Rudolf Dassler
Rudolf Dassler | |
---|---|
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Born | |
Died | 27 October 1974 | (aged 76)
Nationality | German |
Occupation | Founder of Puma |
Political party | Nazi Party (former member) |
Partner | Friedl Dassler |
Parent | Christoph Dassler (father) Pauline Dassler (mother) |
Relatives | Adolf Dassler (brother) |
Rudolf "Rudi" Dassler (26 March 1898 – 27 October 1974) was a German cobbler, businessman, a member of the Nazi party and also the founder of the sportswear company Puma.
He was the older brother of Adidas founder, Adolf "Adi" Dassler. The brothers were partners in a shoe company Adolf started, "Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik" (English: Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory). Rudolf joined in 1924. However, after a feud developed between them following World War II, the brothers went separate ways and started their respective companies in 1948.[1]
Initially calling the new company "Ruda" (an acronym for Rudolf Dassler), it was soon changed to its present name of Puma.[2] Puma is the native Quechua word for cougar; from there, it went into German as well as other languages.[3][4]
==Liabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory).
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.[5]
During the war, a growing rift between the pair reached a breaking point after an Allied bomb attack in 1943 when Adi and his wife climbed into a bomb shelter that Rudolf and his family were already in: "The dirty bastards are back again," Adi said, apparently referring to the Allied war planes, but Rudolf was convinced his brother meant him and his family.[6] Rudolf, upon his capture by American troops, was suspected of being a member of the SS, information supposedly supplied by Adolf.[7]
Under his direction, Puma remained a small provincial company. Only under the direction of his son, Armin Dassler, did it become the worldwide known company it remains today.[8][9]
Death[edit]
Rudi Dassler died on 27 October 1974 of lung cancer at the age of 76.[10]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Carbone, Nick (2011-08-23). "Adidas vs. Puma – Top 10 Family Feuds – TIME". Content.time.com. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- ^ John Underwood (1969-03-10). "The leading sports shoemakers in the world are the German – 03.10.69 – SI Vault". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- ^ "Adidas versus Puma: Origins of a rivalry between brothers". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ Esterl, Mike (2008-03-21). "A Run for Their Money - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- ^ Kirschbaum, Erik (2005-11-08). "How Adidas and Puma were born". The Journal. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ Akhtar, Omar (2013-03-22). "The hatred and bitterness behind two of the world's most popular brands". Forbes. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
- ^ James, Kyle (2006-07-03). "The town that sibling rivalry built, and divided". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ Tagliabue, John (1984-09-03). "ADIDAS, THE SPORT SHOE GIANT, IS ADAPTING TO NEW DEMANDS". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
- ^ Tagliabue, John (1981-02-15). "ADIDAS, PUMA: THE BAVARIAN SHOEMAKERS; HERZOGENAURACH, West Germany". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
- ^ Adidas and Puma bury the hatchet by Alan Hall on The Telegraph, 21 Sep 2009
External links[edit]
- Brozzas.de – biography – Rudolf Dassler
- Adolph (Adi) and Rudolf (Rudi) Dassler at FMD
- Which two brands were founded by rival brothers?
- 1898 births
- 1974 deaths
- Dassler family
- People from Herzogenaurach
- German billionaires
- German company founders
- 20th-century German businesspeople
- Shoe designers
- German military personnel of World War II
- Nazi Party members
- People from the Kingdom of Bavaria
- Deaths from lung cancer
- Adidas people
- Puma (brand)
- Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- German military personnel of World War I
- National Socialist Motor Corps members