A fraternal feud that has been going for over six decades, and has split a small German town, is to be resolved today.
Before 1943, Rudi and Adi Dassler were happily (or perhaps, not so happily) running the family business together in the small Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach. Their business was already well known – they provided the shoes worn by Jesse Owens at the Berlin Olympics.
But after being in an air raid shelter one night in 1943, the brothers were never to work together again. Adi continued the business, which was to become adidas, and Rudi, after spending some time in an American prisoner of war camp after the war, returned to Herzogenaurach and set up Puma on the other side of town.
And the feud has continued ever since. The place is known as the “town of bent necks” because everyone checks what shoes you are wearing before deciding whether or not to talk to you. Employees of the two firms do not fraternise.
But now, today’s bosses are to bury the hatchet (not in one another’s backs, one hopes), shaking hands as part of a peace initiative entitled Peace One Day, which is the brainchild of German film-maker Jeremy Gilley. To consolidate the gesture, the staff of the two firms will play a game of football.
I wonder what brand of shoes the referee will be wearing.
Tags: adidas, Herzogenaurach, Puma