The following is an exert of a speech given by the head of IBM Germany, Willy Heidinger, upon opening a new IBM facility in Berlin in 1933

It leaves little doubt as to IBM's complicity in the atrocities that followed.

"The Physician examines the human body and determines whether...all organs are working to the benefit of the entire organism….We [IMB Germany] are very much like the physician, in that we dissect, cell by cell, the German cultural body.  We report every individual characteristic… on a little card.  These are not dead cards, quite to the contrary, they prove later on that they come to life when the cards are sorted at a rate of 25,000 per hour according to certain characteristics.  These characteristics are grouped like the organs of our cultural body, and they will be calculated and determined with the help of our tabulator machine…

We are proud that we may assist in such a task, a task that provides our nation’s Physician [Adolph Hitler] with the material he needs for his examinations.  Our Physician can then determine whether the calculated values are in harmony with the health of our people.  It also means that if such is not the case, our Physician can take corrective procedures to correct the sick circumstances…Our characteristics are deeply rooted in our race.  Therefore, we must cherish them like a holy shrine which we will – and must – keep pure.  We have the deepest trust in our Physician and will follow his instructions in blind faith, because we know that he will lead our people to a great future.  Hail to our German people and der Führer!”

Most of the speech, along with a guest list of high ranking Nazi officials in attendance were rushed to the IBM NYC office.  There, Watson, then the CEO of IBM, quickly responded with congratulations on a job well done and sentiments well expressed!

Edwin Black authored a book, IBM and the Holocaust, that details the company’s shocking involvement with the third Reich.  It’s a must read for any who are unaware.