The Allianz name was something that I always thought might have been a made up word incorporating the letters of ANZ (Usually a combination of services between Australia and New Zealand, for example, ANZAC = Australia and New Zealand Army Corps). But further investigation would soon explain that Allianz is German for "alliance".
Many may not know of the alliance this company had with a few bad apples known as the Nazis! You may have heard of them? They were kind of a big deal in the '30's and '40's.
Back in the day, Allianz actually insured Auschwitz and their CEO at the time was one of Hitler's advisers. During the holocaust instead of paying life insurance to the Jews, they buckled under pressure and gave that money to the Nazis. In hindsight, probably not the wisest choice for the company image.
The Nazi presence still lingers around the traps here and there, skinheads, prison gangs, history channel presentation after history channel presentation and corporate logos! Which brings me to this. The history of the Allianz logo starts in 1890 with a standard coat of arms style.
Seems to be standard fare for the time. Then, from 1923 they ventured into a more graphical style with these little chestnuts.
And finally to their present day logo, this:
Still smacks of Nazi symbolism, The eagle with wings bared chest puffed and head facing off to the left, for example:
According to many sources on the net, without too much searching at all you'll find that Allianz have since payed their jews dues and have made many steps to right the wrongs of their past. As this quote will show you -
But why keep the ominous bird of PREY in the logo? Surely they could distance themselves from the overly dominant, imposing eagle of Nazi era Germany. They are an insurance company after all. They're there to provide help in time of need. There must be hundreds of other animals that are more apt, for instance, the camel! He stores water to be used at a later date à la money from an insurance company when it's called upon. Or the squirrel, who's nuts for savings!!...
Or this guy...
And don't get me started on the link between Allianz (aliens) and Nazi UFOs >___<
I harbour no ill will towards Allianz. Maybe i was secretly hoping they would hire me to redesign their logo to something like i suggested..? Get me some of that sweet sweet reparations money. Or perhaps i was bored and wanted a reason to look at pictures of squirrels. Uhh! no, you know what it was? I saw a TV commercial of theirs that bugged me with that annoying song on it!
"Our record of trying to redress the evils of the Third Reich have been significant over the years," Peter Lefkin, senior vice president at Allianz of America
There is a very informative site produced by Allianz themselves detailing their corporate history. Good for them :)
Or this guy...
And don't get me started on the link between Allianz (aliens) and Nazi UFOs >___<
I harbour no ill will towards Allianz. Maybe i was secretly hoping they would hire me to redesign their logo to something like i suggested..? Get me some of that sweet sweet reparations money. Or perhaps i was bored and wanted a reason to look at pictures of squirrels. Uhh! no, you know what it was? I saw a TV commercial of theirs that bugged me with that annoying song on it!
In conclusion it would appear that they are now on the level and and served their time so lets all move on already! jeez!!
Or... they are still
Or... they are still
0__0'
