Was founder of THIS luxury brand a Nazi spy? Report claims MI5 files link him to Adolf Hitler
Between 1941 and 1943, the British Security Service MI5 was stamped by MI5 and defined as “most objectionable” and “suspected of espionage”. Wilsdorf was born in Germany and later received the citizenship of the UK. Continue reading to learn more about this.
Hans Wilsdorf was born in Bavaria, Germany.
According to a report that The Telegraph refers to formerly classified documents, Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the popular luxury watch brand Rolex, was alleged to be a Nazi spy with strong sympathies for the Adolf Hitler regime. Between 1941 and 1943, the British Security Service MI5 was stamped by MI5 and defined as “most objectionable” and “suspected of espionage”. Wilsdorf was born in Germany and later received the citizenship of the UK.
What does the MI5 report say about Wilsdorf?
The MI5 report in 1943 notes: “Wilsdorf and his wife are suspected of espionage on behalf of majority shareholders and the enemy.” The documents also show that Wilsdorf’s free Rolex watches for British war prisoners may be a promotional action rather than patriotism. In addition, the 1941 letter from the Ministry of Economic War from the List List section of the Ministry of Economic War, it is desirable to review Wilsdor’s black list, but then it may not be in the best interests at that time.
‘Stunt to gain good with the British government’
Jose Perez, a historian who discovered the MI5 files, described the offer of the Rolex founder as a possible stunt to “win good with the British government”. Telegraph said: “From 1941 to 1946, the Swiss hours of imports to England should be considered fundamentally prohibited, so this may be the famous killing of one stone and two birds: gaining goodness with the British and selling some clocks in the process, even though the war is only after the war.”
Did he respond to allegations against Rolex Wilsdor?
Rolex responded to charges against Wilsdor and said that he had created a historian team for more research. “Considering the sensitivity of these allegations, we have assigned a team of independent, authorized historian team, who has done research on the exact role of Hans Wilsdorf during this period.” He said.
Who was Hans Wilsdorf and who was the owner of Rolex?
Wilsdorf was born in 1881 in Bavaria, Germany. His family died soon and in 1903 he moved to England without official immigration controls. Wilsdorf began to make hours at Hatton Garden before he saved the Rolex brand and marrying Florence Crotty, born in England. In 1919, he shifted the company headquarters to Geneva in Switzerland. Wilsdorf died in 1960 and left his share of ownership in Rolex to the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, which continued to have the company.
