the reaction of Chanel to this news.

Thanks for commenting,

Rivkah

- 0 +

Written by alinisrael
4631 days ago

Rivkah,

I would add respectfully that I wouldn't have posted this from an Israeli or Jewish website as I see the story on many sites, including British, American and European newssites. The Jewish site makes it look potentially like it has a bone to pick while the other sites make it look more unbiased. Just my view.

Respectfully,

Alan

- 0 +

Written by businessavante
4631 days ago

Abwehr?? She was an agent for Abwehr?? They were the even more secret competition to the Gestapo (secret state police).

That's 100,000 times worse than anything Charles Lindbergh did as an famous American who was 'sympathetic' to the nazis.

This is eye-opening stuff, Rivkah - not just that there were famous people (& businesses) that worked with/for Hitler, but an agent in Abwehr????

They SHOULD make a movie about it, Alastair!

Duncan

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

Duncan,

It's gonna be interesting. I just read a review of the book which states that the autor did meticulous research through files declassified by French, U.S. and British Intelligence. Apparently more than theory and supposition. This is going to get really interesting.

Rivkah

- 0 +

Written by BradenM
4631 days ago

I agree with both of you. It might show a lot about her as a person but thats it.

Braden

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

Braden,

It would show A LOT about her as a person.

- 0 +

Written by alastair
4631 days ago

My guess is no. Not unless theres a major film about it.

- 0 +

Written by saraib820
4631 days ago

Alastair,

My guess is also no. BMW, Siemens, VW, IBM and all of the companies which collaborated or profited from slave-labor never missed a beat with post-war profits. My guess is this might make an interesting book, but people will keep buying. Thanks for commenting!

Rivkah

- 0 +